Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tor@]

I'm looking to start teaching in Korea this fall. For all sorts of personal reasons, starting in October or November would be much more advantageous to me than starting in September. It seems as though jobs in Korea are available pretty much year-round, so I think it likely I could find a job starting at that time. However, I'm concerned about how that would affect me in the future. As I understand, most TEFL jobs around the world tend to start in September, and contracts usually run for one year. So I'm worried that if I start in October or November, then it will be harder to find a new job afterward, especially if I want to move to a public school or university job, or find a job in another country.

So the information I really need to make the decision about whether I should just "bite the bullet" and deal with the difficulties of being ready to start in September, or whether I can safely choose a job with a later start date, is whether shorter-term contracts are common after a one-year contract is fulfilled. Would it be likely that an employer would agree to extend my employment for ten months, or some other shorter period that would let me get back on schedule for a job (or possibly a master's program back in the US) in September? Or that, were I unhappy with my first employer and seeking a better job, I could get a shorter-term job with a different employer?

Has anyone here started at an odd time of year, and then managed to get around to a September-start job schedule? Is it common to do that?

If it's relevant, I'm 36, female, and have a BA in Psychology and a TEFL certificate from the University of California Extension, Santa Cruz. I have no paid teaching experience, but I have hundreds of hours of experience volunteering as a teacher aid in ESL classes.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice!

[PRagic]

Institutes hire year round, but universities and schools are wrapping up their hiring for the semester beginning in September right about now. Good luck.

[Ya-ta Boy]

It is possible that you would be able to negotiate a shorter term contract. It's very likely that you would have to forego the severance payment, however.

Another factor to consider, at least here in Korea, is that schools of all kinds do their hiring at the last minute. They do not advertise jobs 6 months in advance. Usually they post ads about 2 months in advance of the opening. That limits your ability to plan ahead.

[ilovebdt]

You can always quit early in time to find a job in your next country of choice.


ilovebdt