Korean Job Discussion Forums

nicam · Joined: 14 Jun 2008

I'm hoping to be placed in a PS in Geoje, Tongyeong, or Yeosu, however my recruiter is strongly suggesting Ulsan, or the Gyeongsangnam province. I know Tongyeong and Geoje are in this province, but there was no reassurance that I would actually end up in one of these cities. Are PS jobs in these places so scarce that I will have to settle for an alternative location, or should I be able to successfully demand to be placed in my area of preference?

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

Why are they suggesting those places? $$$$$

If you really want to be in Geoje or Yeosu then start sending your resume out to other recruiters. Find one that will place you in an area that you want, not an area that is easiest for them to make a buck.

jboney · Joined: 14 May 2008 Location: Northern Seoul

I had a similar thing happen. Here's how the conversation went:

"I really want to go to Seoul"
"Yeah, Seoul...hmmm I have a lot of nice paying positions in Busan, it's just like Seoul, only not as crowded."
"I really want to go to Seoul though"
"In Busan I can get you more money, more vacation time, and an apartment on the beach"
"But I've looked into Seoul and I know I wanna go there"

I'd say try another recruiter. I'm sure there are some recruiters who work specifically with certain areas, like the one you're interested in.

Anyone know a good recruiter for just the Seoul area?

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

The reason for the change could be that Geoje and Tongyeong are quite small. Quite small.

egrog1717 · Joined: 12 Mar 2008

TBirdMG · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Location: SF, CA, USA

Always the recruiter works for you.
If the recruiter doesn't understand this basic principle, there are other recruiters. Try once more, emphasize that your preferred location is just that. If the recruiter doesn't get it, the recruiter doesn't get it. Just move on.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

TBirdMG · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Location: SF, CA, USA

Definitely an error in neural keyboarding performance in my previous post.

My previous message should have stated that the recruiter DOESN'T work for you. Recruiters are compensated for identifying a potential match between educational institution and teacher, but typically work in the best interests of the hiring institution.

A good recruiter will make a sincere effort to play effective matchmaker by taking into consideration your expectations, including teaching level, salary expectations, location, etc.

However, we all know by now that most recruiters will sell you the first bridge you cross, and sell you a bad bill of sale.

An uncooperative recruiter is a bad sign. I still say...move on to a better one.

nicam · Joined: 14 Jun 2008

Yeah, I had a feeling it had something to do with the smaller cities having limited PS openings. Lame. I'd rather it just be about the $$, because then I could talk my way into a preferred location.

The recruiter has since eased up on Ulsan and asked for my top 3 desired places, so there may be a fighting chance.

blonde researcher · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:05 pm Post subject:

Ulsan has lots of public school jobs to fill apparently and they have many recruiters advertising to get people into their jobs.

I was offered a PS job in Ulsan. But why go to Ulsan? For teachers with only a bachelors degree the starting salary is only 1.8 million !!!

Why such a low start salary for a less than desirable industrial city a long way from either Seoul or Busan? Does anyone know?

You may as well try to get into SMOE in Seoul starting at 1.8 million.
1.8 is now well below hagwon rates in Ulsan.
At least in the Gyeongnam Public Schools schools were offered starting on 2 million.

sojourner1 · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:38 pm Post subject:

I understand that you can only pick the province, not the city when it comes to PS jobs.

Kiarell · Joined: 29 Mar 2008

^

For real? I got choices.

blonde researcher · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:04 am Post subject:

You do not get any choices of the school you go to if you use EPIK or SMOE or GEPIK. They only ever promise 'prefences will be considered'

Some of the individual cities like Ulsan and provinces like Gyeongnam or Gangwon are doing recruiting themselves through their own selected recruiters as well as through EPIK.
You can get choices of cities and schools.
You are wanting Yeosu or Geoje, but these are in 2 different provinces so it might not be as easy for your recruiter to organise as you think.
In Gyeongnam you definitely can pick your city and if there is a vacancy you fit, you get it after an interview. you have to provide the same EPIK forms to get the interview though.

nicam · Joined: 14 Jun 2008

I guess it is just a matter of timing and availability.

You get to pick 3 preferred locations, and if something opens up then you're golden. Don't know what happens if there aren't any slots in your areas of choice though.

And I agree with blonde researcher about Ulsan. If I wanted to go to a huge city I would just go to Seoul or Busan.