Korean Job Discussion Forums

[podjs]

i've been talking with a recruiter about teaching in a public school in gyeonggi-do. she tells me that as long as i get my documents (transcripts, medical check-up form, criminal background check, etc.) to her in time i'll be 100% guaranteed a job at a public school.

now when i hear a recruiter tell me that a job is 100% guaranteed, to me that means the job is absolute sh*t and they are having a hard time finding teachers.

am i right or is my natural distrust of recruiters (and korean business owners for that matter) getting the better of me? should i be wary of public schools?

[Paji eh Wong]

Is she saying you are guarenteed a spot at a specific school, or at a public school in general?

If she's talking about a specific school, then I think your chances of getting the job are good, but I'm not sure. If she's talking generally, DO NOT send her your documents. She just wants to limit your options.

[podjs]

she's talking generally. not any specific school. as in there are so many open positions in gyeonggi-do that i'll be offered a job as soon as all the documents are in order.

i still have my choice of cities like uijeongbu, anyang, ansan, etc.

[Paji eh Wong]

If she's speaking in general, go through the process of finding a specific school, do your homework, talk to people there, get her to send you a contract, then send her the documents if things check out.

[Derrek]

No, the jobs aren't guarenteed crap. There are literally just that many open positions out there. Gyonngi has limited vacation time to 2 weeks, and this has made the jobs less than interesting to a lot of people. You can read all about that, and other issues on this board.

Overall, however, I'd consider it less of a "risk" than a hagwon job, depending on where you end up. You'll be teaching tons more students, however, and doing a lot of sitting around.

It will be a crapshoot as to whether or not your school turns out to be an OK one, or a good one... and a few here and there are not good, but more often that not, it's more secure than a hagwon gig.

If you have the qualifications (B.A., look white, and are from a preferred country), you can get one of these jobs just as easily as the recruiter says.

[mack the knife]

Your recruiter is (most likely) referring to GEPIK schools. Like Derrek said, it's a crapshoot. Last year they hired a bunch of people (as guinea pigs) and sent them to schools all around Gyeongi-do. Roughly half of them are re-upping. That's probably better than hogwon odds, but certainly not stellar.

Do a "Gepik" search on this board and you'll find all the answers you're looking for.

[Grotto]

I would still recommend GEPIK over a hogwan hands down. There are less problems at the school than there is at the hogwan level.

[Derrek]

[Grotto]

I have a nice uni gig lined up

[Derrek]