Korean Job Discussion Forums

CoolTeach · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: Back in the USSR

It's been a few months since I left merry ole Korea. Haven't had much luck finding gainful employment. Does anyone have a line on a uni position?

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

The universities back where you are are not hiring? The ones in Korea will be starting their quest for fresh, short-term meat in the coming month or so. Throw your hat into the ring. Some hire from abroad, especially if you have in-country experience and your MA (or Ph.D). From what I've seen, nobody has been successful fishing for a university slot on the discussion board, but, hey, you never know!

Just and FYI, though. There are fewer and fewer desirable positions in Korea, and there are a load of highly qualified people that will be on the hunt for new jobs given the recent imposition of term limits at a lot of schools. Good luck.

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Term limits?

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Many schools are imposting 3 year, or in some cases 5 year, employment term limits on foreign instructors. You can renew your 1 year contract for up to 3-5 years, depending on your school, and then you are out. Yonsei, as far as I know, does not impose such term limits, but I believe that SNU does.

Zark · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:04 pm Post subject:

Many universities are going to the "three years and you are out" rule. I have a good friend who spent 12 years at a good uni - back on the job market at the end of this year. Also why I left the uni I was at after three years (contract up 2/28/06).

SO - while there will be MANY openings - many experienced teachers will be hot after the best of them. And, certainly, people will be working their "connections" for all they are worth.

My apologies to Pragic - looks like we were writing at the same time!

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

No worries. I completely agree. Most people I know with +5 years of experience at the university level and incredible qualifications are on the look out for a slot at one of the very few decent university positions around. A good number are scouting other countries as well, or considering a very early retirement.

I wasn't so bad getting treated poorly and jacked around for decent pay and a reasonable number of hours, but now there is less and less incentive to stick out university jobs, no matter the term limits. Very soon, universities here will be staffing much like hakwons; BAs will be fine, and they won't care if or how long you stay as they will be staffing primarily hakwon burnouts or professor-wanna-bes that will work just for the few weeks of vacation and a university business card.

Even the top-tier schools, which still demand the MA and experience, are not really that attractive places to work. Look what has happened to Korea University and Seoul National. Yikes! I wouldn't work at either one of them now, but just a few years ago, they were the be-all-end-all jobs. So be it. Most here with time in country and experience have other options.