Korean Job Discussion Forums

jlw1127 · Joined: 25 Feb 2006

Hey everyone....

Planning on coming to Seoul by the end of April. Ive been talking to a recruiting company named Canadians with Seoul. Seem to be pretty good guys. Has anyone else heard of them? Ive been trying to make sure they understand what Im looking for in a school and a contract, but also keeping in mind they ultimatley work for the schools that pay them.

Drop me a line if you have any advice or have heard of this company.

Thanks
see ya soon

kendy · Joined: 13 Feb 2006

My boyfriend and I used Canadians with Seoul when we came 7 months ago. We got a really good school and everything we were looking for in the contract. It was our first time and they made it all quite an easy process. We didn't have too much selection in schools as they did try to get us to accept a job rather quickly (just hold out until you get one that your 100% happy with). However, we were really lucky and got an great school and director. They always responded promptly to email and we talked a number of times on the phone. They had a representative waiting for us at the airport to put us on the right bus to get to the city we are working in. The only problems that I can think of were that they made it seem like it was the normal proces for us to pay for our own flights and have the director reinburse us. Little did we know that most people get the school to pay for it up front. It took us a very long time to get reimbursed (actually we are still waiting for some of the money)...but that is another issue.

We had to arrange to get our work visa when we were here and I guess they had mentioned they would help our director sort out all of the details. When it came to that time though our director complained that they were not helpful. However, that didn't effect us and I don't really think that is their responsibility. Overall I think they are pretty good and I would use them again if I needed to.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

kendy · Joined: 13 Feb 2006

I meant that our school had to arrange for our visa. We never had to do anything and it was ALL paid for by our school. Yah we haven't been paid for our tickets in full yet but we are not worried (only owes us about $500). All previous teachers that our school has had have been paid in full for everything and never had any problems. Our director is just having a bit of money problems. However, he recently increased tuition and we have a lot of new students. He is really embarrassed he hasn't paid us yet and he is the kind of guy that would sell stuff he owned to make sure we had the money before we leave. Besides, having a great school, schedule and director is worth it to me to have to wait a few extra months for $500.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

I think the school normally arranges the visa anyway. If he's got more students now then I guess he could pay you in installments.

jlw1127 · Joined: 25 Feb 2006

kendy

So cws set you and your boyfriend up with a decent school. which school is that and are they hiring? whch part of the city are you in? any advice, and or recounts of your experiences would be great...thanks

kendy · Joined: 13 Feb 2006

Our school is a small school in Daejeon (an hour train ride south of Seoul) and we are the only foreign teachers. They won't be hiring until the beginning of August when we leave. I think that is a little late for you though as you mentioned you were looking to start in April. I would just go with CWS and just be picky with the contract that you sign. Make sure you talk to the current teachers before you sign a contract and hopefully they can give information on how the school is.

Gardimus · Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Location: Formerly Ontario, Canada

I used CWS. They told me I would have to pay for half my flight to Japan for the visa, but when I got here that turn out to not be the case. So no point in agreeing to that. They definatly talked up Korea and were a little misleading in some aspects of living here. The contract I have isn't the world's greatest, but it isn't the worse either.

jlw1127 · Joined: 25 Feb 2006

Gardimus,

What types of things did CWS talk up? Can you tell me a little more about your contract? Thanks

taekat · Joined: 03 Feb 2006

My wife and I considered using a Canadian recruiter. But then I came upon two choices:

1. Do i want to leave if it sucks

2. Do I want to stick it out or maybe find another job.

When it came down to it, we wanted to be in South Korea for a year and be pretty happy about it. Then I thought, how much support can I get from a recruiter who is in Canada whilst I am working in South Korea. That's pretty much why we started looking at recruiters in South Korea. By chance we got lucky and ended up with a really professional recruiter. It's nice knowing that if my job or boss or whatever was cruel or demoralizing that they would put up a fight for me or just get me a new job. I was worried about the ability to communicate with the staff but after awhile they started complaining about how slowly I was speaking and that I kept saying "do you understand" or "you know". In the end we're happy! Oh yeah, the recruiter was ATC.

Good luck with your stay in South Korea,

Aaron Long
Canada

dbee · Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Location: korea

Khyron · Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Location: Japan

I went through Canadians with Seoul when I came over. They were fine.

Don't expect recruiters to be of much help if things go bad though. They might give you some advice, but that's about it.

taekat · Joined: 03 Feb 2006

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

People always have varying opinions about recruiters and some people can never be pleased. I've heard bad things about Canadians with Seoul but, obviously, some people have very good things to say also. There are some shady recruiters out there but there are some great recruiters that have to be up with a lot of crap from people that are generally useless.

For example, my friend's wife lived in Canada for a couple years and did some recruiting for an agency on the side. She recruited a girl from New York just before the New York terrorist attacks. The girl was supposed to fly to Korea a week or two after but she wouldn't because she felt "it wasn't safe." Like two months later, the girl phones my friend's wife and say, "ok, I'm ready to fly now." Of course, my friend's wife informs her that the job she was hired for is long gone and that a new job could be arranged for her but it will take a bit of time. Well, apparently the girl had sold all her possessions and moved out of her residence and freaked on my friend's wife. Apparently she threatened to sue or something too. Weird bitch.

Anyways,
I'd recommend:

Canada Connections and
Worknplay

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

People always have varying opinions about recruiters and some people can never be pleased. I've heard bad things about Canadians with Seoul but, obviously, some people have very good things to say also. There are some shady recruiters out there but there are some great recruiters that have to be up with a lot of crap from people that are generally useless.

For example, my friend's wife lived in Canada for a couple years and did some recruiting for an agency on the side. She recruited a girl from New York just before the New York terrorist attacks. The girl was supposed to fly to Korea a week or two after but she wouldn't because she felt "it wasn't safe." Like two months later, the girl phones my friend's wife and say, "ok, I'm ready to fly now." Of course, my friend's wife informs her that the job she was hired for is long gone and that a new job could be arranged for her but it will take a bit of time. Well, apparently the girl had sold all her possessions and moved out of her residence and freaked on my friend's wife. Apparently she threatened to sue or something too. Weird bitch.

Anyways,
I'd recommend:

Canada Connections and
Worknplay