Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Caravan]

I know it seems to be pretty normal when dealing with a hagwon to ask for a picture of the apartment they will giving you, but is this also true when applying for PS jobs? If I ask my recruiter for GEPIK to provide a picture of the place, should they be able to do that? Right now, mine is telling me they can't because accommodations change so often. I think this is a pretty reputable recruiter, too.

Any experiences with this?

[cruisemonkey]

It is probably possible if you were going to work at a 'private', public school (yeah, I know it's oxymoronic but this is K-land). But certainly no recruiter for GEPIK, EPICK etc. would have any idea of where your apartment will be (they don't even know what school you'll be assigned to)... and probably even the school doesn't yet know where you'll be staying.

I knew what school I was going to from the very beginning; but could find out nothing about my 'apart-ah' - they simply didn't know. When I arrived I spent the first three nights in a luxury tourist hotel ... my co-teacher had no idea of where my apartment might be.

[icicle]

As other posters have said may literally not be possible for public school jobs. I know that when I started at my GEPIK school (employed via a recruiter directly by my school but no real difference to getting the job via the GEPIK "system") the school did not even get access to my accommodation until the day I arrived - I would suggest that if you are the first NT being emplyed by your school they are more than likely not going to arrange for the accommodation until after they know that you are coming so would not be in a position to show you pictures as part of the "deciding if you'll go there" process. It wouldn't hurt to ask - but if they say they can't - it may well be true.


Icicle

[Caravan]

All right. That makes sense. Like I said, I get a pretty good vibe from the recruiting agency and they've been nothing but helpful so far. I guess it's with the hagwons where you really need to be the most careful and check everything backwards and front.

Thanks for the replies. You're good help.

C.

[cruisemonkey]

[yeremy]

Ideally, it would be best to get a picture of your apartment, if at all possible. How many of us would rent an apartment unseen at home? Most of us, I think, would not. If you cannot get a picture of your future apartment then it would be helpful to get the phone number of either the person you're replacing, or another teacher there who could tell you. Housing seems to be one of the more common matters which can easily become contentious between a teacher and their school. Personally, I prefer to get my own housing. I've saved enough money and that's what I do now. I'd rather take the housing allowance, if it's offered, and get my own place rather than live in a place I haven't seen, nor would want to live in.

[Cracker006]

I had pics of mine sent to me... but those were hakwons.

[PRagic]

In theory, it would be great if you could get a pic. In reality, however, the school in many cases simply hasn't rented your apartment before you sign the contract.

Real Estate rentals work differently here than in N. America. You can usually move in within a week or two of seeing a place.

In general, it's not too much to ask, but it probably won't happen.

[cruisemonkey]

Opps... hit 'quote' instead of 'edit'.

[Zutronius]

[PRagic]

Gotta love the ever-present soju bottle in the kitchen.

[ciccone_youth]

very nice pad!!

[bassexpander]

Yes, very nice counters and all. I would have loved that!

[Fishead soup]

What, no bedroom?

[spliff]

To the OP. I strongly suggest you don't except any position unless you've received notarized pictures of the housing. Also, you may want to get a job for something to do while you're waiting.