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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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poetryfoot
Joined: 16 Sep 2012
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 Posted: Wed Sep 11, 2013 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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| watergirl wrote: |
Hi
I actually think being a little older is better to many employers. But, also that you have an English major, and are female, actually make you more employable than many others. Just look at some of the want ads, and you'll see that many ask for female, N. american, and English major or teaching experience. You're 31 but you probably still look like you're in your 20s, and that's all they care about.
And, there are several really rude people, as noted by others, on here. You can tell just by their comments, maybe they're being so negative on purpose, for laughs. I really don't know why anyone would waste their time doing this, so just take these with a grain of salt.
Really, you are quite employable here, and will be refreshingly surprised at the welcome u get from employers and how much easier it is than back home!! (where, say, Starbucks, requires two interviews to get a job just to serve coffee.haha)
PS: Recruiters of the agents will tell youno you not to be picky and just take whatever, as you're inexperienced, but also be wary of what they say, and don't believe them. It is their job to place people in even the worst jobs, and really only the oversease people are often the only ones they can sell these jobs to. But, as I said, you're stats are on many employers' list actually (sorry, everyone, this is not fair ). And, once you have sy 1 year of experience or two, you will be able to get some of the best jobs, except, maybe for the univeristies which are becoming harder.
Yes, I know I have many, many, many typos (I'm sorry..grammar and spelling errors). I do know how to spell, but am in a hurry, and don't feel it's improtant (gasp) to correct my misspellings. |
Wow, thanks for all of the friendly and helpful advice!! I figured that an English major might help a little, but I'm still a little intimidated that I don't have any teaching experience...but it sounds like that's ok in some ways. I guess it depends on what job/what age group, etc. I will be very wary of recruiters...it's just kind of overwhelming because there are so many out there...it's like...where to begin? Do you have any recommendations?
Haha, that's funny that you mention Starbucks. I once had an interview with Family Video for a part-time sales associate and I had to take a timed test and have three interviews (one with the regional manager in the middle of the video aisle, very awkward) and they never called me back. |
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nimrand
Joined: 02 Mar 2013
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| Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 1:53 am Post subject: |
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| Well, I'm 32, had no teaching experience, had a backelor's in Computer Science, and I'm currently teaching my first year at public school. What does that tell you? |
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markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Trolls! Trolls everywhere! Go for it OP. The trick next is to figure out where you want to be. Do you want to be in the big city or in smaller ones? |
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Makoli Mark Mark
Joined: 11 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 1:37 am Post subject: |
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There is some ageism, but probably at about 50 and above. It's okay to teach being in your 30s and 40s and age doesn't matter too much for getting hired.
The economy sucks and this is levels above just grinding out a living back in a home country. |
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poetryfoot
Joined: 16 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:51 am Post subject: |
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| nimrand wrote: |
| Well, I'm 32, had no teaching experience, had a backelor's in Computer Science, and I'm currently teaching my first year at public school. What does that tell you? |
That tells me a lot!! That's awesome...almost just like me. Are you enjoying it? What are your main challenges? |
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poetryfoot
Joined: 16 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:55 am Post subject: |
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| markness wrote: |
| Go for it OP. The trick next is to figure out where you want to be. Do you want to be in the big city or in smaller ones? |
Ok, haha, I almost missed this acronym. I am not so "current" on what all the acronyms stand for.....So, haha, this OP thinks she wants to go to a big city like Seoul. It makes me a bit nervous, though, because the biggest city I ever lived in was Duluth, Minnesota, and I am very directionally-challenged. I am afraid I would get lost every day. Do you think OPs that have challenges with maps would be able to find their way around the city? |
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Died By Bear
Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Location: On the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
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| Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:19 am Post subject: |
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| Just keep in mind that there are quite a few western girls that have experience with being raped in Korea. It happens everywhere, so keep your wits about you and don't go out alone at night, especially in taxis. |
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markness
Joined: 02 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| poetryfoot wrote: |
| markness wrote: |
| Go for it OP. The trick next is to figure out where you want to be. Do you want to be in the big city or in smaller ones? |
Ok, haha, I almost missed this acronym. I am not so "current" on what all the acronyms stand for.....So, haha, this OP thinks she wants to go to a big city like Seoul. It makes me a bit nervous, though, because the biggest city I ever lived in was Duluth, Minnesota, and I am very directionally-challenged. I am afraid I would get lost every day. Do you think OPs that have challenges with maps would be able to find their way around the city? |
OP means original poster 
You are a girl so your chances are better working in a big city like Seoul. I am no expert in the job market, but it increases your odds of finding work. Seoul = more stuff to do. If you are someone who enjoys staying inside then the smaller cities might be okay, but it depends what kind of person you are. There are more foreigners in Seoul so there are more groups that are able to do things that may pertain to a certain hobby, (if you have one). Are you dead set on Korea? Do you want to make a living out of ESL? Apparently China is the gold mine, and its booming more there, but it takes time to get things going. Also, I forgot to add that Seoul is a bit more desirable usually because its more foreign-friendly. People can speak a little bit of English, and it's infinitely easier than settling into a country like China, and not knowing any Chinese (because the Chinese don't speak any English). This all may sound like shenanigans to you, but the little things make your culture shock not so horrible.
Good luck |
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mayorhaggar
Joined: 01 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| poetryfoot wrote: |
| markness wrote: |
| Go for it OP. The trick next is to figure out where you want to be. Do you want to be in the big city or in smaller ones? |
Ok, haha, I almost missed this acronym. I am not so "current" on what all the acronyms stand for.....So, haha, this OP thinks she wants to go to a big city like Seoul. It makes me a bit nervous, though, because the biggest city I ever lived in was Duluth, Minnesota, and I am very directionally-challenged. I am afraid I would get lost every day. Do you think OPs that have challenges with maps would be able to find their way around the city? |
Seoul is sooo crowded. I enjoy visiting it but I don't think I could live and work there day after day. Riding the subway there is bad enough at 8pm on a Saturday, I can imagine what it would be like at 8AM on a weekday. If I had the chance to move anywhere I think I'd pick Busan. Better weather, it has beaches, and it's not as crowded. It's still pretty busy and crowded though compared to a US city.
Seoul and Busan are definitely the most competitive places to work because they are the most popular places for foreigners. By all means apply for jobs in those cities but if you want to increase your chances of getting something you can always look in the rest of Korea. I think the choice for a lot of people is either take a lower-paid, more stressful hagwon job in a big city they want to live in, versus getting a cushier public school job that might be in a remote rural town or city. You can apply to Busan with EPIK though, but if you don't get a Busan job then you could end up in rural Gyeongbuk or Chungbuk or wherever. Rural Korea is alright but not that exciting at all! Foreigners in the bigger cities (like 200,000 and up) tend to be pretty social, but if you're in a smaller city/town you might be bummed by how little foreigner social life there is. |
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poetryfoot
Joined: 16 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:46 am Post subject: |
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| Died By Bear wrote: |
| Just keep in mind that there are quite a few western girls that have experience with being raped in Korea. It happens everywhere, so keep your wits about you and don't go out alone at night, especially in taxis. |
Really? Is it just about the same level of danger like in the States in big cities and other foreign countries...or do you think western women are targeted more? |
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poetryfoot
Joined: 16 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:55 am Post subject: |
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quote]
OP means original poster
You are a girl so your chances are better working in a big city like Seoul. I am no expert in the job market, but it increases your odds of finding work. Seoul = more stuff to do. If you are someone who enjoys staying inside then the smaller cities might be okay, but it depends what kind of person you are. There are more foreigners in Seoul so there are more groups that are able to do things that may pertain to a certain hobby, (if you have one). Are you dead set on Korea? Do you want to make a living out of ESL? Apparently China is the gold mine, and its booming more there, but it takes time to get things going. Also, I forgot to add that Seoul is a bit more desirable usually because its more foreign-friendly. People can speak a little bit of English, and it's infinitely easier than settling into a country like China, and not knowing any Chinese (because the Chinese don't speak any English). This all may sound like shenanigans to you, but the little things make your culture shock not so horrible.
Good luck [/quote]
That's nice for us females, I guess (though not fair). I like to socialize and go out some, but I do like to be inside to at times...kind of a mixture, but I would like to be able to make friends, foreign and local...so it might be easier in the city. I know I'm 31....but it's a bit overwhelming thinking about going to a foreign city (especially being directionally-challenged) so all this info is so helpful, thank you! I have hobbies, but more general...like reading, going to concerts, etc...rather than specialized. I am a little set on Korea just because I like my four seasons, heard you can get a pretty good all around package....(and I had some Korean friends in college that were exchange students)...and based on the research I have done. China sounds like a good opportunity, though...I would love to visit!! I don't think that I want to make a living out of ESL, but I do want try it for a year and see how it goes.....but who knows? Haha....I though OP meant OLD PERSON! |
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poetryfoot
Joined: 16 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:57 am Post subject: |
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| mayorhaggar wrote: |
| poetryfoot wrote: |
| markness wrote: |
| Go for it OP. The trick next is to figure out where you want to be. Do you want to be in the big city or in smaller ones? |
Ok, haha, I almost missed this acronym. I am not so "current" on what all the acronyms stand for.....So, haha, this OP thinks she wants to go to a big city like Seoul. It makes me a bit nervous, though, because the biggest city I ever lived in was Duluth, Minnesota, and I am very directionally-challenged. I am afraid I would get lost every day. Do you think OPs that have challenges with maps would be able to find their way around the city? |
Seoul is sooo crowded. I enjoy visiting it but I don't think I could live and work there day after day. Riding the subway there is bad enough at 8pm on a Saturday, I can imagine what it would be like at 8AM on a weekday. If I had the chance to move anywhere I think I'd pick Busan. Better weather, it has beaches, and it's not as crowded. It's still pretty busy and crowded though compared to a US city.
Seoul and Busan are definitely the most competitive places to work because they are the most popular places for foreigners. By all means apply for jobs in those cities but if you want to increase your chances of getting something you can always look in the rest of Korea. I think the choice for a lot of people is either take a lower-paid, more stressful hagwon job in a big city they want to live in, versus getting a cushier public school job that might be in a remote rural town or city. You can apply to Busan with EPIK though, but if you don't get a Busan job then you could end up in rural Gyeongbuk or Chungbuk or wherever. Rural Korea is alright but not that exciting at all! Foreigners in the bigger cities (like 200,000 and up) tend to be pretty social, but if you're in a smaller city/town you might be bummed by how little foreigner social life there is. |
Huh, this is very interesting! I guess there are pros and cons to both, huh? I'm sure rural Korea is pretty....but I think you could get homesick/lonely without much interaction and without much to do besides work... |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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Cut through all the background noise: Absolutely NO problem getting a position here for you. In fact, female teachers are in higher demand. If you had your MA, you could more than likely move straight into a university position after just a year here.
Come on in. The water is fine. |
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mayorhaggar
Joined: 01 Jan 2013
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| Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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I wouldn't say rural Korea is particularly pretty, but it does have its charms. Like anywhere in Korea it can be pretty dirty and smelly, and you see a bit more poverty (or a different kind of poverty) than in the cities. Main thing I like is how much quieter and less crowded it is, coming back to my little town after a weekend in Seoul is always nice. When the air clears up after a good rain, it's really beautiful looking out the window and seeing the rolling hills covered in mist all around the valley.
The only thing I don't really like about my rural life is that it's more of a pain to get to other parts of Korea. If my town was closer to a major transit hub, or if I lived in a larger town, it wouldn't take so long. Basically I have to take a 80 minute bus ride to one of two major cities, then transfer to KTX or an express bus to continue my journey. Otherwise I like it here, my schools are good and everything I need for daily life is in my town. So everything is really convenient during the week when I'm in town, but if I want to go to Seoul or go to the nearest big city to buy some good beer at E-Mart, it is way more inconvenient.
Again I think Busan would be pretty good as a city to pick, but I think Daejeon would be another good choice as a place to live. It has KTX so you could get around easily, and it's not particularly crowded. There's not really a lot to do there compared to Seoul (and no beaches like Busan) but again it would be way more convenient for weekend trips out of town.
I haven't been to Daegu or Gwangju yet (thinking I'll go there in October now that the weather is way getting more bearable) but I imagine they have their pros too. |
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