Korean Job Discussion Forums

freebeerandchicken · Joined: 02 May 2005 Location: Seoul

i've been focusing most of my energy trying to find a 'good' job with a 'good' school (or school branch) and a 'good' director and a 'good contract', etc etc. theres so much to watch out for, seems like the more research i do, the more i learn, the harder it gets to find a 'good' job.

anyhoo, so i have posted resumes on all the message boards and got emails from recruiters.. i've replied to recruiters who sent me potentially good jobs, and sent them my resume, photo, and sometimes a scan of my degree and passport.

now comes the phone interviews!

i've been focusing so much on trying to wade through the BS that i haven't thought much about actual teaching. what can i expect to be asked in a phone interview? i've never taught before and with this in mind, don't really know much about teaching. i don't have curriculum planned, etc. anyone have any tips or insight for me on what to expect in an interview? or on what a hogwan director is looking for in an interview?

merci beacoup!

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

Q: Do you have a degree?
Q: What is your race?
Q: Do you love children?
Q: When can you come here?

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

It all depends. My job sounded great, but when I had my interview I was a bit worried. My recruiter told the school that I was worried about being the only foreign teacher there, so my interview consisted of "please come to our school, I will be your friend!". They were trying to convince me to take the job instead of actually screening me!

I went on first impressions and instinct, and I took the job regardless. Turns out to be an awesome job and the teachers are great... and yes, we are good friends!

Lizara · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Location: Seoul

I just had a phone interview. Four questions...

1) Hello, is this Lizara?
2) Is your degree a four-year degree?
3) Are you Canadian?
4) Are you available to start ASAP?

okay, thanks, we'll be in touch, bye.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Job interviews? In korea? A joke! Seriously...a joke. Especially for a hakwon position! No better for a university.

PolyChronic Time Girl · Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Location: Korea Exited

One of the comments made to me during a face-to-face interview:

"You looked more Caucasian in your picture." (note: director's sheer disappointment in his voice)

And I didn't get the job, not even a polite rejection email...hmmmmm Confused

guangho · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:58 am Post subject:

PCTG you look plenty Caucasian to me. Wink

Generally, since most Koreans can't speak Englishee to save their lives, if they actually bother with the ordeal of an interview, you're in.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

To partly-quote another post today... if you don't get it, just poop in the stairwell! Laughing

funplanet · Joined: 20 Jun 2003 Location: The new Bucheon!

1. Can you use chopsticks?

2. Do you like Korean food?

3. Can you drink soju?

4. How do you feel about Dokkdo?

livinginkorea · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Location: Korea, South of the border

Don't forget to ask some questions yourself!!

Such questions can touch on housing, working conditions, materials, how big is the place where you live ... and so on.

Don't forget that they want YOU to work there since they are trying to sell the job to you!! If they call you then they are interested. So, don't be sorry that you didn't ask before.

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

"how soon can you come here?"

finished.

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

I had a fantastic telephone interview once with "Jimmy Page" (he chose his English name. At least I think so..)

The "interview" lasted about 45 minutes, if I hadn't accepted a job previously that day I would have taken the job at his school. He was a teacher, not a director. I did tell him 24 times that I couldnt' go to his school because I had already accepted another job, but he didn't really want to listen to me or something.

He did, however, sing three different songs to me.. I believe two were childrens songs and one was a Zepplin number. He played guitar at the same time. He also boasted about how his boss was a "millionaire". My oh-so-unfunny joke of how I hoped he'd be a millionaire twice over at the very minimum each month when pay day came round didn't really work too well. Anyway, the singing Mr. Page seemed really cool, it probably would have been a fun place to work.

Anyway, telephone interviews can be fun. Don't be nervous, they'll probably be like begging dogs in most instances.

-HE

freebeerandchicken · Joined: 02 May 2005 Location: Seoul

well, thanks everyone for reassuring me that theres nothing to worry about. i've prepared a slew of questions to ask them.

i think this interview is actually with the recruitor though. actually i have a bit of a story: apparently this recruitor called my house last night at 1am. i wasn't there, but my housemate woke up and answered. the recruitor, calling from korea, asked what might be a better time to catch me.

my housemate: "i don't know, maybe in the morning!? or in the afternoon?"

the recruitor: "ah yes, you have to understand that there is a big time difference here".

who has to understand that there is a time difference? lol.

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

I've had a few of those simple ones.
Q: So what made you choose Korea?
Q: Do you have Korean friends?

And I've had one or two "real" interviews.
Q: How would you handle potential discipline breakdowns?
Q: What are your impressions of teaching English in SK?
Q: How would you describe your approach to teaching English?

guangho · Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 1:59 am Post subject:

My favorite interview was with a bushiban owner in Taiwan. I was in Albany, NY at the time, so we talked around 1 am. The interview:

Him: "You America?"
Me: "Sorta."
Him: "Can you play guitar?"
Me: "'scuse me?"
Him: "Play guitar. Make children happy. Maybe wear a hat."
Me: "I can...learn."
Him: "Can you fly here Thursday?"