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wonkavite62
Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Location: Jeollanamdo, South Korea.
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 Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 6:20 pm Post subject: Why Am I Not Getting Jobs? |
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I recently completed a contract at a public school in Jeollanamdo on Korea's south coast. I have been looking for work for 3 months-I started well before my contract finished, and I still don't have a job. I am in Korea and my visa will expire soon.
Shortly before the job ended, I did a Skype call with Paju English Village, and they were keen to take me on. But suddenly communication ceased. I sent phone calls and e-mails. The reply-a week later- was that due to the Sewol ferry disaster, the English Village was in major trouble, and parents were pulling their kids out.
I have applied to lots of other jobs since but I am being ignored, it seems. I apply to hagwons, kindergarten jobs and so on but no replies. I even applied to Chungdahm Learning but was ignored too. Why?
A lot of the jobs advertised now start in July or August, anyway.
I am a slightly older teacher-although I don't mention it unless asked. I am from the U.K. (i.e. not Uncle Sam), and I have quite a lot of experience: 2 years in China, a year in Korea, a year in Japan, and more. I missed the boat for GEPIK this year-but I would probably be hired by them. I applied for adult hagwon jobs but was ignored too, although I thought my age-45-would not be a problem there. What is happening? Are we entering a slightly quiet time of year?
I could apply for university jobs too. |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: Why Am I Not Getting Jobs? |
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| wonkavite62 wrote: |
| I have quite a lot of experience: 2 years in China, a year in Korea, a year in Japan, and more. |
Sadly experience is not valued in korea, rather it counts against you.
Employers are intimidated by it, they want clueless 20 yr olds that they can push around.
Hello.
It has been a flooded market here since 2009 but if you are over 35 and male then its virtually impossible.
China. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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| wonkavite62 wrote: |
| I even applied to Chungdahm Learning but was ignored too. |
Ouch! (That place sucks. It has a reputation for sketchiness.)
| wonkavite62 wrote: |
| What is happening? Are we entering a slightly quiet time of year? |
Actually, right now is (and has traditionally been) the easiest time to get jobs (compared to the rest of the year). Why? The new batch or college grads hasn't quite finished/gotten their diploma yet. If the job market sucks for you now then wow, it's gonna get even worse in the next couple months.
| wonkavite62 wrote: |
| I could apply for university jobs too. |
What are your quals? Without a masters and two years prior experience teaching university credit classes, you are most likely ineligible. |
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Ballerina2012
Joined: 17 Jan 2012
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wonkavite62
Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Location: Jeollanamdo, South Korea.
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 7:16 pm Post subject: Oh |
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I will look at the Facebook page, but Jeolla nam do, or anything with Jeolla in it sucks. I wanted to escape from that province. There is limited social life (although Mokpo and Gwangjiu must be better) and I taught thee for a year and so I know what I am talking about. The western people there are cliquey. I find that rural areas [/b]attract people who want a quiet life and few friends.
I deserve better. YES I taught in a small city before and had a good time, but that was in another part of Korea. |
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Ballerina2012
Joined: 17 Jan 2012
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| Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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oh, that's too bad. I teach in Gwangju, and I don't think it's bad..
btw, I am older than you...and have an MAT and over 15 years of experience. I just try to enjoy the experience of being overseas and traveling. I would love to teach at a big international school in Seoul, but fact is I am older and I am not what they want. So I just try to go with it..
Good Luck to you.. |
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wonkavite62
Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Location: Jeollanamdo, South Korea.
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 12:52 am Post subject: Well |
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| I will take part of that comment back. Gwangju is fun, and I have been there. It's fun at the weekends. |
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Speck7
Joined: 05 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 3:06 am Post subject: |
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| OP maybe it's a sign for you to put your big boy pants on and go back home to find a real job? You can't be Peter Pan forever you know. Go back get a real job with a 401K and retirement plan. Stop day dreaming through life and get some ambition, it'll hit you like a ton of bricks later on if you aren't careful. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 4:46 am Post subject: |
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An interesting discussion going on in the International Forums:
| bradwelljackson wrote: |
| The demand for English teachers in South Korea has been going down. Is this a trend worldwide? |
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=106905
| Chinaski wrote: |
The demand for teachers in Korea is definitely going down. It started in about 2007/2008.
At one time you could have a full time gig and go mental with privates. Prior to that, if you have a m/w/f 6-8pm private and lost it you could literally replace THAT EXACT SLOT within a week.
You could also find many blocked privates for 35-40k won an hour. It is not as easy now to find blocks, and the pay is often 30k an hour if so...and the hours are fewer.
The demand for full time teachers may look the same, but the demand in general is definitely down. |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 4:46 am Post subject: |
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| Speck7 wrote: |
| OP maybe it's a sign for you to put your big boy pants on and go back home to find a real job? You can't be Peter Pan forever you know. Go back get a real job with a 401K and retirement plan. Stop day dreaming through life and get some ambition, it'll hit you like a ton of bricks later on if you aren't careful. |
gotta love people telling other people what to do with their life.
(invariably 20 yr old grads instructing people double their age).
..thanks for the laugh  |
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Scorpion
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 11:17 pm Post subject: Re: Why Am I Not Getting Jobs? |
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| Chaparrastique wrote: |
| It has been a flooded market here since 2009 but if you are over 35 and male then its virtually impossible. |
Not true. I know plenty of guys in their forties working here. It's not a huge obstacle. But yeah, they basically don't give a toss about experience. (Wonder why the kids aren't learning?) As for not getting job offers, I'd say either you're an eyesore or your previous employer has stabbed you in the back. That happened to me once here. I got a good reference letter but wasn't getting any job offers. This went on for months. Then a recruiter told me that the vice-principle had given me a negative evaluation over the phone. This despite the positive referral letter. Korea Sparkling.
Anyway, good luck with the job search. |
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Scorpion
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Speck7 wrote: |
| OP maybe it's a sign for you to put your big boy pants on and go back home to find a real job? You can't be Peter Pan forever you know. Go back get a real job with a 401K and retirement plan. Stop day dreaming through life and get some ambition, it'll hit you like a ton of bricks later on if you aren't careful. |
You sound like a dick. |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 9:55 pm Post subject: |
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| You're not a woman. Women can land jobs, any jobs, as long as they're breathing. |
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Speck7
Joined: 05 Sep 2012
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| Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 4:28 am Post subject: |
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| Scorpion wrote: |
| Speck7 wrote: |
| OP maybe it's a sign for you to put your big boy pants on and go back home to find a real job? You can't be Peter Pan forever you know. Go back get a real job with a 401K and retirement plan. Stop day dreaming through life and get some ambition, it'll hit you like a ton of bricks later on if you aren't careful. |
You sound like a dick. |
I assure you I'm not. |
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DosEquisXX
Joined: 04 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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For a society that supposedly respects age and elders, South Korea is a very ageist country when it comes to hiring practices. Life expectancy is continuing to increase yet the mentality regarding age is inflexible to that fact.
It's sad that experience is looked down upon here. I guess the idea is if they actually learn and improve, they won't need to go to their school anymore as they will have learned the language. But if they provide the illusion of teaching but don't actually teach them, then they will continue to feel the need to pay the school every month.
I'm happier in Europe. Not richer, but happier. |
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