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Marquis
Joined: 25 Jul 2013
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 Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 8:05 am Post subject: |
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One thing I'll also suggest, because I went through something sorta similar. I was applying to jobs left and right, or with recruiters, with no progress. All of this after I had abandoned Aclipse whom mishandled me pretty badly. (Not nagging on them completely, I think I just got a bad recruiter, two other friends of mine walked in and out with jobs in a flash)
I threw my resume and contact information on the job board here and within hours I was talking to people, and by the second week I spoke with more than a dozen potential places, had several interviews either done or lined up, I even got job offers from China! I was rather amused by it considering I wasn't even considering China but, I did consider it once they offered me a job.
I start a job in Ilsan in a few weeks. I know its not a lot to go on, but you could throw yourself out there in a desperate plea and see if something bites. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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I think you are applying to the wrong places (change to a new forum/website) and working with bad recruiters. I've had some real crap recruiters who would call me once and never again, I didn't push them for anything as it felt like I was making them earn their living. Find someone who knows how to work and you will come out on top.
I knew two Asian Americans, one Japanese one Chinese, one of whom still lives there and is doing well. If you are still in Korea then hit the pavement and knock on doors. There are always jobs available and so long as you don't give up you can get what you want. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Surprising, I would think the economy has improved a little bit and the job market is a little bit better than 2011 or 2012. So, it should be somewhat easier to get a job now than at any time since 2009. Still, it isn't what it was pre 2009 either. So, I assume there are some challenges. |
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FastForward
Joined: 04 Jul 2011
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:29 am Post subject: |
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how many recruiters are you working with? Last year I think I had sent an introductory email to around 40 recruiters and out of those, only 15-20 responded. From the 15-20 that responded, about 4-5 were actually on the ball and appeared to be trying hard to get me a job.
If you haven't already, send every single recruiter on the job board an intro email with resume and photo attached. Within this email state your preferred location. Also are you willing to work kindy? Because there seems to be way more kindy jobs and far less elementary jobs in the job market now days. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:53 am Post subject: |
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Weigookin74, read what the OP wrote:
| parker82 wrote: |
What I have been experiencing now definitely does not match up with what I experienced when I first applied to jobs in spring 2012. Back then, I gave my picture and resume to two recruiters and instantly had three interviews. The day following, I had a job.
Now, I send out my picture and resume and can't even get one interview with anyone. |
The state of Western economies is not the sole determiner of the ESL job market in Korea. In fact, there are many complex factors changing things.
| parker82 wrote: |
| When I first applied to jobs in Korea in spring 2012, I had 3 interviews right away, a job offer the next day, and I was in Korea a few weeks following. However, these days I am finding it hard to even get a reply from a school or recruiter. |
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creeper1
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:37 am Post subject: my view |
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I'm pretty sure the OP's experiences are alien to 99% of the posters on here. As foreign looking foreigners we allow employers to fill classrooms and make our bosses serious dough.
A couple of questions OP - you said you worked in Gyeonggi do long enough to build up friendships there. Why on earth did you leave in the first place?
PS provides good vacation and hagwons will usually allow you time at home between contracts.
What are your long term career plans? 30 is pretty old to be in TEFL. For most people TEFL is something done straight out of college before beginning their real career. |
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NohopeSeriously
Joined: 17 Jan 2011
Location: The Christian Right-Wing Educational Republic of Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| parker82 wrote: |
| I wish I had a gyopo's status. I would have Korean fluency and an F-visa which I've seen as requirements in many job postings. |
Sorry to burst your bubbles, but being a gyopo doesn't make anything better. I'm a gyopo and I get a lot of trashy racist treatment from Koreans. It's because "I'm not Korean enough" according to those Koreans. Pity those Koreans. They are the victims of their own foolishness. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: my view |
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| creeper1 wrote: |
I'm pretty sure the OP's experiences are alien to 99% of the posters on here. As foreign looking foreigners we allow employers to fill classrooms and make our bosses serious dough.
A couple of questions OP - you said you worked in Gyeonggi do long enough to build up friendships there. Why on earth did you leave in the first place?
PS provides good vacation and hagwons will usually allow you time at home between contracts.
What are your long term career plans? 30 is pretty old to be in TEFL. For most people TEFL is something done straight out of college before beginning their real career. |
Some people go to college in their 20's after working for a few years. 30 isn't too old especially with experience. Maybe you could say that about being 50 without any special qualifications. With all the new requirements and time it takes to get over here, starting ESL here in your late 20's to early 30's isn't uncommon. It's when I got my start. Luckliy it was during the boom years (exception for Canada's east coast) and not many came over here. Not much competition and easy to get in. I just stayed put as I get older and try to finally get out of debt. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
Weigookin74, read what the OP wrote:
| parker82 wrote: |
What I have been experiencing now definitely does not match up with what I experienced when I first applied to jobs in spring 2012. Back then, I gave my picture and resume to two recruiters and instantly had three interviews. The day following, I had a job.
Now, I send out my picture and resume and can't even get one interview with anyone. |
The state of Western economies is not the sole determiner of the ESL job market in Korea. In fact, there are many complex factors changing things.
| parker82 wrote: |
| When I first applied to jobs in Korea in spring 2012, I had 3 interviews right away, a job offer the next day, and I was in Korea a few weeks following. However, these days I am finding it hard to even get a reply from a school or recruiter. |
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March, 2008 - Epik tried to hire 5 new foriegners for my town as part of it's expansion. One showed up. They couldn't find anyone else. Then finally in May, another one came in her late 30's. Then in June, a crabby 58 year old woman showed up. Then in July, two more teachers in their 50's showed up. I felt odd being in my late 20's in the countryside, to say the least.
Autumn 2008, economies around the world tanks. Early months of 2009, unemployment rates soar.
March, 2009 - an even bigger expansion and only one of the foriegners from the previous year renewed. So, the target was 8 new teachers and they all showed up in March - on time. Six months later, they decided to open up and English village and hire another 6. They all showed up on time too. These were mixed age groups.
March 2010 - teachers not only showed up on time, but they were all young early 20's. (Which has always been the preferred Korean demographic that most places outside of Seoul couldn't get before.)
So, yes, the economies back home, especially in the states has flooded the ESL market here. If the US unemployment rate goes back below 5%, most grads will go for the companies recruiting on campus which currently are not. There was less hiring for public schools when I first got here and the market still ahd teacher shortages.
Figuring this out ain't rocket science.
Fact is ESL was for normal folks who had the misfortune of being born in bad economic places like eastern Canada, the deep south, rural small town Montana, and the like. It was also a place for the rejects from more booming places that couldn't get a job in spite of a great economy with lots of jobs because they were messed up in the head. It was also a place for those from booming areas, relatively normal, but just wanted to travel a bit before settlig into a career back home.
The recession changed all that. While, I don't miss the idiots that use to be here, I do miss the ease of sailing into a job and low supply and high demand driving up wages every year.
Finally, Korea exports to the US. They recovered from the 1997 crash quickly by exporting their way out. This time, the crash was not as severe, but neither could they export their way out like before. The brakes have been on the Korean economy making more poor and also leaving less money for English education than before.
If America would quit screwing around and get their economy booming again, Korea and a lot of other countries would come roaring back too.
I don't doubt the ESL market here is forever changed. Even if things pick up again, I doubt it will be fully like it was pre 2009. But the evidence and lessons of the past does show Korea as having a few good years left in her if things hurry up and get back to booming. This prolonged downturn crashed Korea's ESL market years before it should have reduced itself. It probably would not have evolved into a Japan like environment until well into the next decade otherwise. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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| NohopeSeriously wrote: |
| parker82 wrote: |
| I wish I had a gyopo's status. I would have Korean fluency and an F-visa which I've seen as requirements in many job postings. |
Sorry to burst your bubbles, but being a gyopo doesn't make anything better. I'm a gyopo and I get a lot of trashy racist treatment from Koreans. It's because "I'm not Korean enough" according to those Koreans. Pity those Koreans. They are the victims of their own foolishness. |
Yeah, I've heard that crap too. I think if a gyopo grows up in a western environment, they can't survive here for long. But if they grew up in a very large Korean community and keep themselves somewhat more Korean and more isolated, then they thrive here quite well. |
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Harpeau
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Coquitlam, BC
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 7:22 am Post subject: |
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I feel for you OP. I'm wondering about your D-10, are you allowed to work on it? If there is an advantage, then advertise that you have it.
Many Koreans seem to be prejudiced toward south Asian people. Here is a crazy idea- maybe try to lighten your skin color or wear a light kind of make-up. Add more brightness to your photos. Maybe these are dumb ideas.
Get rid of facial hair and get your eyebrows professionally waxed. Get professionally made photos. Dress up nicely.
Talk to your friends in Korea and get them to help you with your search.
Get out in your community (US is it?) and meet local Koreans. Make connections, make friends. They just might have someone over in Korea that they know about.
Get involved with Tai kwon do, Korean Churches, Korean Buddhism...make connections.
Study a bit of Korean language. Go to a small rural town...you just might like it.
Remember, the bottom line is making the adjumas happy. That is very difficult since they ideally want a mid-20s woman teaching their daughter.
Best of luck to you! |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:39 pm Post subject: |
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Weigookin74, check out the latest economic news:
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College graduates claimed the bulk of last month’s job gains, while high-school grads with no college lost jobs, highlighting a persistent divide in the recovery.
The net number of jobs held by Americans age 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree rose by a seasonally adjusted 754,000 in November. |
| Quote: |
| The unemployment rate for college grads fell by four-tenths in November to 3.4%, the lowest since November 2008, during the last recession. That’s not far off from pre-recession levels, when the rate typically hovered between 2% and 3%. |
| Quote: |
| Meanwhile, the jobless rate for high-school grads with no college was 7.3% in November |
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parker82
Joined: 13 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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Weeks one and two... 0 interviews.
Week three... 4 interviews.
This story has a happy ending; I got a job! The location, hours, age group, start date, and other conditions are excellent. Most importantly, the owner interviewed me directly and sounds like a totally cool boss to work for. |
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parker82
Joined: 13 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2013 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Marquis wrote: |
| I threw my resume and contact information on the job board here and within hours I was talking to people, and by the second week I spoke with more than a dozen potential places, had several interviews either done or lined up, I even got job offers from China! I was rather amused by it considering I wasn't even considering China but, I did consider it once they offered me a job. |
Thanks for the advice! I actually tried posting on the job board before. I got respsonses but never an interview.
Ilsan is a very nice location! I've visited it twice.
| ThingsComeAround wrote: |
I think you are applying to the wrong places (change to a new forum/website) and working with bad recruiters. I've had some real crap recruiters who would call me once and never again, I didn't push them for anything as it felt like I was making them earn their living. Find someone who knows how to work and you will come out on top.
I knew two Asian Americans, one Japanese one Chinese, one of whom still lives there and is doing well. If you are still in Korea then hit the pavement and knock on doors. There are always jobs available and so long as you don't give up you can get what you want. |
I definitely agree I was applying to the wrong places. For two weeks, I was constantly checking and emailing jobs on ESLCafe and Craigslist. However, I realized a lot of those jobs recruiters HAD to advertise because the schools were looking for something a bit specific.
When I lived in Korea, I only met three Asian-American hagwon teachers (who didn't work for a large company like Pagoda or YBM), and I was the only Asian native teacher in my city. Pretty sad.
| FastForward wrote: |
how many recruiters are you working with? Last year I think I had sent an introductory email to around 40 recruiters and out of those, only 15-20 responded. From the 15-20 that responded, about 4-5 were actually on the ball and appeared to be trying hard to get me a job.
If you haven't already, send every single recruiter on the job board an intro email with resume and photo attached. Within this email state your preferred location. Also are you willing to work kindy? Because there seems to be way more kindy jobs and far less elementary jobs in the job market now days. |
I think I was working with like 100. lol.
Among them, I did find a few good recruiters who I felt were really trying hard to get me an interview despite my "less than desirable" looks. Haha.
I was also willing to work kindy and applied to those too. I was told that on top of a caucasian teacher, kindy jobs wanted a woman, kindy experience, and/or child development studies. Those jobs were actually harder to get despite being plentiful!
| creeper1 wrote: |
A couple of questions OP - you said you worked in Gyeonggi do long enough to build up friendships there. Why on earth did you leave in the first place?
PS provides good vacation and hagwons will usually allow you time at home between contracts.
What are your long term career plans? 30 is pretty old to be in TEFL. For most people TEFL is something done straight out of college before beginning their real career. |
Upon renewing with my hagwon, I asked them for time off to see my family, and they said it wasn't possible. I later resigned and left Korea to see my family for Thanksgiving (and soon for Christmas). It's been 1.5 years since I spent any real time with relatives.
Also, there was something I didn't like about the hagwon which I won't get into here. I needed a change of jobs.
As for my long term goals, TEFL is my plan B. If my plan A doesn't work out (which I do on the side), I plan to get an MA in TESOL and perhaps teach in a university whether in Korea, America, or another country.
| NohopeSeriously wrote: |
| Sorry to burst your bubbles, but being a gyopo doesn't make anything better. I'm a gyopo and I get a lot of trashy racist treatment from Koreans. It's because "I'm not Korean enough" according to those Koreans. Pity those Koreans. They are the victims of their own foolishness. |
I'm sorry to hear that. I have quite a few gyopo friends in Korea. But in terms of job hunting alone, being a gyopo has got to be better than being a non-Korean Asian, right?
| Weigookin74 wrote: |
| Some people go to college in their 20's after working for a few years. 30 isn't too old especially with experience. Maybe you could say that about being 50 without any special qualifications. With all the new requirements and time it takes to get over here, starting ESL here in your late 20's to early 30's isn't uncommon. It's when I got my start. Luckliy it was during the boom years (exception for Canada's east coast) and not many came over here. Not much competition and easy to get in. I just stayed put as I get older and try to finally get out of debt. |
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only person who started in Korea in that age range! =) Although many teachers in Korea were in their 20's, I knew quite a few that were well in their 30's and some in their 40's.
| Harpeau wrote: |
I feel for you OP. I'm wondering about your D-10, are you allowed to work on it? If there is an advantage, then advertise that you have it.
Many Koreans seem to be prejudiced toward south Asian people. Here is a crazy idea- maybe try to lighten your skin color or wear a light kind of make-up. Add more brightness to your photos. Maybe these are dumb ideas.
Get rid of facial hair and get your eyebrows professionally waxed. Get professionally made photos. Dress up nicely. |
Thanks for the advice and words of encouragement!
Actually, I am not south Asian. The problem with my picture is that I look "too Asian" (yes, I actually got this as feedback from a few hagwon owners). Recruiters constantly ask me, "Are you Korean?" and send me gyopo positions even after telling them that I'm not Korean.
In regards to the D-10, it's actually an advantage; they can switch it to an E-2 easily. However, I heard it can turn off some schools purely because they've never heard of it before.
Overall, thank you everyone for checking out my post and offering your feedback! I will see you guys in Korea! =D |
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Marquis
Joined: 25 Jul 2013
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| Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2013 5:40 am Post subject: |
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| parker82 wrote: |
Weeks one and two... 0 interviews.
Week three... 4 interviews.
This story has a happy ending; I got a job! The location, hours, age group, start date, and other conditions are excellent. Most importantly, the owner interviewed me directly and sounds like a totally cool boss to work for. |
Excellent! Glad to hear it. |
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