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SomeWaySoon
Joined: 02 May 2003
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 Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 11:36 am Post subject: I saw the post below on the bad job market, but... |
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| nobody spoke all that much to the issue of a turn-around. Does anyone have an educated guess as to when we can expect it to rebound? I am thinking of going to Korea after the first of the year. What's the prognosis? |
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Paji eh Wong
Joined: 03 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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Beats me. I'm not an economist. But Japan has been in the crapper for the last 10 years or so. Things could take a while. And the unhitching of the won to the dollar probably won't help.
I think there are a lot of economies in Asia that didn't learn anything from the "IMF" crisis, and I think Korea is one of them. |
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chronicpride
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Speaking from Daegu's perspective, which is a textile and manufacturing export region, many Koreans have said that things won't really start picking up until the US economy rebounds fully, which will act as a catalyst for the rest of these slumping export nations. If US economists are estimating a full rebound in late 2004, early 2005, then one would have to assume that the trickle effect to the export nations would take 6 months or more to stimulate their economies proportionately.
Added to the sluggish economy/parents pulling their kids out of schools, is also that the volume of hagwons has peaked. There has always been a 'shake-out' process (old one's close out, new ones open), but one would expect (and hope) that there will be some contraction of schools in the ESL industry over the next while, to rationalize supply and demand.
The market and jobs are still here, but it's just not as easily accessible as before (not like it was ever very accessible, with substandard job boards and hit/miss recruiters). Remember, this site does not offer an accurate barometer of teaching market in Korea. Look at this place as a fraction of the teaching community, but don't assume that the other fractions share the same vantage point and opinions. My advice as always, is to fly over here yourself, have enough financial resources for a month or two, make contacts with other teachers or Koreans, see the jobs and accommodations first-hand before you make your decisions. You'd fare much better than job searching on the net where there is upwards of a 1 job=50 applicants ratio. |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, the job market is not nearly as good as it used to be. We are also in an "off-peak" time of hiring.
Other factors which may help/hurt you:
1. Are you female? Women are wanted in more situations.
2. Are your from the USA or Canada? Speakers from these countries are more sought-after.
3. The days of avoiding recruiters are about over. They have taken a much larger chunk of the jobs out there. Monthly salary has diminished as a result. |
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SomeWaySoon
Joined: 02 May 2003
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:54 am Post subject: |
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| Are things so bad that I should look to Japan or Taiwan? Or is Korea still a relatively good deal? |
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Joe Thanks
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Location: Dudleyville
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Derrek wrote: |
Yes, the job market is not nearly as good as it used to be. We are also in an "off-peak" time of hiring.
Other factors which may help/hurt you:
1. Are you female? Women are wanted in more situations.
2. Are your from the USA or Canada? Speakers from these countries are more sought-after.
3. The days of avoiding recruiters are about over. They have taken a much larger chunk of the jobs out there. Monthly salary has diminished as a result. |
I agree with Derek's assessment. Recruiters used to be the norm because the net wasn't as influential. People in the states had SK connections and they�d do the adverts, promotion and recruiting and get the chunk from SK employers. Then the net surged and more recruiters are based in SK and little is done abroad. In fact, it seems most of the US shops are gone.
The demand was so high that schools went straight to the net, too.
It got reversed. I assume it�s because schools had difficulty weeding out candidates. Communication issues. EVERY recruiter I�ve ever talked to (in SK) had better English skills than any of the wangjangnim I talked to. I think that plays a big part into it.
Canadian women are in high demand. Three years ago Americans were the bee�s knees, but the tide of xenophobia and jingoism now has people wanting to avoid Americans altogether. Not all, but there�s a huge number, regardless.
Recruiters also swallow the phone and fax bills as part of their fee. Recruiting isn�t easy, and despite some bad set ups, there are a few good recruiters.
Some places, like Pagoda or English 20/20 or YBM tend to have regular office teams that do in-house recruiting. Smaller schools and rural schools rely on recruiters for their own reasons. Some, like Wonderland - have to use recruiters because their name is in the crapper. I recall one recruiter asking me about a certain school and I flat out asked �Is this wonderland?� They replied �yes,� and I told them I wasn�t interested, based on friends� experiences and my first-hand peak into their curriculum and books.
Two cents,
Joe |
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Joe Thanks
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Location: Dudleyville
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| SomeWaySoon wrote: |
| Are things so bad that I should look to Japan or Taiwan? Or is Korea still a relatively good deal? |
Of the three, Taiwan remains one that seems to have more out there. I split Taiwan earlier than I would have liked to because of the way the government (didn't) handled the SARS situation. If a real-deal super threat came down it would be chaos. I had a good situation too and my school was good. I had been there for a while too.
Bosses in Taiwan get balck marks with immigration, so if you don't like your job it is usually easy to transfer to another school. Taiwan is an easier market to break into. SK was, but now it's in a state of flux. I'm happy to be going back for a year, but it was the most difficult time I have ever had in finding work abroad.
Japan - you simply Have to go and look. The expenses entailed in doing so is what makes it hard. That's why I am doing another year in SK. I wanted to go back and be with local friends and to kill the final bit on student loans, but als ot osave up for Japan. It's also an easy jump to Japan.
Good luck wherever you end up,
Joe |
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TECO
Joined: 20 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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After reading the job board, it doesn't look like there is a shortage of jobs in Korea.
Lots of work in Taiwan also.
In Tokyo, you'll have no problem finding a teaching job.
Even with the depressed economies here in Asia, there are still lots of teaching jobs.
Whether they're quality jobs - that's another question. |
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