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Should I just sell car and fly over?
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AsiaESLbound



Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 12:20 pm    Post subject: Should I just sell car and fly over? Reply with quote

I'm not sure which category this should go in so I picked general discussion.

I've been applying to jobs since August of last year, but not getting any offers other than one from an adult split shift corporate hagwon. I applied from August to December with my FBI document expiring around Christmas, got it again in February and been trying since last week of February with no offers. I completed 3 contracts in Korea with good references and no immigration black marks to speak of nor any incidents.

Most recruiters respond well to me, interview me, say it's all good, and then they always ask me my birthday which leads to being ignored or shelved. I'm only 40 years old and I'm healthy.

I imagine I could land a job quite quickly if I just fly over, but fear everything has changed about the job market for a middle aged man and know I don't have a stack of cash in the event I need to do a plan B or C. I'd prefer to arrange it ahead of time and get flown over as before, but it's proving difficult and too time consuming. I now actually regret passing over that one split shift job offer in Daegu last October.
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War Eagle



Joined: 15 Feb 2009

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 1:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Things are not the same as they were a few years ago, but there are no job shortages. I know many middle-aged men working here, but I personally don't know any on E2s who work with children. Hagwons prefer younger teachers, or more specifically younger-looking teachers, as they always have (this goes hand-in-hand with good-looking, slim, well-dressed, etc.), but will hire older ones if need be. They can just be a little more picky because of the number of applicants thanks to the economy/Facebook. However, if you're getting calls based on your photo, I'm not sure the problem.

Would it be easier to get a job if one were here? Sure. Would I sell my car and wage that bet that I will get one I like? That's a gamble you have to decide to take. Don't let Dave posters do that for you. Most prob know less than you if you have 3 years exp. And &hit happens. Can you afford it if things turn sour?
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Dodge7



Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

wow OP you are pretty desperate to come over here and be laughed at and have "HELLOs!" hurled your way by little boys and girls in and around town. Time to grow up Peter Pan, think about your retirement.
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T-J



Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul EunpyungGu Yeonsinnae

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dodge7 wrote:
wow OP you are pretty desperate to come over here and be laughed at and have "HELLOs!" hurled your way by little boys and girls in and around town.


Wow. That's just...sad. Do they really laugh at you? Do you want to cry? It's okay if you do.
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Dodge7



Joined: 21 Oct 2011

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 6:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

T-J wrote:
Dodge7 wrote:
wow OP you are pretty desperate to come over here and be laughed at and have "HELLOs!" hurled your way by little boys and girls in and around town.


Wow. That's just...sad. Do they really laugh at you? Do you want to cry? It's okay if you do.

Sure i get random hellos, and you do too. Quit your lying.
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ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 7:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Should I just sell car and fly over? Reply with quote

AsiaESLbound wrote:
I'm not sure which category this should go in so I picked general discussion.

I've been applying to jobs since August of last year, but not getting any offers other than one from an adult split shift corporate hagwon. I applied from August to December with my FBI document expiring around Christmas, got it again in February and been trying since last week of February with no offers. I completed 3 contracts in Korea with good references and no immigration black marks to speak of nor any incidents.

Most recruiters respond well to me, interview me, say it's all good, and then they always ask me my birthday which leads to being ignored or shelved. I'm only 40 years old and I'm healthy.

I imagine I could land a job quite quickly if I just fly over, but fear everything has changed about the job market for a middle aged man and know I don't have a stack of cash in the event I need to do a plan B or C. I'd prefer to arrange it ahead of time and get flown over as before, but it's proving difficult and too time consuming. I now actually regret passing over that one split shift job offer in Daegu last October.


Sell your car and fly over?

You'll certainly lose out on your airfare.
You may not necessarily get a better deal.

If you qualify for an E2 then I seriously doubt that 40 as an age is a significant factor. I am certainly much older than that and STILL regularly get job offers and I don't mean spam from recruiters. I also know of several hundred others who are in the 40+ category who have obtained jobs from abroad RECENTLY.

There is something there other than just age working against you.
I won't speculate as to what that might be.

.
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AsiaESLbound



Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dodge7 wrote:
T-J wrote:
Dodge7 wrote:
wow OP you are pretty desperate to come over here and be laughed at and have "HELLOs!" hurled your way by little boys and girls in and around town.


Wow. That's just...sad. Do they really laugh at you? Do you want to cry? It's okay if you do.

Sure i get random hellos, and you do too. Quit your lying.

Thanks for the responses. The first response is correct in that only I can answer this for myself since I'm older and more knowledged on the subject than many here. While there're still plenty of jobs for those in their 20's, I'm really wanting to know if the job market is really this sour on the ground over there as I'm finding it to be using our trusty fickle recruiters. It used to be easy to land a job online and fly over inside of 6 weeks indicating demand was high then when they didn't care as much about personal attributes like now. It's just nice to have a prepaid flight, a place of your own waiting over there, and then saving up money since you don't have to pay for the flight, your studio usually already fully equipped, and essential rides. I suppose the easy way is no longer easy.

If you get, "hello," many times over there, it's because they like you. All the other countries do not fly you over nor pay as much except a few in the middle East requiring a masters degree. There are tons of other countries to go teach in if you get bored of Korea or aren't happy there or feel humiliated. In fact, if flying yourself, it'd be cheaper, easier, and funner to go get set up Taiwan, Thailand, and many others.

I'm no longer seeing those $600 one way tickets I was getting in 2008, 2009, and 2010 to Korea. Heck, I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Paris for only $340 on Air Asia and then from Berlin to Miami for only $310 some 2 years ago. Airfares have seemed to doubled since...
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Stan Rogers



Joined: 20 Aug 2010

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just drive your car over. You could sleep in it until you find a job. If it doesn't work out, you can always drive back home.
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AsiaESLbound



Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri

PostPosted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 9:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stan Rogers wrote:
Just drive your car over. You could sleep in it until you find a job. If it doesn't work out, you can always drive back home.


LOL. Can someone tell me where the land bridge is located? Surely there's one the American indians used since they clearly look Asian.
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Died By Bear



Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Location: On the big lake they call Gitche Gumee

PostPosted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 2:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't sell your car numb nuts, you're going to need it when you get back home penniless because someone shafted you on your hogwan pay.
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