Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stvwrd]

Hello...

um... don't know where to begin. Basically, I returned to the US from spending 7 months in Korea on a graduate school exchange. Now I'm graduated with a Master's in Public Administration, and have some Korean language ability.

I landed a job working for my home State. By all accounts, a cushy job, but the poor organization and low expectations are driving me nuts, and I'm missing Korea, so I've been sending the CV out.

My focus has been on non-teaching, administrative-type jobs (I have experience as basically a manager for a short-term intensive ESL program here in the US, though I've never actually taught ESL before), but I have applied for all types of jobs. Even the hagwon recruiters I've sent my CV to don't usually respond except to say, "Thanks for the CV, if I hear anything I'll let you know."

I'm so unhappy in my current job. I know I shouldn't just quit outright and go fly back to Korea to find work, but I also feel like I'll never make any headway unless I am physically there (I was contacted by two top Korean Unis for admin jobs, but both wanted an in-person interview).

So for those of you with experience, is there some step in the process that I'm missing here? I figured SOMEONE would bite by now, even if it wasn't the best job. Anyone been in a similar situation and came up with a winning strategy?

Thanks.

[bellum99]

Lots of people want those jobs and are here...you are there. A bird in the hand is better than a masters degree overseas. Don't worry, I am sure you will find something.

[cruisemonkey]

Why not come to Korea? You know your way around; and while you may not land a uni job until you've established some contacts, at least you could check out schools/hogwans and accomodation before signing a contract.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[stvwrd]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Pretty much echoes my own feelings on it... I guess I've got to decide what I really want to do and just take a plunge either way.

I think the thing I really miss is the challenge in every day life. Life here just isn't challenging and/or stimulating. As I write this, I can overhear my coworkers conversing about putting up new fences and favorite protractors and it's just not doing it for me. Working ten hour days (with only about 2 hours of actual work to do every day) sure doesn't help.

Maybe I'm just a masochist.

[noguri]

Stvwrd, I don't think you are a masochist. I feel I'm in a situation similar to yours.

I'm teaching anthropology at a university in the U.S. and my contract runs out and won't be renewed at the end of this semester. My father suggests I should go back to my hometown and get a job teaching in community college...he hates the idea of me going to Korea.

My wife is Korean and she liked the idea at first but now she realizes how uncertain our chances could be. SHe said that Korea is like a foreign country to her, since the country has changed so much since she left there 10 years ago.

I have tried sending resumes and I've gotten no response, it seems like they do prefer to hire people already in Korea. Even though I have [non-ESL] teaching experience.

But I ask myself, why did I study cultural anthropology? So that I could go back to my hometown and teach community college? NO! I want that feeling of excitement, living in [and learning about] other cultures. That is what I tell my students every day in my anthropology classes, how exciting it is to live in another culture. So why would I not go?

I would recommend that you give it a try. You've already had responses from two universities, so if you do go to Korea you'll be likely to eventually get some sort of university job. One of the more experienced Davers already in Korea said in response to you, if you get a lousy hagwan job at first, you'll make contacts and wiggle into a better position by your second year. I'm going to bank my future on that kind of possibility, even though I also have no responses to my resume so far.

[stvwrd]

Thanks for posting noguri. Good to know there are others in a similar position.

I'll start to look around for posts about how much $$$ to bring, what sort of plane ticket to buy, etc, for just going over there.

One idea I had was to take a week of vacation time in March or April and go over to look for jobs, hoping I could find something, then return home to basically put in my two weeks' notice. I have reservations about doing that, as non-commital as it is, because I'd be flat broke when I return home, not have any money to live off of by the time I'd be set to actually start the job, and I'm not convinced one week would be enough time to find a job. Did I mention the State doesn't pay well?

Anyway, I'm sure somewhere on Dave's there is an FAQ or something about how much money to bring, etc.

[noguri]

Stvwrd,

I wonder if March or April is the best time for your visit to Korea, it seems like NOW is the hiring season because the Korean semester begins March 1.
I am sorely aware of this because my contract keeps me here in the US until late May so I can't take a job starting in Korea March 1.

Most jobs might be taken by March or April. However, some people on this site have said that in late Feb, early March, some schools find the teacher they hired took a better offer somewhere else, and they have to get someone in a hurry. SO you might scoop up a job on the quick that way.

Personally I am trying to find other solutions to the semester timing problem. One is EPIK, a teacher recruiting program run by the Korean government. A lot of people on this site have posted negative things about EPIK, but some others say it helped them gain a foothold in the Korean job market. The advantage for me is that EPIK takes applications in February & March, and the work starts in August for those hired. EPIK will interview job candidates IN THE US at a Korean embassy or consulate. SO that is one way to get an interview without having to fly to Korea.

A lot of Davers have said that EPIK is poorly administered and they report nightmare experiences. Others post that they had positive experiences in EPIK, and it depends on what school you end up employed with. One thing that seems clear is that EPIK is a lottery, you don't really know in advance what school or even what province of Korea you'll be assigned to. In that sense, it is almost like a hagwon recruiter.

You can check out EPIK's website if you google "EPIK Korea" but then a pop-up window says their hiring season has not started yet and they will update the website in February. I wonder if they'll do it soon? But even last year's website gives a lot of info about the EPIK program.

Also, have you tried this recruiter? http://www.flying-cows.com/
They sound very much on the up-and-up, although I haven't contacted them personally.

It is possible that hagwon recruiters didn't like your resume because most of the jobs that they have are for teaching young kids. You don't have experience with kids, right? You might want to focus on jobs that involve teaching adults, especially if they are business people or adults who want to take the GRE and study administration in the U.S. Say so in your cover letter.

Otherwise, you might want to make a separate posting on this site asking people what is the optimal hiring season for the semester that begins in August. I haven't worked in Korea yet so I don't know. One person suggested to me that I come to Korea and get temporary work in an English summer camp, meanwhile applying for jobs. This may have to be the route that I take.

[stvwrd]

Just PM'd you Noguri, I'll check out the recruiters you mentioned.

Thanks