Korean Job Discussion Forums

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

How do you go about a job search? Of course everyone's criteria is different. I just use the internet now. I usually just answer the phone, rarely call. I'm kind of passive I guess. I try to say what I want and not want. I know the ideal job does not exist. I say no kindergarten, no Inchon, no split shift, prefer elementary and middle, getting tired of Seoul but willing to stay if the deal is OK, may like to go south a bit though. Also I will not do demo classes.

Then you look at a contract. What must you have? Less than 10 days vacation is crappy. Any deposit is a reason to look elsewhere. No housing means forget it. Lots more details to consider. Does 40-50 mins = an hour's pay?

Questions? How many students? Other foreign teachers? What materials? Seems almost no school ever says what materials they use. It is important. Some books are crap and will make it hard to teach.

Also interview questions. How do you answer some of them? I don't know. What's your teaching style? I have no idea. How do you control the students? I don't know.

And if the school asks me to give them a sample of writing or take a grammar test, I know I will not work there.

Just a few rambling thoughts from a chronically unemployed bum.

visitor q · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:16 am Post subject:

Are you in Korea? You'll be sure to find something that you like in no time if you are already here. There are jobs everywhere.

Otherwise, I'm sure that a long-timer can give you some advice.

dbee · Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Location: korea

jadude is a long-timer if I'm not mistaken. This was more of a ruminating post that anything else.

If I were you ja, I'd think about maybe getting a nice healthy part-timer gig going on. Something that they don't mind providing a visa for. Then you can always do lesson-exchanges (or whatever) on the side to keep you busy.

It sounds like you need a break from the old routine...

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: The old job search

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:06 pm Post subject:

Job searches have always been easy for me here. Two jobs were lined up for me before I even started looking, and I had to find the other two, which took hardly any time at all.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

Jajdude, seriously, you baffle me. You have been in Korea a hell of a lot longer than I have. Your questions make you sound like a newbie. Did you have your head under a rock the whole time you were in Korea?

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Yeah, sorry about that that but unfortunately I am still clueless. I know a little about a lot of things, but not a lot about even a little.

Maybe I should go on Jeopardy!

I'll take "Dumb Expats for $1000 Alex" Wink

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

Picotrain · Joined: 16 Nov 2005

How do you know he's from Newfoundland? I read the thread up and down and I see no mention of it. I'm from Portugal Cove - St. Philip's, by the way, it's just outside St. John's.
Oh, and the list is very specific, probably well-suited for someone with experience like yourself, but useless for someone with no experience, such as myself.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

Having just recently finished my job search for March, I would definitely say it's better to be pro active about it. I got a middle school gig with 8 weeks vacation plus an extra week to come back to Canada for a family event in September.

Why are you scared to do demo classes? If you can't do them than good luck to ya!....cuz you're gonna need it.

Picotrain · Joined: 16 Nov 2005

[quote="Big Mac]I remember him mentioning in a post a long time ago that he was from Newfoundland. It was a post about racism and he made the claim that there was no racism where he comes from in Newfoundland. I beg to differ on that one, but I won't go through it again. He also said he went to Memorial University.

I'm not from Newfoundland, but lived in Grand Falls-Windsor for about a year. Actually, if all goes well, I'm hoping to go back soon. I've never been to Portugal Cove, but if I do go back one of the things I would like to do is explore more of the Avalon. The people I worked with told me I've already covered more of the province than most Newfoundlanders!! I really do love the place, though I think the economic situation is most unfortunate and shouldn't be that way.[/quote]

1) I agree with you on this point, and I, too, would like to avoid an arguement on the subject. Let me say, however, that as long as there are differences between people there will be racism. This exists in every society, be it Korea or Canada.

2) I haven't had the opportunity to travel, Newfoundland or otherwise. I think the farthest I've been in Newfoundland is Gander. Though I may have been farther, I just can't recall. This is my first time outside of Canada (excluding the French islands of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon), beating my trips to Ottawa by about 10 000km.