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I-am-me
Joined: 21 Feb 2006
Location: Hermit Kingdom
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 Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm over the hill and still finding jobs. I know of others who were even older who were teaching. Age is no problem. |
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le-paul
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre
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| Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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me too. if anything, its easier.
my current school ony employs men and were all around 40 ish. the director wants to make an impression that were a professional - 'get the job done' school ' or something?
the upside is, people tend to have a bit more of an expectation that im going to be settled and professional, so i dont get bothered at work much. |
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Waygeek
Joined: 27 Feb 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:34 am Post subject: Re: I'm over 40. Did I just luck out? |
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| bmaw01 wrote: |
Before I applied for a teaching job in South Korea, I read a few articles on the the pros and cons about teaching here. The one constant thing that the authors would talk about was age. They kept stating that if you're over 40 your chances on finding a teaching job will be pretty awful. I was worried, but I never traveled before, and I thought that teaching in South Korea would give me an excellent opportunity to see Asia.
I have been here for close to two years now. It's been a good experience. I've gained a ton of experience in the classroom. I was able to save money. I have met wonderful people. Overall it's been a good experience.
It got me thinking. Maybe I was just lucky, or just maybe I was the right person for the job. I will list the things that were in my favor when I got hired.
1) The school is located in Jeonju. It's definitely not Seoul, so it's not a desirable place for most young people.
2) The school is new as it has only been in operation for 2 years now.
3) My boss is a woman, and she has been in California for 3 years. She is a typical Korean boss, but she's a bit softer. She just lets us do our job without interfering too much.
4) I look young. I have all of my hair, few wrinkles and I still work out. Knock on wood! 
5) I am a certified teacher. My specialty is in special education.
There you go. I guess I am not the average Hagwon teacher. All of my coworkers are about 25 years old. I work with a Korean lady who is 40. My boss is only 27! No complaints. Working with younger people keeps me youthful. I like it.
Thanks.  |
There's plenty of work for everybody; and yeah, it's easier to find work outside of Seoul. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Good to hear. I'm not in the 40 club yet. But a few years away. (I'm not as old as my title suggests. Ha ha.) Keep pushing ahead fellows. |
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ampersandman
Joined: 01 Jun 2013
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| Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| What about the over-30 crowd? I just spoke to a recruiter who says he has some trouble finding work at Korean private institutes for anyone over 27. |
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Canadian Club
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| For the people who are certified to teach in their home country, what is the attraction of teaching ESL? Why did you choose that instead of teaching in your subject area at an international school? It seems like there are a fair number of certified teachers working at hagwons and public schools. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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International school positions pay more and have a better benefits package BUT they are harder to get into. Not everyone who applies gets the job.
As for getting a teaching job in the United States, I wouldn't say it's impossible (as long as you are willing to relocate). My brother got the first public school job he applied to and was hired right on the spot at the interview. This was straight out of university. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
International school positions pay more and have a better benefits package BUT they are harder to get into. Not everyone who applies gets the job.
As for getting a teaching job in the United States, I wouldn't say it's impossible (as long as you are willing to relocate). My brother got the first public school job he applied to and was hired right on the spot at the interview. This was straight out of university. |
Was this pre or post-2009? Or perhaps more importantly, pre or post-2010 GOP wave? |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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2008.
The 'great recession' began in 2007 and ended in June of 2009 according to economists.
Do you really think it's impossible for a uni grad to find jobs in the United States?
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WASHINGTON - A Federal Reserve survey says economic growth increased throughout the United States from April through mid-May, fueled by home construction, consumer spending and steady hiring.
Eleven of the Fed's banking districts reported "modest to moderate" economic growth, according to the Beige Book survey released Wednesday. The 12th, in Dallas, reported strong growth. |
I think there is going to be some good news tomorrow (my prediction).
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The biggest measure of the economy's health comes out Friday when the government releases the May employment report.
Economists forecast that employers added 170,000 jobs, roughly in line with April's pace, while the unemployment rate remained at a four-year low of 7.5 per cent. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
2008.
The 'great recession' began in 2007 and ended in June of 2009 according to economists.
Do you really think it's impossible for a uni grad to find jobs in the United States?
| Quote: |
WASHINGTON - A Federal Reserve survey says economic growth increased throughout the United States from April through mid-May, fueled by home construction, consumer spending and steady hiring.
Eleven of the Fed's banking districts reported "modest to moderate" economic growth, according to the Beige Book survey released Wednesday. The 12th, in Dallas, reported strong growth. |
I think there is going to be some good news tomorrow (my prediction).
| Quote: |
The biggest measure of the economy's health comes out Friday when the government releases the May employment report.
Economists forecast that employers added 170,000 jobs, roughly in line with April's pace, while the unemployment rate remained at a four-year low of 7.5 per cent. |
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Not at all, considering that I'm an employed uni grad in the States, but for teachers, the profession in question, things have gotten quite grim. Why anyone would want to stick around here is beyond me, however. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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Here in the U.S.? Good benefit packages including thousands upon thousands of dollars of pension and other retirement benfits per year. Way better salaries. High quality health insurance. Being close to friends and family. Better job security- once you get in, you're in for life; in Korea you are on one year contracts forever.
...but...ESL jobs in Korea are easier to get into I think. In the U.S. it can be difficult (but quite possible) to get a teaching job.
There are pros and cons for each.
...But in my opinion I think the ESL salaries in Korea aren't all that great. I don't think it's a slam dunk case for Korea being a better deal.
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| One thing to consider is employees are almost always paid more for the exact same job when working overseas. It is hard to be away from your family and country. This is true for SE Asian factory workers who could probably get the same factory job in their home country but for way less money. It is also true for highly paid workers in the aviation industry who get their kids international school paid for and have free apartments much bigger than ours. |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Who's Your Daddy? wrote: |
What I'm saying is, I think it is a waste of most certified teachers, because they're working here way below their ability. |
This is assuming that a "certification" is anything more than a glorified filtering and protectionist scheme. |
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silkhighway
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Canadian Club wrote: |
| For the people who are certified to teach in their home country, what is the attraction of teaching ESL? Why did you choose that instead of teaching in your subject area at an international school? It seems like there are a fair number of certified teachers working at hagwons and public schools. |
In Canada, it ranges from very hard to complete impossible to get a teaching job right now in the country. In many urban areas it's even hard just to get on sub lists. The exception are those teachers with specialties who are willing to go up North or high growth pockets.
I've even noticed a trend that some university education departments are trying to promote a B.Ed. as a good stepping stone for other careers other than teaching, which I personally find a crock of @#$#, but that's another story.
I'm not sure about the international school scene. |
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transmogrifier
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:19 am Post subject: |
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| silkhighway wrote: |
| Who's Your Daddy? wrote: |
What I'm saying is, I think it is a waste of most certified teachers, because they're working here way below their ability. |
This is assuming that a "certification" is anything more than a glorified filtering and protectionist scheme. |
Yeah, I worked back home in the public school system and there were plenty of certified teachers who didn't have a clue what they were doing. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:30 am Post subject: |
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| transmogrifier wrote: |
| silkhighway wrote: |
| Who's Your Daddy? wrote: |
What I'm saying is, I think it is a waste of most certified teachers, because they're working here way below their ability. |
This is assuming that a "certification" is anything more than a glorified filtering and protectionist scheme. |
Yeah, I worked back home in the public school system and there were plenty of certified teachers who didn't have a clue what they were doing. |
All of the best teachers I've ever had were non-certified, while all the worst had masters in education. Certification is a way of assuring that those who teach are those who can't do. |
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