Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Adventurer]

I have never been to South Korea. East Asia is not a place I am familiar with. The Korean people I've met in my life seemed nice to me. Other than that, I have eaten Kimchee and like it and something called Bulgokee (can't spell it). I am working on getting a visa through a company called Englishwork. I do not know anything about them. I did talk to a girl long-distance who was translating and she is studying something in Korea and said there is an adjustment in Korea but things are all right down there. Is it hard to save money down there? I need to pay off my student loans. I have the option of staying in the U.S. and not making a ton of money and have lots of expenses or go to South Korea for a couple of years and then maybe go back to Canada where I am also a citizen. Any advice for me? Should I go? Do most people have a good experience?

Your advice would be appreciated

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[dulouz]

Yea, you should come here. Most people are generally happy and you can bail if it tastes real bad. You can save money. It gets better after the first year but thats when most people leave. Yea its a hassle but you learn.

[Homer]

[k_shearman]

Don't use Englishwork as your recruiter - they are scum. About a year ago I contacted them about a job in Seoul. I am married and I was very specific about the living conditions, as my cat and my husband would be joining me. I offered to take a housing allowance if that would make things easier. The yahoos at Englishwork didn't bother to tell the director anything about my situation. I arrive in Seoul, cat in her carry-on case, only to find that the moronic director that they hooked me up with hadn't bothered to sort out the apartment. I mean, there wasn't even a stick of furniture in the place. So I'm jetlagged, have a hysterical cat with me and nowhere to lie down. They took me to a hotel for that night. The next day I'm expected to teach, which I do. I stupidly assumed that the director would spend the day sorting out the apartment which was way to small for two people and a cat. I politely refused to live in the apartment that she had secured for me. I said we would be willing to pay part of the rent as long as we had a larger apartment. She said it would take some time but she would try to work it out for me. Meanwhile I contacted the Englishwork idiots to give them heads up and to assess why the hell they didn't tell the director anything about my situation. They were no help. That evening after teaching I am again taken to the tiny apartment, where there is still no bed, no blanket, nada. After basically spending two nights on the floor, I had a serious chat with the director. I told her that she needed to sort out a new, furnished apartment immediately as per my contract. She went crazy saying "you no can teach children. recruiter say cat and husband not my problem." I call Englishwork where I demand to be released from my contractual obligation with the school. They inform me that I will need to pay back my airfare and vacate the shoebox. I said that I would gladly payback the airfare as soon as I had my release letter in hand. I never heard from Englishwork again. I was basically on my own to sort everything out with the director and immigration, etc. For all they knew I was out on the street.

In my opinion you should never use any recruiter. All they want to do is jam you into any slot they can and collect 1,000,000 won for it. There are plenty of schools that advertise and hire their own teachers without the use of recruiters.

Beware.

[Homer]

k_shearman

Your opinion on recruiters while valid is a little too categorical in my opinion.

I agree most recruiters are unreliable and should be avoided. However, for a newbie looking for work, a good recruiter (yes they exist) can be a great asset. Working with one holds several advantages for a newbie with little knowledge of Korea.

However, coming over and looking for work yourself or applying directly to schools are good choices but they require that the teacher do a bit more research about the teaching market here.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I think Homer's advice is very good. One question that I'd have is how much do you like teaching? That's what you'd be coming here to do, after all. Are you just in it for fun and to pay off loans? Or do you think you'd enjoy working with kids of a very different culture? If you're up for that sort of challenge, I think Korea will be right up your alley.

[Sofa_King]

If you are unsure about which country to go to in East Asia, here's a link that may help you decide. It describes quite well the differences between Japan/Taiwan/Korea.

http://www.geocities.com/esl_korea/TaiwanvsKoreavsJapan.html

[Adventurer]

Well, I am working through this organization called Englishwork.com. The recruiter that I talked to seemed nice and I talked to this American citizen who was translating for the director over there. The citizen had an European accent. She seemed nice. As I understand, they have an apartment. I don't have any special needs for like a wife or cat. The director actually told me on the phone that if I have a wife, to bring her with me. I have no wife. So is Englishwork simply bad and I need to find someone else. I told them I would work through them. I don't want to cancel on them. Have others heard bad things about them? My diploma is good. I actually have teaching experience in a very difficult school in the U.S. kind of something you would see in the movies and wouldn't think you would actually be an actor in. I did enjoy the idea of teaching and did help many kids, but I didn't want to continue there after some years doing it over there.

[Adventurer]

I saw on one website that you should be under 35 to go Korea. I am 33 and turning 34. Are there countries with a higher limit should you want to stay longer? The site I looked at recommended Englishwork but I did see Shearman's negative post and read some other guy's negative post on the net.

Basil

[Grotto]

[laogaiguk]

[Son Deureo!]

[ilovebdt]

I got my current job through Englishwork.com and have no complaints.

However, it really is the luck of the draw.
Recruiters main aim is to fill jobs, just like the recruitment agencies at home. So, don't just stick with one and cover all bases by asking the right questions.

Also, have enough money in case you should run into any problems.

Ilovebdt

[Homer]