Korean Job Discussion Forums

[murphy]

Hi all

I'm thinking of coming to Korea (for the 1st time) in about a month. I've been over the FAQ's, but there are just a few things I'd like anyone with experience to help me out with.

1) Recruiters: I've sent countless applications off to individual schools but the responses only seem to come back from the seedier places, and this just seems too tiresome an approach to getting hired. So I've gotten hold of a few recruiters that come generally recommended: Footprints, TeachKoreanz, EDRA, Morning Calm, ESLjobKorea and Kim & Joe. I also contacted ETEC, and thought of contacting UEC and ETIK, as they had some nice jobs advertised. ARE these recruiters good, and could anyone recommend me any other good ones?

2) part-time work: I'm coming over with a friend who is only going to be around for 6 months. How easy is it to get a short contract like this? Would he be better just going to Taiwan, where there are hourly jobs?

3) Location: I think I want to live in a big centre like Seoul or Busan, as I am keen to experience the nightlife and meet lots of people etc. I guess I could also weather being in a smaller, more idyllic location though, were foreigners seem to be much-loved. Are there any other nice places (I hear that Changwon is quite pretty), or conversely, which are the incontrovertibly hideous or dull spots?

[margaret]

I just signed a contract through Koreana Teachers Club and am very pleased so far. It took them a few days after my contacting them to find me a job I want, a few more days to arrange an interview and a few more to send the contract. In the same amount of time, I finally got a response from a job I had inquired about posted on the Job Board here and heard back from People Recruit.
I've never gone through Epik but there have been sad tales posted here. I guess it's pot luck.
Margaret

[peppermint]

There are six month contracts available, sometimes, but you won't see many of those advertised. The guy could just come and put in his month's notice at five months, so he can leave after six. It's a tiny bit dodgy, but totally legal and stuff.

[laura]

I researched recruiters and reviewed so many job offers before coming to Korea on a 6 month contract. They're rare, but they're out there. I was also fortunate enough to end up in Pusan, which I thought was desirable, being a relaxed, warm, coastal city. Again, lucky. I will say that a quaint little country area isn't as romantic as it may sound. I'm one of very few (and by few I mean 3) other foreigners in my little "suburb" of the city. Pusan is a great location, and I'd choose it over Seoul, but again it's personality and preference. You can find excitment and nightlife in any city, but I would say if you're looking for a foreign friendly area, don't venture too far into the sticks like I did. It's not far from nightlife and other foreigners, but the day to day life is much more difficult in a smaller area that doesn't cater in any way to a foreign crowd.

The recruiting agency I went through was esljobkorea. They have been awesome and far exceeded any expectations I had of recruiters. I was hesitant to trust anyone after reading the hype, but I found a great one. My recriuter's name is Su, and she has been there for me constantly, for more than just work related issues. So if you go with them, or at least her, she'll take care of you.

Good luck!

[DF10]

1. Recruiters can find you good jobs. Hold out if the first ones seem "seedy". Really, if you're in no rush, just hold out until you hear of a really good one.
2. I've heard (maybe only online) about shorter than a year contracts. I was in Korea for a year and a half, though, and never knew anyone who actually had one. If the person had enough to get along for a while, they might be able to get private work, but I wouldn't rely on it as its haphazard piecework.
3. The bigger cities have better, but not great, access to foreign goods (including people). In my experience, foreigners are not "much-loved" in smaller towns. They are gawked at even more than in Seoul, Busan or Daegu. Still, there are some nice smaller towns...Seokcho is nice.