Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mark7]

I have another question as well: this recruiter offered me a position next year for a public school job. My question is when recruiters offer a job, is it guaranteed, or are they just offering me the position but its based on my application and if the public school system itself accepts me?

They offered me a position for 1.8 million won per month, but I wanted to see if others who have used recruiters before can give me some advice and info on how this whole process works.

[Smee]

You've been around long enough to know about the search function. We talked about CC 3 whole weeks ago: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=70012&highlight=Connections

They offered you a job, and if you accept, its yours. The problem is they probably didn't tell you which job (location, school, etc.) Once you sign on to work, then you'll submit your top 3 choices and go from there. A few of the places offer 100,000 won bonuses if you go to a very rural area. You could start doing your homework about different places, but for you, I'd recommend avoiding these areas.

Why not start off with a decent hagwon for your first year? You get 2.0 or 2.1 million won per month. Plus, you have more freedom in choosing where to go, and then next year your public school salary would go up. Browsing through your past posts you've asked questions at least a dozen different recruiters, with seemingly no rhyme or reason, so I'm not sure you have an idea of what you want. Think about where you want to teach and what level, and let that dictate where you want to go. Not sure why you're debating between Seoul and rural Jeollanam-do, among otherh places. Don't let a recruiter dictate where you go. There are tons of recruiters and job offers out there, so there's lots of jobs that will fit your needs, once you decide what they are.

[Mark7]

Sup Smee:

Thanks for your response, I'll definitely look into it and do more research. However, just to point out to you, its not like I'm confused about what I want, its just given my lack of experience and my degree (not ESL related), I don't think I have much options in picking and choosing what I want.

My ideal job is a public school at the junior high level, because I have taught that age level before, but for public schools, I've read they are a more difficult job to get compared to hagwons. So, I know what I want, its just that given my credentials I don't think I can tailor-make a job that I desire.

As for being around the messaage boards, yes, I've been around this website for a while, but I don't use it all the time. I just make inquiries here and there when I find a nibble on the fishing bait, and I do alot of reading on the general FAQs I see on this site to help me out. But thanks for your help, hope to talk to you soon.

[B-Teacher]

Don't worry about not having an ESL-related degree - most foreigners don't seem to and the schools don't seem to care. Seriously though, I would want at least a 2 million salary. Especially if you have any kind of previous experience whatsoever... the average salary on these boards is 2 - 2.3 for first timers I believe.

[Smee]

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about the lack of experience necessarily hurting you. I'm not sure, but from what I've seen 1.8 is the salary for teachers starting out with no experience. But you said you taught at public schools before . . . back home, or in another Asian country? That experience might count for something. If you have experience, and they're offering 1.8, you need to negotiate that up.

As the above poster said, there are tons of public school jobs that will start in March (so, they're hiring now). It's true that they're more desirable than hagwons, and so they're a little more competitive, but I think that you'll have no problem finding something good, something that fits . . . unless you wait until the last minute.

Good luck, and sorry if I sounded like a *beep* before. One of those days.