Korean Job Discussion Forums

cyucus · Joined: 28 Apr 2008

Hello all,

I've been looking into taking the plunge for a while now, but have yet to stumble across a list of reputable recruiters, preferably for Busan. Does such a list exist on this site? If not, some anecdotal recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

crash bang · Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Location: gwangju

i have no complaints with footprintsrecruiting.com. i was sent a steady stream of potential employers, and the one i settled on was good, honest, and fair. theyre not busan only, they place all over southeast asia, but if busan is what you want, im sure youd get plenty of offers for that area

greedy_bones · Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Location: not quite sure anymore

ESL Planet is pretty good. They helped me with my school after I finished my first year and started my second year. They also drop schools that are dishonest and screw over their employees.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

In Busan, Michael Duffy, & Kim 'n Joe are good. I've heard mixed reports on Footprints & RBI. If anything goes wrong at your school, the latter 2 are reluctant / too busy, to go in & bat for you. You're basically on your own.

Another positive vote for ESL Planet, which are Seoul based.

QbertP · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Location: Seoul

I've used footprints twice and they've always seemed helpful. Then again the schools they've placed me with have been great so very little help has been needed.

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

All recruiters have had good placements

AND

All recruiters, including those listed above, have placed people who have had problems with the recruiter or the placement.

Please let me repeat an old post of mine.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Really, when it comes to a recruiter, who cares?

From an employee's perspective - A recruiter is nothing more than an introduction to an employer.

REPEAT: From an employee's perspective - A recruiter is nothing more than an introduction to an employer.

Hello Mr. English speaker this is Mr Hakwon owner.
Mr. hakwon owner, this is Mr. English speaker.
Mr. English speaker, here is the contract. Please read and sign.
School, here is the signed contract. Pay me.
Good bye.

-You are not paying them anything (or you shouldn't be).
-THEY DO NOT WORK FOR YOU! - They work for the school.
-They owe you nothing once you get here.
-They are not your friend.
-They are not your baby sitter.
-They cannot help you if things go to *beep* after you get here.

Beyond that it is YOUR responsibility to check the school out.

Do NOT trust ANY recruiter. They are like used car salesmen. They will lie and sell their soul to get the signature on the contract.

Do your own DUE DILLIGENCE in regards to the school or get burned.

Use the recruiters for what they are. Use more than one and keep going until you get what you want. There is no rush and there is certainly no shortage of jobs.

When it comes to the school - again - repeat - Do your own DUE DILLIGENCE.

1st - READ the contract over very carefully. If that doesn't scare you away then...

The best you can do is minimize the risk by talking to MORE THAN ONE of the foreign staff and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS (*when the boss is NOT listening over their shoulder). Don't accept non-specific answers and broad generalizations.

No foreign staff references to talk (directly and via e-mail) to = walk away now.

Accept NO EXCUSES for any reason.

.
7777

daz1979 · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: Gangwon-Do

I'd add Kims Korea and Action Korea/Action Recruitment to that list.

But other people are right, sometimes recruiters mess the job up or don't research the schools that teachers are being placed to.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

They cannot help you if things go to *beep* after you get here.

Some recruiters do not consider it any of their responsibilty, whatsoever. ESL Planet, on the other hand, went out of their way, to offer advice, & rectify the problems, at least in my experience. But agreed, they were under no obligation to do so, & the English teacher in Korea needs to be able to handle problems independently, & research a position beforehand, to minimise any problems at a later date.

thatwhitegirl · Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Location: ROK

Listen to ttompatz. He's right.

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

I'll 3rd that motion that ESL PLANET Rocks!!!! Rowan spent countless times talking with me about my concerns and got me the perfect job with the specification I asked for in a Public School. Now that I'm working, I constantly recieve updates on how I am and if I have any problems. Very reassuring to know there are some good people left out there in Korea INC! www.esl-planet.com

justin moffatt · Joined: 29 Aug 2006

I am assuming that Ttompatz is refering primarily to hagwon recruiters and not corporate positions . . .

EzeWong · Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul

I'll be 4th on ESL Planet lol

Here's what they have done for me:

1) Made sure all my documents were secured, ready, and appropriate before submitting to EPIK
2) Prepped and informed me of the interview process, the details and helped set up the area of placement I was going
3) Provide weekly information on what flights to take, cultural differences (like you should buy gifts for your employers), What to bring, etc
4) Actually, CAME to the airport and personally greeted each and every one of us. That means a lot to me personally. I figure most recruiters would be done after getting paid, not Rowan though
5) Even after we were settled we got invites to go out with him and get to know each other.
6) Was ALWAYS timely with emails. I could expect email responses within 2-3 hours, sometimes even SECONDS I would get a response. In retrospect, a lot of the questions were stupid too, like "should I book my flight now, 3 months beforehand?" lol

They literally babysat me from A to B. I had a billion of questions, tons of doubts, and my documents all had problems everywhich way. But they cleared everything up for me and helped me get here. I'm having a great time in Korea so I'm very grateful.

sarahbeara_413 · Joined: 24 Jun 2008

I've been using ESL Planet for the last few months and everything with them seems to be going pretty well. I was working with Footprints for a while but was having problems getting my diploma (my school was severely delayed in getting them out) and Footprints didn't seem to be too patient about it, they won't even send you school profiles or set you up on interviews until you have everything in perfect order, it's understandable but still frustrating.

Jane at ESL Planet on the other hand has been really patient and understanding with the situation, she would call a lot to check up on me and see how everything was going. Even when I was working with other recruiters she was still available to answer questions about contracts being sent to me.