Korean Job Discussion Forums

Us in DC · Joined: 22 Jul 2004

Yeah at this point we are seriously considering just up, but not doing it until January. So I can be here for Chrismas and whatever. I read all the FAQs about just showing up and looking for a job.

But I still have some questions like:
What is the best week of the month to arrive? Does it matter?
What are the chances that we could find separate jobs but live together and how would that work? Somebody once told me that we could manage this but I have mentioned this to a bunch of recruiters and they act they didn't read it.
...and I had a few more but I can't remember them right now

bosintang · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:34 pm Post subject:

Us in DC · Joined: 22 Jul 2004

Okay cool. So does looking for a job in Korea give you more or less leverage?

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

bosintang · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 7:01 am Post subject:

Us in DC · Joined: 22 Jul 2004

Why is that, that it gives you more leverage. I would think it would give you less because they know you are there on borrowed time so they can say no to your requests. What am I not understanding here?

bosintang · Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 8:55 am Post subject:

Us in DC · Joined: 22 Jul 2004

My real concern is that we come over to Korea and I have a bunch of interviews lined up through recruiters, web ads or whatever and I end up in the same situation I am in now where all I am being shown in totally crappy contracts that include upon other things split shifts. Then I am basically in the same situation of taking a job I don't really like all that much minus a plane ticket and having to go to Osaka on top of it. Am I being too pessimistic?

Why will I have better luck finding the right kind of offers in Korea as opposed to the states? I realize I can see the school for myself first hand -I don't mean to discount the importance of that but what if I can't even get that far. Are schools more likely to give me a decent schedule and negotiate on the contract if I am already in Korea?

I am not posing this question to anyone specific. I am happy to get any feedback. And I have already done a ton of searching and reading the FAQ's.

shifty · Joined: 21 Jun 2004

For me the only advantage of being in Korea is the opportunity to inspect the apartment. Even that is debatable. I had a nice postage stamp, just needed a place to hang my hat and was genuinely happy, when I discovered that the building was the rendezvous for a horde of prostitutes, all with the highest of high-heels.

I didn't sleep for 3 months and on weekends it was worse. I often thought I was on the verge of a stroke and had to stay cool in the classroom.

Initially I thought the boss was a sweetheart and if I'd had a face-to-face interview and physical inspection of the school at that time, I'd have snapped the job up. Slowly the screws were unfurled, with me steadily ceding, to keep the peace. As the only waygook, this is crucial for me.

Not too much value should be placed on the opportunity of meeting with the current teachers. They need a favourable reference, final salary, severance and in my case airfare.

Then, your own personality. If you're bewildered in a big strange city you'll be vulnerable to the above scenario.

Get the job on the internet, just ask the right questions. Get email addresses of current staff and tell them upfront that you appreciate any moral dilemmas they may have.