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Gorf
Joined: 25 Jun 2011
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 Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with what oldtactics said, but given two equal candidates, one being fat and one being in shape, they'll hire the in-shape one every time.
Get in shape and you'll find you have a much better time in Korea. Remember, the social aspect of Korea is based on looks, so being fit will not only be good for your health but also your sanity and social life. There's really no good reason not to get in shape before coming to Korea- unless for some reason you think having Cheeto dust-covered fingers is a virtue. |
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mugshotz
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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| minos wrote: |
| mugshotz wrote: |
| I'm overweight myself, and while I hope to lose weight while teaching in Korea in the near future, I feel that being overweight can be a blessing in disguise for the process of applying for a first job. I have heard that many schools don't care about your credentials, just what you look like. I have no desire to work for people such as this so if my being heavy prevents them from offering me a job...fine. I'm aware that it may take a little longer because of my appearance, but I'm hoping to find a school that wants to hire me for my teaching skills/experience and how these skills can benefit the students. So, OP, unless you want to work for a boss who is only interested in his/her employees' sex appeal, count your blessings and hope it helps you find a school with who you are. |
All korean companies hire by looks. If you had good exp. or teaching degrees it matters much less. Best teacher I ever saw was a fat guy here.
If you have neither experience or the right degrees....of course they hire on looks and accent.....what else will they go on? |
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I read your statement as some schools will overlook size if one has a teaching degree and experience. If this is the case, do you think a school, if having to choose between two candidates and assuming all other things equal (white, accent, etc), will prefer an applicant who has teaching degrees and experience or an applicant who is slim (without and teaching degrees/experience)? I understand that it will differ from school to school. I am just interested in overall trend. |
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gingercat
Joined: 06 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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| oldtactics wrote: |
| Honestly OP, the rumours about Korea not hiring fat teachers seems to be perpetuated more by the expat community than by Korean schools. There are lots of overweight foreigners here, especially in Seoul. They work at hagwons, public schools & universities. Present yourself professionally when you apply and see how things go. |
Thanks for the reply. Then perhaps I won't rule out Seoul, I figured I'd have to settle on some rural area. Bor-ing. |
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joeteacher
Joined: 11 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm a guy, I live in Seoul. I'm short, have that fat skinny thing going, not that good looking (though I have a "kind" face) and have done pretty well here. I've got a smoking hot wife and good jobs, never had a problem getting work. I think you'll do fine. As long as you don't look scary no one really cares what you look like. With that said, we all know it's easier to get a job if you're tall, good looking with blue eyes and blonde hair. |
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minos
Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Location: kOREA
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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| mugshotz wrote: |
| minos wrote: |
| mugshotz wrote: |
| I'm overweight myself, and while I hope to lose weight while teaching in Korea in the near future, I feel that being overweight can be a blessing in disguise for the process of applying for a first job. I have heard that many schools don't care about your credentials, just what you look like. I have no desire to work for people such as this so if my being heavy prevents them from offering me a job...fine. I'm aware that it may take a little longer because of my appearance, but I'm hoping to find a school that wants to hire me for my teaching skills/experience and how these skills can benefit the students. So, OP, unless you want to work for a boss who is only interested in his/her employees' sex appeal, count your blessings and hope it helps you find a school with who you are. |
All korean companies hire by looks. If you had good exp. or teaching degrees it matters much less. Best teacher I ever saw was a fat guy here.
If you have neither experience or the right degrees....of course they hire on looks and accent.....what else will they go on? |
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I read your statement as some schools will overlook size if one has a teaching degree and experience. If this is the case, do you think a school, if having to choose between two candidates and assuming all other things equal (white, accent, etc), will prefer an applicant who has teaching degrees and experience or an applicant who is slim (without and teaching degrees/experience)? I understand that it will differ from school to school. I am just interested in overall trend. |
They use your cred and experience for advertising purposes....they don't always use your picture for advertisements(some do, but I rarely see it)
So yeah, it evens out.
If we're talking fat fat.....you better have teacher certs or experience. Granted, the profile picture you submit doesn't include body shots so unless your 260+ pounds I wouldn't worry about it too much. |
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Illysook
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 1:09 am Post subject: |
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| My weight is sorta average, but I try to make the most of it. For example, I sometimes wear clothes that make me look preggers so that I can snatch a good seat on the bus. |
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Mikejelai
Joined: 01 Nov 2009
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 2:18 am Post subject: |
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| What gorf said; besides, you'll live longer, too.......... |
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Modernist
Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Location: The 90s
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 3:01 am Post subject: |
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| have that fat skinny thing going |
What does this mean? I'm a guy who's skinny as a rail, and there's no part of me that I can imagine describing as 'fat.' |
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Malislamusrex
Joined: 01 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 3:54 am Post subject: |
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The employer is thinking about how the waygook will reflect on the school.
If the students say malislamusrex is handsome and has a hot body, then all he has to do is be kind and then a good teacher and he has power with the students and school.
If a teacher comes to a school and it a tubby, the students will say teacher is fat, he looks like a pig, no matter how handsome or good he is at teaching they will think teacher is a fatty.
So employers hire accordingly. |
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itiswhatitis
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:40 am Post subject: |
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Korea definitely hires fat foreign teachers. As for some saying that there is more competition in Seoul: MAYBE in a trendy part of Seoul but in most of Seoul being fat won't make a difference.
Personally, I am an obese American. I made sure that there wasn't any physical duties involved with my job (such as sports or field trips) before I signed my contract.
I told my students that I've been fat for as long as I can remember and that I've never been able to loose weight. Most of them are very understanding and I almost never get made fun of.
Another thing to be aware of is that (if you are very overweight like me) that you might get sore knees while standing so long from teaching and that you will want to be very careful on the buses here if you have extra trouble with your balance. |
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cincynate
Joined: 07 Jul 2009
Location: Jeju-do, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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| There are plenty of fat people here.. The students will call you 'pig teacher' and its not uncommon for a korean to ask you "Why are you so fat?" with no ill-intent, nothing more than curiousity. Its actually kind of amusing what people will say to you and ask you here. |
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minos
Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Location: kOREA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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| itiswhatitis wrote: |
Korea definitely hires fat foreign teachers. As for some saying that there is more competition in Seoul: MAYBE in a trendy part of Seoul but in most of Seoul being fat won't make a difference.
Personally, I am an obese American. I made sure that there wasn't any physical duties involved with my job (such as sports or field trips) before I signed my contract.
I told my students that I've been fat for as long as I can remember and that I've never been able to loose weight. Most of them are very understanding and I almost never get made fun of.
Another thing to be aware of is that (if you are very overweight like me) that you might get sore knees while standing so long from teaching and that you will want to be very careful on the buses here if you have extra trouble with your balance. |
wow.....
ummm if your as big as you sound, Koreans are cracking jokes left and right behind your back. You really need to lose the weight.
Now that I think about it, there aren't too many fat teachers here. I've seen maybe 3-4 who were super fat. Most were just pudgy or heavy set. |
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cincynate
Joined: 07 Jul 2009
Location: Jeju-do, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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told my students that I've been fat for as long as I can remember and that I've never been able to loose weight
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I made sure that there wasn't any physical duties involved with my job (such as sports or field trips) before I signed my contract.
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Maybe that's why you've never been able to loose weight.[/quote] |
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Isehtis
Joined: 07 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm pretty big I guess, had a few people ask what happened to me etc. but then I'm also considered a giant height-wise by Korean standards, so I guess they think it just goes hand in hand. Never had a negative effect really. |
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happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 2:11 am Post subject: |
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fat and sloppy is a no-no
fat and well dressed and groomed..MUCH more successful. |
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