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ninjamonkey

Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Location: where the streets have no name
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject: SOS chinese canadian guy having hard time finding work |
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advice, schools or agencies that will actually want an asian teacher or your pity (jk) will be appreciated.
is there any other chinese decent teachers out there that can give me a few words of wisdom from first hand experience? |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Your best bet is to come to Korea and look for jobs after you arrive. That personal contact often does the trick where an anonymous e-mail contact just doesn't.
If that isn't possible, focus on the fact you are a native speaker. If you can teach TOEIC, apply to those places.
And yes, talk to the other ethnic Asians who have found work. Jobs are out there. |
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joe_doufu

Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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Make sure the picture you e-mail makes you look very "American". I mean, don't send the nerdy high school photo of you wearing a tie. Is a shot of you in your convertible with a couple of good looking blondes available? |
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Badmojo

Joined: 07 Mar 2004 Location: I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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Can he speak Mandarin too? |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Is a shot of you in your convertible with a couple of good looking blondes available? |
I do not suggest following this advice. Koreans like their teachers to be professional-looking. While a geeky high school picture is not suggested, a suit and tie is. |
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joe_doufu

Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 6:53 am Post subject: |
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Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
Quote: |
Is a shot of you in your convertible with a couple of good looking blondes available? |
I do not suggest following this advice. Koreans like their teachers to be professional-looking. While a geeky high school picture is not suggested, a suit and tie is. |
OK I was exaggerating. But if, for instance, the OP has a "standard Asian guy haircut" he might try styling his hair differently for the photo. Also smile in the photo... Asians from Asia rarely do. DON'T wear a short-sleeve button up shirt with a tie... not only is it the least attractive/fashionable men's outfit possible, it is also the standard uniform of millions of Korean salarymen. Wear a sweater or turtleneck, an item never seen in Korea. DO look professional but DO NOT look like a robot, er i mean a Korean. |
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Dan

Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Sunny Glendale, CA
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:25 am Post subject: |
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My advice is always to NOT GO TO KOREA. You will only leave drunk and bitter. |
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ninjamonkey

Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Location: where the streets have no name
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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joe_doufu wrote: |
Make sure the picture you e-mail makes you look very "American". I mean, don't send the nerdy high school photo of you wearing a tie. Is a shot of you in your convertible with a couple of good looking blondes available? |
i was under the impression that they should be 'professional'? i've been using this one
maybe something like this?
[img]http://www.pwn3d.com/media/photo.php?file=/europe/wang%27s%20photos/paris%202005/_res/res_IMG_0935.jpg[/img][/img] |
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ninjamonkey

Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Location: where the streets have no name
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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Badmojo wrote: |
Can he speak Mandarin too? |
yah i'm fluent |
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joe_doufu

Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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The first photo is probably OK... i couldn't see the second one. I usually send a couple photos of myself, one in a tie and one of me on the Great Wall of China because it makes me look sporty and worldly. |
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small1
Joined: 25 May 2005
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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I've been finding the same problem...I am a female Chinese Australian: good that I'm female, not so good that I am Australian (many jobs are looking for the good ole' American accent) and once they see I am Chinese, I don't hear from them again.
I guess I'm at an advantage because I am already in Seoul, so I've been turning up on their doorstep. Oh well...back to writing more applications...  |
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ninjamonkey

Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Location: where the streets have no name
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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 11:43 pm Post subject: |
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small1 wrote: |
I've been finding the same problem...I am a female Chinese Australian: good that I'm female, not so good that I am Australian (many jobs are looking for the good ole' American accent) and once they see I am Chinese, I don't hear from them again.
I guess I'm at an advantage because I am already in Seoul, so I've been turning up on their doorstep. Oh well...back to writing more applications...  |
i feel your pain. i have some aussy chinese friends. meet some cool ones while i was in prague actually. but i just got an (seems like pretty good) offer like a hour ago. i took TEFL and that seemed to make a big difference, don't know id that will help. keep looking! |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2005 12:36 am Post subject: |
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Mr. ninjamonkey,
If you are a native English speaker who is also fluent in Mandarin, you should heavily emphasize that in your applications. There are tons of hakwons that teach Chinese writing. There is a growing number of Koreans studying Mandarin. If you feel competent, stress all the things that you can teach. You have a lot to offer, especially to smaller hakwons.
Good luck
PS: Tighten your tie.  |
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keithinkorea

Joined: 17 Mar 2004
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 8:00 am Post subject: |
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Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
Mr. ninjamonkey,
If you are a native English speaker who is also fluent in Mandarin, you should heavily emphasize that in your applications. There are tons of hakwons that teach Chinese writing. There is a growing number of Koreans studying Mandarin. If you feel competent, stress all the things that you can teach. You have a lot to offer, especially to smaller hakwons.
Good luck
PS: Tighten your tie.  |
Yep tighten your tie. If you're going to wear a tie do it properly mate!
The two photos idea is a good one and I'll do that when I get around to looking for a new job. Smart casual business is how I usually send my photos in for a job, my first job had me in a suit top and jeans against a brick wall looking very friendly and approachable. Second job I just had a picture of me hiking up Soraksan mountain, smiling and looking friendly. In Korea image is everything....
To the OP you look too much to be a sterotypical 'salary man' for the photo to have an impact. Perhaps send a couple of pics one of the 'professional' you, suited and booted in an urban north American environment , maybe another pic of you in a much less formal setting.
Good luck in your job search and yes underline the fact that you can also speak Chinese, it'll only help in your search. |
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small1
Joined: 25 May 2005
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Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2005 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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I think emphasising your experience, skills is a very important thing.....I have had enough prospective employers tell me that I am not the right person they are looking for because I am not Caucasian to make me think that skills and experience don't matter at all in the cases where they just want someone that looks right...
Hope you are having some success at finding a good position Ninjamonkey....and I will keep persisting.....  |
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