Korean Job Discussion Forums

[margaret]

I'm going back to the U. S. and not renewing at my school. It's a good hogwan and I have no complaints--I just have more stuff I want to do back home than here.
Recruiters have told my director that there are fewer teachers applying this year and it's harder to find a teacher. Does anyone think that's true or is it just BS?
Margaret

[Ya-ta Boy]

I'm in no position to know one way or the other, but I hope it's true for selfish monetary reasons. If extended, it could mean a raise.

[chinook]

the last time i was looking for a job in korea, i don't remember getting anywhere near the amount of job offers i have this time. though, that could also be the result of having a year's experience now too.

also, perhaps it's the time of year? a lot of people seem confused when i mention i am starting a job now, they all assume korea would have similiar terms to canada/us.

[just because]

It is true, i have heard that line since i came here in 2001 but i think nowdays there is finally some truth to it...hagwons are finding it harder to find teachers, this is due to 3 main reasons...

1. The ESL market in China has exploded and while still the money isn't quite as good the savings potential is now similar in the bigger cities due to the lower cost of living. So if you had a choice between China and Korea and had never been to either most people would pick China....

2. There are a lot of public school jobs opening up which is really encroaching on the hagwons market due to the percieved stability and better conditions(this isn't always so however) of these jobs....with less people applying and more jobs opening hagwons are finding it hard...

3. Koreas reputation is really starting to affect peoples decisions in coming here. Most people in the target recruiting age(early 20s to early 30s) now know someone who has been here and nowdays the number of horror stories are quite large so when people continually hear bad stories about Korea. Why would you come here when there are (once again percieved) safer options out there such as China and Japan...


This is why hagwons are now finding it harder to get teachers and it will continue to get harder as public schools drive to geta foreigner in every school (which will be impossible) and china develps the same appetite for english korea has on its way to the 2008 olympics

[Homer]

Double post.

[Homer]

There is a drop in teachers this year (and last year as well).

Now, on to this:


1. The ESL market in China has exploded and while still the money isn't quite as good the savings potential is now similar in the bigger cities due to the lower cost of living. So if you had a choice between China and Korea and had never been to either most people would pick China....

That has value to it. However, China has a long way to go before it can offer a competitive working condition package vs Korea.

But the cultural pull is much stronger in China and it will attract more foreigners in their initial job search. However, if we think Korea is a problem country for foreign teachers...wait for feedback from China to seep through!

2. There are a lot of public school jobs opening up which is really encroaching on the hagwons market due to the percieved stability and better conditions(this isn't always so however) of these jobs....with less people applying and more jobs opening hagwons are finding it hard...

True but that does not explain the smaller number of teachers who apply....

3. Koreas reputation is really starting to affect peoples decisions in coming here. Most people in the target recruiting age(early 20s to early 30s) now know someone who has been here and nowdays the number of horror stories are quite large so when people continually hear bad stories about Korea. Why would you come here when there are (once again percieved) safer options out there such as China and Japan...

If anyone thinks China is safe than Korea when it comes to being cheated, perhaps they need to have their heads examined!

Japan is a more stable market than Korea but cost of living is much higher there.

Korea's bad reputation does hurt recruitment but this comes and goes. While this is a low point in teacher recruitment, it has happened before and the market rebounded with a raise in the number of applicants.


Overal, I agree that Hakwons are going to be in a tough fight if the government is serious about focusing English learning efforts in the Public Schools. This might lead to a restructuring of the market and a higher number of better qualified applicants.

Finally, this is not the peek season for hiring teachers as the new graduates wil be available in the late spring-early summer.

[Lizara]

Well... my last school had trouble finding someone in May, but the pay there was lower, 1.8, so that probably contributed to their difficulties. My current school found someone for the end of January with no trouble, but went through at least four or five people looking for two new teachers for the beginning of March, and still (to my knowledge) hasn't hired anyone for one of the positions. The one who was hired arrived the day before classes started, so she must have been hired at the very last minute.

[Privateer]

The pay still hasn't changed much has it?

[just because]

[jlb]

I'm in the process of seeing what's out there in terms of jobs and pretty much every company I've talked to has responsed back with interviews/offers, etc. Some of them are for more than the standard 2 mill but a couple have been lower. The feeling I have is that the big companies like YES and CDI are gaining momentum and expanding and are desperate to get qualified, quality applicants.

[Grotto]

Combination of many things.

Unless you are married/involved with a Korean there seems little reason to stay there.

The money is good, but as pointed out previously the money in China is getting better and the cost of living is much lower. There also seems to be alot less of a slavery style(as there is in Korea...I am boss I say you do)and the hourly requirements are usually less...18 hours vs 30.

China has much more diversity to offer than Korea.

Better lifestyle....well possibly.....again it depends on what you do, I suppose.

Definately a lower cost of living.

But the basis for less people applying for jobs in Korea IMHO is:
a combination of the horror stories, Korea's bad track record in dealing with ESL foriegners, static pay(starting levels), lack of time off(vacations)

Who wants to work 50 weeks a year when you can make about the same money and work 35 weeks?

[ontheway]

Two factors:

First, the pool of typical ESL/EFL teachers based on age, desire for adventure or lack of opportunity in their home country, is shrinking.

Second, the demand for English teachers is expanding worldwide.

Institutes and schools have to offer more money now. Those that do can find and hire good teachers.

[poker player]

Something else that has to be considered is the job market in North America. When I was back in Canada over the Xmas break I noticed the number of jobs advertised and job fairs being run seem to be in full gear. It is an employee's market right now and a lot of people who may have considered EFL jobs in the past because they couldn't get decent work in their own country are no longer having to consider the teaching option. Of course, those who want to get into EFL in a foreign country are not affected by this.

[Ya-ta Boy]

It would be interesting to see some figures for the last couple of years. It would explain if the total supply of teachers is changing.

The rant about Korea's bad reputation is meaningless if the number of teachers is stable or if the hakwons are having recruiting problems because of the increased competition from the public schools.

We need a Fact Finder on this thread.

[Unreal]