Korean Job Discussion Forums

[brento1138]

OK, I am getting frustrated. I am looking for a "good" job. I've got a year and a half of teaching experience, and a B.A. from a well-known university, and it seems all I am getting are the 'desperate' hakwons...

They all wanna give me 2 million won, make me teach 9 classes a day, Mon-Fri. Sometimes Sat. And when I tell them I am already making 2 million won, they don't seem too eager to raise it. I think so many places aren't looking for an experienced, better teacher... but rather someone who has never taught before, who they can do whatever they want to. Why would they want an unexperienced person? Well, a recruiter told me yesterday, it's because the teachers with experience "demand" too much. I simply said, "Yeah, well, asking for something is not the same as demanding." So I believe.

None of the deals seem so great. So where are all these good jobs? I've been looking for a month, and still, nothing quite tickles my fancy.

[Roch]

Spot on, Brento. One really does need good contacts in Korea or some luck or a Korean wife-uh to hook up with the better hogwons.

Ask one of the more reasonable-minded posters on this board for some leads.

Best of luck to you, Brento.


R

[sarahsarah]

I've found the opposite to be true. I had no issue getting several quality job offers from schools that pretty much fit my ideal criteria when I was looking for a job just a few weeks ago.

However, I know where you're coming from. When I was trying to come back to Korea after my first year being here it was hard to get quality offers. Maybe the 2 years experience does make a difference...who knows though.

[Roch]

Dear Sarah:

Congrats, and the best to you in your teaching position.

Should you ever find yourself in Destin, Fl., e-mail me for a neat little drink at my buddy's bar.

Cheers, Sarah!

Respectfully,

R

[buymybook]

I agree with you!!! Any leads anyone(p.m. me)?

[brento1138]

[Demophobe]

You know, there is much against public school jobs on the forums these days, and perhaps rightly so. I work in a public school, but it's not GEPIK or EPIK. I was contrcted privately, with the GEPIK contract only being a guide for what the schools will be asking of me. I am in 2 schools now and make good money....far more than any GEPIK contract would ever allow.

Being hired privately by schools gives you a lot of room to make changes. Pay, work hours, raises, holidays...all are negotiable in a private contract. I get well over 6 weeks vacation, work 25 "hours" (40 minute hours, this includes 2 teacher classes) and am left alone in the classroom...no co-teacher.

For me, thankfully, this job is a real treat. I am going into my third year at the same school and got yet another raise. It also looks like I am only going to be working 4 days a week...very cool.

I should say that my schools are in the country and I do have to commute a fair way. (by choice; I still live in a city) If you are willing to live in a rural setting, there are many small schools that will get together and pay dutch for your wage, as smaller schools just don't have the budget to support a native speaker alone. Splitting your week between 2 schools is really fun actually....the students are always glad to see you and there is no feeling of 'overexposure' to any one place. The schools are typically reasonably close together.

Just a thought. If you can get a driver's license and don't mind the sticks, there are a lot of public schools that want to hire, but there just aren't many people willing to do what it takes to work out there. The country schools are really cool...fresh air, small classes, great kids, supportive parents and the school staff are truly appreciative that one would go out so far to work.

Anyways, I know of 3 schools that need a teacher, but they are indeed in the sticks. The closest center would be Maseok, about 45 minutes out of Seoul, 15 or 20 minutes from the closest school, about 30 minutes from the farthest.

[Hotpants]

How do you find a 'good' job? Well, firstly, most recruiters don't care whether you come from Harvard or Bondi Beach, or whether your name's Jack or Jekyll. They just want to fill one of the million run-of-the-mill all-contracts-the-same type of positions. It will be hard to find your dream job as a result. Therefore, I never go through recruiters.

Personally, I trawl through job boards in countries I'm interested in well in advance, suss out decent contracts, then apply to the school directly when I'm looking for work. If you're looking to make millions, you might want to look at teaching elsewhere. If you want a job which pays just about enough and have decent vacation time and short working hours, then you can find such jobs here if you take some time to go through the job boards.

[ontheway]

Many of the best jobs are ONLY available through recruiters. So, you should use recruiters, use several, look at the jobs they offer and remember that they do not represent YOU. You have to consider each job and talk to the school and some of the foreign teachers, present and past, if possible.

You should also post your resume on job boards.

You should also contact employers directly.

You should also use any contacts you might have to find jobs that are not listed on the internet and not available through the recruiters you have chosen.

The employment market is fragmented. You have to use as many available resources as you can. Maybe you'll have good luck and find a gem right away, but you should expect to do some hunting and put in some time.

In addition, if you limit yourself geographically in your job search or if you make other limitations (type of students, hours, etc.) you will reduce your pool of available jobs. When you identify yourself as a whiner on your job posting by making insisting, demanding and negative comments, many good employers will pass you by.

[RachaelRoo]

Hey Brento, what's your age, nationality, education level, and gender?

Sorry if it sounds rude, but I have to start searching for myself in a month or two and I am also hoping for more like 2.2 or 2.3 at a hagwon. I'm just trying to calculate my worth.

[rapier]

Brento and Rachael- why are you both going for hogwons? Why not just get a public school job?

Hogwons are soooo 2004.

[RachaelRoo]

Don't hagwons pay a bit more? Plus they usually offer some easy (and legal) overtime hours on the side. Also, at a hagwon, you're only there maybe 6 hours a day, and you get to work with a lot of other foreigners.

I know as far as treatment of employees go, they're riskier, but I am in Korea so I can check the job out, and with a year of experience, I know what questions to ask.

Brento, can you PM me about where you've been looking, your demographic, and your experience? I'm trying to figure out what I should ask for salary wise in the Seoul area (I'm in Ulsan now).

[Big Mac]

[Son Deureo!]

[TheUrbanMyth]