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chrisOC2005
Joined: 19 Apr 2006
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 Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 2:27 am Post subject: Job search tips for someone who's actually read a lot here |
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Hi,
Blah blah I'm looking for a job and have spent tons of time on hear reading about blah blah blah ... Anyway, I've been watching the job board closely for a couple weeks and it seems like the vast majority of ads are posted by recruiters. But, given such vehemently negative reviews of them in general, what's a guy to do when he's looking for a decent paying job with low hours in a public school in central Seoul teaching elementary? Other sites?
I have to admit, I've turned to a couple of recruiters, but after reading up here I think I at least know the questions to ask (as well as to whom to ask them), etc.
I've got a year's experience as an English assistant in France, and a TESOL cert.
Thanks,
Chris |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 5:03 am Post subject: Re: Job search tips for someone who's actually read a lot he |
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| chrisOC2005 wrote: |
Hi,
Blah blah I'm looking for a job and have spent tons of time on hear reading about blah blah blah ... Anyway, I've been watching the job board closely for a couple weeks and it seems like the vast majority of ads are posted by recruiters. But, given such vehemently negative reviews of them in general, what's a guy to do when he's looking for a decent paying job with low hours in a public school in central Seoul teaching elementary? Other sites?
I have to admit, I've turned to a couple of recruiters, but after reading up here I think I at least know the questions to ask (as well as to whom to ask them), etc.
I've got a year's experience as an English assistant in France, and a TESOL cert.
Thanks,
Chris |
1 year experience as an assistant and TESOL cert... no mention of a Bachelors degree or above... he has spent time hear (here?).
If you want high pay, low hours, easy job... get on a plane and apply in person. Problem solved.
If you are out of the country and have NO connections here... then you will need an introduction and that means a recruiter...
If you are looking for public school positions... the next hiring season is August.... all that is left now are hakwans until the September term starts.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news... but life is like that. |
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Hotpants
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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It may be that the OP was refering to the afterschool programs in public schools. They don't apparently seem to have so many hours, and most of those will be obtained through an agent/hogwan middle man. If that's the job you want, then that's the job you apply for. You can always start a job with one setup and change if it goes horribly against your expectations. I don't think you have the complete picture after just a couple of weeks of reading on this board  |
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chrisOC2005
Joined: 19 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 2:57 am Post subject: Re: Job search tips for someone who's actually read a lot he |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
1 year experience as an assistant and TESOL cert... no mention of a Bachelors degree or above... he has spent time hear (here?).
If you want high pay, low hours, easy job... get on a plane and apply in person. Problem solved.
If you are out of the country and have NO connections here... then you will need an introduction and that means a recruiter...
If you are looking for public school positions... the next hiring season is August.... all that is left now are hakwans until the September term starts.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news... but life is like that. |
Hi ttompatz ... I do have a B.A. (sometimes the most important are the things you forget), but it's in German Studies and Politics, and I think I would specifically like a normal public school job (not sure, though). I guess an option would be to work a summer camp to get me to Korea, and then start searching for jobs when it's over. I think as I said before, the most important thing to me is that I have a good experience. I haven't lived in Korea before, but I'm half Korean and am from Los Angeles, so it's not like I'll feel like I'm moving to Mars.
I wouldn't mind, though, any advice you have on grade level or sector (private/public/after school). I worked with middle schoolers here in France and hated them (discipline issues), but found the younger ones great (more elementary level). I guess I could do high school, or adults, but I think I would prefer to stay out of hagwons and the like (for the long hours, mostly).
So you really think the best idea is to just hop on over? I'm not sure how totally feasible this would be for me in the end, but it is good to know.
Thanks,
Chris |
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SNoh84
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 3:42 am Post subject: |
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Look in the FAQ section and you'll see most people recommend coming straight over here w/o a job and finding one once you land. It is NOT difficult at all to get a job here so you definitely don't have to worry about that. I came over without a job and within my first two weeks, I had 6 job offers.
The problem with arranging a job before you come here is that you don't know the quality of the public school and you could really put yourself in a nightmare scenario. If I were you, I'd just come here with some money to get you through until your first paycheck and start scheduling interviews. Remember to bring a suit, Koreans are big on appearance.
Be adventurous! Hopping over here without a definite plan is what makes teaching abroad fun  |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 3:54 am Post subject: Re: Job search tips for someone who's actually read a lot he |
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| chrisOC2005 wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
1 year experience as an assistant and TESOL cert... no mention of a Bachelors degree or above... he has spent time hear (here?).
If you want high pay, low hours, easy job... get on a plane and apply in person. Problem solved.
If you are out of the country and have NO connections here... then you will need an introduction and that means a recruiter...
If you are looking for public school positions... the next hiring season is August.... all that is left now are hakwans until the September term starts.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news... but life is like that. |
(1) Hi ttompatz ... I do have a B.A. (sometimes the most important are the things you forget), but it's in German Studies and Politics, and I think I would specifically like a normal public school job (not sure, though). I guess an option would be to work a summer camp to get me to Korea, and then start searching for jobs when it's over. I think as I said before, the most important thing to me is that I have a good experience. I haven't lived in Korea before, but I'm half Korean and am from Los Angeles, so it's not like I'll feel like I'm moving to Mars.
(2) I wouldn't mind, though, any advice you have on grade level or sector (private/public/after school). I worked with middle schoolers here in France and hated them (discipline issues), but found the younger ones great (more elementary level). I guess I could do high school, or adults, but I think I would prefer to stay out of hagwons and the like (for the long hours, mostly).
(3)So you really think the best idea is to just hop on over? I'm not sure how totally feasible this would be for me in the end, but it is good to know.
Thanks,
Chris |
(Numbers are mine)
1. If you decide to work a summer camp be sure you have the correct visa. And be careful. There are some horror stories of teachers getting ripped off at these things.
2. If you want to teach at a elementary school I think you would probably enjoy it, especially if you are the first native English speaker they've had. You get treated like a minor celebrity. Just don't let it go to your head  Oh and public schools generally have longer hours than hakwons. In my experience the average hakwon week is about 30 hours (excepting adult students) , but the public school is 9-5 or 40 hours per week.
3. Probably the best bet is to come over You will need some money though. Airflight and about $1000 US or so. You probably could come with less, but I'd bring that much with me just in case. |
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blunder1983
Joined: 12 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 4:03 am Post subject: |
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Personally I'd go with a recruiter.
I dont think they are that bad, my experiences have been pretty good. Just remember they are there to find you a job, not help you when you are in the job.
Oh and the only other annoying thing is that you get blanket emails for all their vacancies regardless of what your actually looking for. |
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SOOHWA101
Joined: 04 Mar 2006
Location: Makin moves...trying to find 24pyung
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| Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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| SNoh84 wrote: |
Look in the FAQ section and you'll see most people recommend coming straight over here w/o a job and finding one once you land. It is NOT difficult at all to get a job here so you definitely don't have to worry about that. I came over without a job and within my first two weeks, I had 6 job offers.
The problem with arranging a job before you come here is that you don't know the quality of the public school and you could really put yourself in a nightmare scenario. If I were you, I'd just come here with some money to get you through until your first paycheck and start scheduling interviews. Remember to bring a suit, Koreans are big on appearance.
Be adventurous! Hopping over here without a definite plan is what makes teaching abroad fun |
Hopping a plane and arriving in Korea to look for a job in person seems like the best bet. However, what if you don't know the language, know where the jobs are being offered, know how to navigate due to never seeing the city, and oh yea.....not "speaking" the language.
I will have degree in hand in just a few weeks, and following that advice is just what's going to happen. The problem is getting stuck in neutral when you get there. I have read, done my homework, researched, and yes read some more. Many websites offer a wealth of info. But what advice do you give for a first time ESL-er coming over so they don't fall into neutral? |
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