Korean Job Discussion Forums

reversengineer · Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Location: Texas

It's becoming more common now for universities to post jobs with the requirement of having both a master's degree and 3 years of university teaching experience. The job search is frustrating the heck out of me right now, since this experience requirement wasn't in place when I started my master's program. What am I supposed to do, teach at a hagwon with a master's degree? Me wanting to transition into teaching at a uni was the whole reason why I put the time, effort, and MONEY into a master's program.

Sorry, I just needed to rant. Anybody else in the same boat?

World Traveler · Joined: 29 May 2009

Here's a good read:

University jobs race to the bottom
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=235260

Hiring standards are going up while pay and conditions decline. The market's over saturated.

metalhead · Joined: 18 May 2010 Location: Toilet

pmwhittier · Joined: 03 Nov 2011 Location: Korea

Overture1928 · Joined: 12 Jan 2014

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

Come to China if you only have a 3 or 4-year degree.

JohnML · Joined: 05 Jul 2015

Yeah I'm sure this has been discussed in quite a few threads. The low end jobs are seing salary decreases the high end jobs are getting much more competitive. You still have a decent shot, people in 5 years are not going to be so lucky and I don't think it'll stop there. Basically loads of people with the qualifications and not enough jobs to go around. I don't know what you've seen but there are plenty 'o folk with masters working low paid hagwons jobs. I see a lot of uni jobs actually wanting publications/phd level people for a hagwon wage (better conditions though) or teaching exp from universities in the west. That'll probably slowly become the norm.

Don't give up though, it's not impossible. I'd personally not shove money to get qualifications for this field though as the entry reqs are jumping too fast for the investment to be worthwhile. I got my BSc for free and my MSc funded from a scholarship, I'd not even have considered them if they were not offered free. It's not only the cost of a degree which is stupid, it's the 10 months out of work = - $80,000 easily. At worst go to a dif country for 3 years, teach at a uni there and come back.

metalhead · Joined: 18 May 2010 Location: Toilet

hubbahubba · Joined: 31 May 2008

yawn...same same, that's what the conditions are. Wow, you still here World Traveler? Thought you said you were packing it in since you were unable to reach that "holy grail of uni teaching because of a litany of "roadblocks" put in your way.

World Traveler · Joined: 29 May 2009

This thread is not about me, old man, but this:

"the univ market is really tough, very competitive to get a job especially if you are a bit older even with credentials like a TESOL/CELTA etc. Working conditions are also getting worse no more 9 hour weeks with 5 months off Sejong just upped their min hours from 12 to 15 with no raise in pay (with some long time teachers getting screwed) my school just tripled the workload required for our classes, salaries are stagnating if not going down. With declining birthrates and lower enrollments its going to get worse. I got lucky landing my present job and would be scared shitless in trying to get another univ gig."

There is a decline underway. Sorry if that hurts your feelings.

10 years ago, things were great in Korea. Opportunities were plentiful (I applied for precisely 2 university jobs and got offers at both), and salaries were rising. Private teaching could be had in abundance for 40-50 an hour. These days, things are looking far less rosy.