Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Scorpio]

My name's Aaron, I'm 23 years old and wanting to teach in Korea. After spending countless hours researching the best way to go about it (as I don't fall into a horror story like the many I have read) many teachers have said to forget using recruiters, just come here and interview and you'll find a job in no time. It's so much easier said than done. It makes sense, but are there cheap accomodations like hostils that will work until I find the right school? On what type of Visa would I come on? Would I have to leave the country for a bit and come back on another Visa? Also, I would really like to work in Seoul because of the Socials perks. Seriously, even if anyone has a pull-out couch and wants to make some extra money for a week and help a fellow teacher (soon-to-be) out, let me know. I just got my passport in the mail and have all the right documents in order for me to spin the wheel-o-hagwons and see what I land on, but do want to take into consideration the advice I've been given again and again. Would it be crazy just coming there on a whim? I'd be paying for my own travel, which would suck, but I'd probably be able to negotiate a higher wage and check out the place/living conditions first, so I'd also be paying for peace-of-mind...what do you guys think? Help! =)

[The Den]

Even if this is your first time going I think you are doing the right thing. I first went after having signed a contract. Yeah I got my ticket sent to me and I went over with about 200.00 Canadian in my pocket. I was really lucky that the people who were supposed to pick me up did and I was not lost. Mind you I did not have the convenience of this website to guide me along. I am sure one of our colleagues will be kind enough to lend a hand in Seoul. I would be happy to help you out but I am going to Pusan and I am staying at my inlaws. Even if you get there and you hate it and you only stay a week you will have only lost the 1500 bones it cost to get over there, and at 23 and single ( I assume you are) that is chump change. But you will at least have seen a different country.

[Scorpio]

Again, thanks for all your help and input, yeah I am single, but dated a half-korean half american girl in college...so already know about their beauty. Her mom was almost 50 and looked 30 (yeah I could go off on Korean women) How long do you think it would take for me to find a job? If I start door-knocking the 2nd day off the plane ( I mean a good job). Are university jobs for a "newbie" out of the question? So you're saying just wing it, would be the best way? I just found tickets for $1100 on orbitz.

[Zyzyfer]

No, you shouldn't completely dodge recruiters, you should just find a reputable one. They occasionally get mentioned on this board, at least.

If you come here all alone and you don't have any overseas experience, you're going to cause yourself just as much hassle as if you landed in a bad hakwon due to your recruiter.

You're a new recruit, and, as tough as it sounds, you'll have to go through the same initiations that a lot of us went through coming to Korea. You can always change jobs once you get here, and have friends to support you, or even run back home if it doesn't pan out, but coming over here without a lick of support will be damn tough.

[The Den]

Well winging it means still doing some research. I can't really tell you how long it would take to find a "good " job" I have not been to Korea since 1998. However I have been reading this board for about 6 months now and from what I have read it does not seem to have changed much. People I knew back then griped about the same things they are griping now. Look around for some old discussion threads and I think that you will see that the university jobs are kind of difficult to get if you do not have an MA. If you hav an MA, well that is a different story. I would not totally discount recruiters either especially if you are in Korea and you can check out the schools. If this site is the first ESL site you have looked at I would really spend a lot of time surfing other sites and the job discussion board on this site. I think that would give you a much better impression of how long it will take you to get a job. You may have to knock on quite a few doors if you decide not to use a recruiter. Either way I am not going to go on and on about recruiters because I have used them in the past and they worked out all right and I have found my own jobs and it worked out also.

With all that said if you are willing to take a chance on going (airfare, lodging, living expenses etc) and you feel you have done all your homework then go.

One more thing. From what I have read on these boards and from my past experience in Korea a lot of the other foreign teachers may not be all that eager to help you out. Unfortunatley it is one of the weird things that go along with the expat crowd in Korea. I met some snobby people when I was there the first time. I also met a few bums. People living from paycheck to paycheck. But I also managed to make a few good friends. There are good people who are willing to lend hand. Just do not get discouraged if you run into someone from North America and they won't say hello or give you the time of day.

[Scorpio]

I managed to find a ticket from Albany, New York to Seoul for $658 not including taxes (that bring it to $720) That's round trip too! So if it sucks, I'll only be there for a week, but if not, I can take postponement fee. (I think) I'd rather not dive into a Hagwon for a year of my life (yeah, I'm only 23) just to find out the hard way. I don't see myself as being a "lifer" but maybe 2-3 years max to pay back some debts and take in a new culture.(of course if I meet my wife...prob tons of stories out there) Anyone know of any cheap places to stay? And how long until I get a working visa? Is that a hassle? Got my passport and I'm gung-ho for going!

[Lost Seoul]

[Homer]

Scorpio,,
you have no experience (yes?), a B.A. and you are coming over on your own.
Now, that means you will have to look for a job in a country/city you don't know where you also don't know anyone.
hmmm..its not impossible but you are taking the hard road.
You can find work but since you are a newbie you won't get that "great job" you heard of on here because the people that have those types of jobs have experience and have been here a while.
The hakwon thing is not all bad. I have been here since 1997 and I now work at a hagwon again and its a great job.
As a newbie you have to take what could be called "entry level" jobs. Thats just the way it goes scorpio. By all means look as much as you can to try and find the best possible newbie job.
Uni's are out since you don't have a M.A. or the equivalent in experience.
The work visa will require you to do the famous "visa run" which just means going to Japan and back.
Sometimes (most?) your employer will pay for this.
Why not get a job before coming over and get airfare paid, a valid visa and a stable situation to start with?

[Scorpio]

Yeah, I think the way I want to go about it is a little more unsettling, but if you take a look at the Job Information Journal on this site, the countless Hagwon horror stories make me want to change my mind completely and work for dull corporate america. Too many lies, blind contracts and dishonest recruiters make me want to go on my own and see whats up. I figure the increase in wages by not giving it back to the recruiter will more than pay for my plane ticket. Am I nuts?

[Scorpio]

By the way, that link you provided was great (am i still nuts?) ha ha

[The Den]

Here is a thought. Why don't you post your resume or your info on the resume page and have recruiters contact you. Give them your arrival date, tell them you won't sign anything until you have talked to other foreign teachers, check out the school etc. At least you can hit the ground running and have someone else do some of the legwork for you. By the way never pay the recruiter a dime. He is being paid by the school that hires you.

[Homer]

Scorpio,

not all hakwon jobs are bad and you should consider the fact that the people who like their jobs are much less vocal about it then those who had bad experiences.
This can give an unbalanced view of the hakwon market in Korea. Its not all roses but neither is it hell.
If you are carefull and research your jobs you can find a decent job and a good hakwon. Just peruse this site and you will find tons of tips on how to find a good job in Korea.
Mind you, it is a job and not a working holiday! Too many people come here thinking its just easy money and not much work..well its a job..full time and it requires effort...not saying this is your case mate, just pointing it out.

[Scorpio]

THanks for all the advice...I know that I don't pay the recruiters anything, but will I have more leverage in deciding my wage since nothing (except for the cost of a visa run) will be handed out to a third party. If I don't use a recruiter, am an american white male, ate the plane ticket cost myself and interview in person, wha type of salary shold I ask for. (I have no experience, but have taken 15 years of foreign languages myself...so I have an idea of how to teach it.) Is there a list of Hagwons in Seoul, so I can hit the ground running? Does anyone know of those which I should avoid? Is the only way to teach English, Hagwon or University? (No English courses in general high school?) Thanks again for your input, owe you guys a round of Soju.

[Blue Flower]

I went through a recruiter, and I am pretty much content with my job. Its not perfect, as I work in 4 different schools, which is a lot of running round. But I live a minutes walk away from 3 of them, and the fourth one is a 20 min walk, but I get dropped off, and picked up again, but the Hagwon mini van. my only gripe is that I am the only foreign teacher at my school, when i thought there would be heaps others. But I have been paid on time, the manager of the Hagwon has been fantastic, taking me on trips with her family, took me to get my foreign registration card, opened my bank account for me, phone, cable, all sorts of stuff. So not all recruiters are evil, and not all Hagwons are either. I love my kids, well most of them, and they always make me laugh.

I guess it totally depends on how independant you are, and also how confident you are in your abilities to find your way round a strange city/country, with a totally foreign language. Recruiters are definately the easy option, as they do the looking for you. Also, with a recruiter, you get your airfare paid, and you get picked up from the airport, and transported to your school/apartment for free!! No need to figure out where to go, and how to get there. BF.

[crazylemongirl]

my first three months have taught me thus...

even if you do your upmost, sometimes you can still get screwed due to unforseens. That said, do your research. If you run a search you'll see the sort of things to do to protect yourself. Basically research, research, research. Ask the right guestions, checkout websites, talk with other foriegn teachers etc.

Bonus of recuirter is that you get your airfare etc. taken care of as blue flower suggests. They also will take care of the paper work for you if you get a good one so all you have to do is get to the plane. If you plan more than a year here, your first job might not be so good but if you play your cards right you should end up with a pretty good job for your second year.

CLG