Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hanjam]

hello! id really appreciate any help/advice anyone can give on any of the questions iv got;

basically i am just leaving uni and am planning to teach english for a year in south korea, primarily in soeul, with my boyfriend and have a few questions/ queries:

(1) How easy is it for couples to get a job together?

(2)Is it better to take the pay without accommadation if planning to live with a partner?

(3)How long roughly will it take from applying for jobs till you get to Korea?

(4)What difference does it make having a BSC rather than a BA degree (the subject being psychology)?

final one...(5) Is it in anyway, and if so how, a disadvantage being english and not american/canadian?

Can any couples who have experienced a situation similar to ours give any tips/advice etc, we'd be really grateful!

Thanks for anything anyone can offer! Hannah (& James)

[jmbran11]

If you work at the same school you may get a nice, bigger apartment to share (if you really shop around and pay attention). Some schools want couples because they will share an apartment instead of insisting on two separate places, like most teachers want. But, if you are at the same school, you probably can't take your vacation together.

My boyfriend and I came to Korea and worked at the same place five years ago. In the middle of the term he got fired, and so got an exit order, and I had to choose to let him go home alone or leave my job too. I went with him, and it cost me a fortune. I would suggest separate schools, get a decent apartment for one of you, and a housing allowance for the other. Then, you have two "support bases" and if one of you needs to quit you can use the resources of the other. My current husband and I are doing this now, and it works out very well. Of course, you need to be careful about housing, or you'll end up in one very small room together.

What degree you have is irrelevant if you have a diploma and transcripts. Same with the nationality. A dancing monkey can get a job here teaching English if it can pass through the immigration process.

You can go from job browsing to starting your new *fabulous* life in Korea in about 2 weeks if your papers are in order.

[Sofa_King]

(1) How easy is it for couples to get a job together?

Pretty easy. Look on worknplay.co.kr and you'll see a few pop up. In my opinion, the hogwans (private academies) prefer couples because they save money on their apartment.

(2)Is it better to take the pay without accommadation if planning to live with a partner?

I'll answer this one later.

(3)How long roughly will it take from applying for jobs till you get to Korea?

Usually, jobs are advertised 3 weeks to 1 month before hand. Korea does not plan ahead very well.

(4)What difference does it make having a BSC rather than a BA degree (the subject being psychology)?

Doesn't matter.

final one...(5) Is it in anyway, and if so how, a disadvantage being english and not american/canadian?

Somethimes, schools prefer Noth Americans to Brits, but it shouldn't effect you too badly.


One thing that I would suggest doing is working at different places or both of you applying for public schools (look at http://etis.sen.go.kr/) rather than working at one hogwan together. The reason is a hogwan will not consider paying one person a living allowance and the other person an a apartment. If you work at a public school, one of your schools will pay for your apartment and another will pay a living allowance. Also, if you can work at different hogwans that are close to each other, you can negotiate for a living allowance from one and an apartment from another. There is more money available if you seperate, and also if one gets a bad school, you would have more options.

However, working at the same school could help you guys form a really close team. Working at a crappy hogwan last year with my partner really brought us closer together. Also, we did have a lot of negotiation power because there were two of us. If you work together at a good hogwan, then you have a way to support each other through good times and bad.

Hope some of what I wrote helps.

[Zark]

Working together at the same place can create a lot of stress for your relationship.

Working at different places allows you to give each other unqualified support for your complaints and problems. Also, a problem for one, doesn't have to become a problem for the other - as often happens when you work together.

Even if you are both excellent teachers - you may well have friction with coworkers or other issues that affect you differently.

Working Seoul should allow you both to find different jobs - but in relatively close proximity to each other.

[PRagic]

I agree. why not get jobs at different places in Seoul. You can live in one place and save the other for a get-a-way, or switch on and off. Would also be good if you wanted to teach privates in different parts of the city as it would reduce immediate travel time.

As you would be saving an employer on housing if you do both work together, I'd suggest asking for more pay. Never hurts to ask.

AND BE CAREFUL ABOUT RECRUITERS. THEY ALL SUCK.

[hanjam]

Thanks everyone, all that stuffs really great, especially about the working together/apart stuff...we're thinking seperate jobs is probably a v.good plan! Not surprisingly the posts have thrown up a couple more questions..if u wouldnt mind having at look at these too its be great, thanks again!!

1)How can you tell what sort of size/quality etc apartment your going to get? Is there anyway of ensuring its not a rubbish, tiny one? Also can this be organised before you arrive?

2)In your opinions what type of school is best to work at and why? Whats the main differences between the different types?

3)Someone mentioned recruiters? what are these? (sorry if thats a really basic question!) Also why do they "suck"?!

Thanks everyone! Hannah & James xx

[PRagic]

In reverse order:

3) 'recruiters' are the placement agencies that advertise positions all over most ESL web sites. Don't go through them when you find a job. Go directly through an advertising chain if you want an institute job and try to stay with the larger chains like Pagoda.

2) If you have MAs, then definitely try to get a university job. Most recruit directly beginning at this time of the year. If you only have your BAs, then an institute is probably the best you can hope for. However, after getting some experience, you might, as a couple, be able to get university jobs as the universities tend to favor hiring couples.

1) You can't be sure about housing until you get here and get the keys. It's a crap shoot. Especially if you are going to get separate jobs, don't get your hopes up too high.

One thing that you can do is try to form a strategy. Not to get too serious, but why not have one of you get a job WITH single housing, and one of you a job that offers a housing allowance? You'd bank an extra 3K a year, although you might be cramped in a smaller place. Or, you could both take jobs that offer the housing allowance, put that together, and rent a decent place in a fun part of town of your own choosing.

Don't sweat it. If you take institute jobs, you won't be home very much anyway. If you end up staying for more than a year or two, then you can worry about housing more.

[Col.Brandon]

[PRagic]

Great suggestions. Wasn't sure of their background and experience, but, then again, the public schools are hiring just about any warm body these days. Better option than institutes. Pay may be about the same, but the vacation is much better. Cheers to that.