Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lauralareine]

I've been looking to get a job as a conversational English instructor at a university, and I was given the excellent suggestion that I should send application packages to different places to see if I could garner an offer from that (I am in Canada right now). I do have an MA in English, TESOL certification, and experience teaching adults, children, and ESL, so I feel I'm reasonably qualified for that sort of position.
So can anybody recommend good universities to apply to? I'm not hell-bent on any one place in particular, so if you know of a good uni in a smaller town, that's fine by me. I'm planning to apply to quite a few places, so the longer the list, the better.
Also, would it be worthwhile to post my resume for this sort of position?

[bellatore]

Wow, this post could have been from me. I'm a US citizen in Canada and I have about the same background and same idea of going to Korea that you do. Just wanted to wish you luck and say that I'm going to be watching your replies!

[jmbran11]

I work for a company, not a university, but I just wanted to mention that there are a lot of these sorts of posts, which usually don't result in many useful replies. The reason is simple: people who have good jobs don't want the competition. There is little motivation to help out a newbie by doling out contacts that we are benefitting from. The truth being, if anyone admitted "I love the place where I work," a plethora of resumes would ensue.

In any case, I'm not trying to discourage you - I just don't want you to get the impression that there are no good jobs (we just hoard them). SNU seems to be hiring, you could start there. Good luck.

[SuperHero]

Most universities prefer to hire in country. My recommendation is to come to Korea first and then do some cold calls. You may have to take a hagwon job if you don't have a lot of money to get through until you get the university job. Just use that job and your time in the country to get contacts at universitites.

Contacts and networking are very important. Many universities, especially better ones, now hire more from in house recommendations than from advertisements.

Good luck.

and for the record famous university does not equal good university. You wouldnt' catch me teaching at SNU for example.

[JZer]

Only crapy universities and even most uniwags will not consider you unless you have a Korean contact number. Most want to interview you in person!

[CBP]

Most university job listings I've seen require that you have experience teaching in Korea. Also, perhaps re-word your question: Which universities should I absolutely avoid, and why?

Universities in Taiwan and China don't seem to have this requirement. In fact it seems rather easy landing a decent university in those countries. So with your credentials you might be able to find a really nice position there, although in China the pay isn't good.

[TECO]

[JZer]

[PRagic]

Rather than going for specific names, go for specific conditions:

1) Contact hours: 12 is optimal (for English Departments), 15 is acceptable, and anything over 15 is usery. 18-20? Crap school.

2) Housing: Free, free, free. Anything else is a losing option given the lower salaries. Key money and a stipend are acceptable, if not better, options.

3) Vacation: Fully paid summer and winter breaks, working off of a 15-16 week semester. Mandatory 'camp' teaching? Crap. Mandatory summer/winter sessions? Crap. Overtime for them? Fine, but only for those that choose to do them.

4) Pay: Minimum starting of 2.5 and you should get more for your experience, certifications, and degree level. If they don't this, they are crap.

There you go. Happy hunting. Oh, and I agree, SNU does not satisfy most of these conditions. Know a few people there and wouldn't recommend the place.

[TECO]

[Odannyboy]

Universities won't hire you for their English programs until you have at least one year of experience working in Korea

that means you have to work at a hagwon for a year first (welcome to hell)

then if you make the right contacts, go for it!!

p.s. yonsei likes to hire ex-hagwon workers (if you've got the education)

[ajuma]

Actually, we WILL hire someone from abroad AND someone with no experience in Korea IF someone at my uni recommends you! So hit up your friends, second cousins, that girl you knew in high school and see if they know of someone who knows someone teaching at a uni in Korea. It's worth a shot!

[robertmanicni]

PRagic, or anyone, what do you know about SNU? I thought it'd be pretty good there.

[PRagic]

I have friends at several universities. To the poster that suggested Yonsei, I assume you are talking about the FLI. It's crap now. Absolute crap. 99% of the long-term staff just quit, so might get hired, but the conditions are now terrible. The actaul department at Yonsei is quite good, but they are picky; gotta have all the degrees and certifications, and hakwon experience won't cut it. They have their downsides, too, but what school/department doesn't. Yonsei is the best of the big three IMHO.

SNU? I know a couple of people there. Boss seems to be a major problem. They gutted the program, basically. Hours increased, salary decreased, and they'll police your overtime, especially near the end of your three-year term limit, mainly to avoid having to pay more severance. They've been taken to the labour board at least twice in the last few years and have lost each time. No more raises, either. All the people I know also got out of their housing. Guess it costs more than 500 a month, and they only supplement 300 or so (don't quote me on the numbers). It is on campus, and a pain to get to or out of. All I know is that NOBODY is staying on there.

Korea U.? Yikes! Worst schedule in university history, and a freaky attitude. Don't know anyone withe experience and the right background that would go there.

From my limited research, I'd say AVOID the big name schools. They apparently think that their name value will compensate for increased hours and worse pay.

See...if you spent more time drinking with seasoned professionals, you'd know all this stuff, too! Get off Dave's and get into a pub!

[robertmanicni]

Thanks for that PRagic. As you advise avoiding the big-name universities, do you know of any less famous ones which are good places to work?