Korean Job Discussion Forums

[norellleung]

I hear that it is more difficult for people with physically Asian feautures to get hired in Korea because blond haired blue eyed people are more marketable to parents. Of course I realize that this means I need to make more effort searching... and plenty of physically Asian people do work as English teachers in Korea.

(Im third generation American. My English is perfect)

My question is does anyone have any advice for me? Any particular agencies or schools that are more liberal and would be good places for me to contact to increase my chances? Thanks!

[DosEquisXX]

If an academy rejects you based on your skin color or race, then they are doing you a favor.

[ttompatz]

Leave ethnicity out of the equation (anywhere you apply and not just in Korea).

You are NOT "Asian-American" - you ARE "American."

Born in America.
Raised in America.
Educated in American.

You are American.

.

[Old Painless]

[wishfullthinkng]

advice:

if you really want a job here and you aren't attractive then doctor your photo with photoshop. fix imperfections, lighten skin tone, even go all out and restructure if you must. if you are attractive, apply to the most lucrative jobs and revel in how quickly they want you.

ugly asians don't get very far here. attractive ones do though because korea is so focused on looks.

note that when i say "attractive" i don't mean like your friends write on your facebook wall that you are so pretty. because those that have that happen to them tend to not actually be that attractive and sometimes flat out ugly. i mean attractive as in you make people's heads turn in a good way as you walk by them.

[Hokie21]

Think of it this way.

Step 1: Be Handsome

Step 2: Be attractive

Step 3: Don't be unattractive

This workplace video should help.

https://www.cloudy.ec/v/09b18e827769e

[creeper1]

I have contacts in Korea that are fat, balding and unpleasant.

How can anyone explain their having a job and their massive success (financially and otherwise)?

Looks are important but the massive demand for native english speakers means you will get a job.

Not only that you will bank serious amounts of cash..

[Hokie21]

[jvalmer]

You can find a job easily, even if you're Asian-American. If you're ethnically Korean, then how you fit in culturally is probably the biggest factor. If your Asian, they'll expect to mostly tow the Korean line, but they'll expect some mistakes. If you're white, all cultural expectations are out the window and you're just a marketing tool to them.

If I were you try finding a pubic school job outside of the Seoul-metro area at first. If you can hack it in the country-side, then it's even easier to go to Seoul later. Consider medium sized cities (populations between 100,000-1million). My advice is find a city along the Gyeongbu Rail line (main line between Seoul and Busan). That line gives you pretty easy access to 4 major cities, and Seoul.

[husker]

EPIK doesn't care about race but you may need a 100+ hour TEFL/TESOL or CELTA with a classroom component.

[Adam Carolla]

[jenphan]

I'm going through the same situation. I was told by friends that I wouldn't need any teaching certificate to get a job in korea, so i applied through EPIK, got rejected. Then I decided to get a 120 hour TEFL and was hoping to get a job at a hagwon where my friend worked, rejected because I was Asian (half vietnamese and half cambodian).

It's been over a month now and i've been applying through over 15 recruiters and the few that has gotten back to me didn't sound so happy once they found out that I was Asian.

I'm 24, born and raised in 'murica, speak perfect English. I don't have professional teaching experiences but I just recently volunteered at a dance studio to help teach kids how to dance.

I'm hoping Korvia or Footprints can help me land a job in Korea.

[ttompatz]