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Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
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640x480
Joined: 02 Apr 2008
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 Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject: Hello, an introduction and question! |
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Hello to all~
My name is Justin Lee residing in Connecticut. After graduating from college in fall of '07 I have been hunting for a job in the advertising industry. It didn't help that my degree was in information systems and business. Unfortunately, my passion for info sys died a while ago. So, after much thinking and consideration, I've finally decided to take the jump and go to Korea. I'm a Korea-born American citizen and really enjoy working with kids. My childhood in Korea is so hazy that I pretty much consider myself native.
I would love to get some recommendations on recruiting services. There are so many and I've read on blogs that many of these middle men services are bogus.
Also, would you recommend getting a ESL/TOEFL teaching degree while in Korea? I figure it could only help my reputation.
Well that's all, hope to learn a lot more about this unique experience from everyone. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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First, delete your real name from your original post. No one needs it and it will only cause you problems on this site.
Second, don't tell employers in Korea that you were born in Korea. Just don't. As long as you have an American passport, they won't ask, so don't tell them.
Third, are you obligated to fulfill any military requirements for the Korean government? Find out for sure before being tossed into it for 2 years once you get here.
Fourth, get leads and jobs from recruiters, but be very weary of recruiters and of hogwan jobs. Going for a public school job is the best bet for an honest employer if you are seeking a job from outside Korea. Most people go through a recruiter to get those, so look at SMOE, GEPIK and EPIK websites for info about applying.
Finally, get a TEFL certificate, even if an online one, before coming here to make yourself a better teacher and better candidate for the public school jobs. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
First, delete your real name from your original post. No one needs it and it will only cause you problems on this site.
Second, don't tell employers in Korea that you were born in Korea. Just don't. As long as you have an American passport, they won't ask, so don't tell them.
Third, are you obligated to fulfill any military requirements for the Korean government? Find out for sure before being tossed into it for 2 years once you get here.
Fourth, get leads and jobs from recruiters, but be very weary of recruiters and of hogwan jobs. Going for a public school job is the best bet for an honest employer if you are seeking a job from outside Korea. Most people go through a recruiter to get those, so look at SMOE, GEPIK and EPIK websites for info about applying.
Finally, get a TEFL certificate, even if an online one, before coming here to make yourself a better teacher and better candidate for the public school jobs. |
Other than my thinking that Bip meant to say 'leery', I'd say he gave good advice. |
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maeil
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Location: Haebangchon
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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| caniff wrote: |
| Bibbitybop wrote: |
First, delete your real name from your original post. No one needs it and it will only cause you problems on this site.
Second, don't tell employers in Korea that you were born in Korea. Just don't. As long as you have an American passport, they won't ask, so don't tell them.
Third, are you obligated to fulfill any military requirements for the Korean government? Find out for sure before being tossed into it for 2 years once you get here.
Fourth, get leads and jobs from recruiters, but be very weary of recruiters and of hogwan jobs. Going for a public school job is the best bet for an honest employer if you are seeking a job from outside Korea. Most people go through a recruiter to get those, so look at SMOE, GEPIK and EPIK websites for info about applying.
Finally, get a TEFL certificate, even if an online one, before coming here to make yourself a better teacher and better candidate for the public school jobs. |
Other than I think Bip meant to say 'leery', I'd say he gave good advice. |
Really? I thought he meant 'wary'. I see 'wary' as 'weary' as often as I see rediculous or definatley. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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| maeil wrote: |
| caniff wrote: |
| Bibbitybop wrote: |
First, delete your real name from your original post. No one needs it and it will only cause you problems on this site.
Second, don't tell employers in Korea that you were born in Korea. Just don't. As long as you have an American passport, they won't ask, so don't tell them.
Third, are you obligated to fulfill any military requirements for the Korean government? Find out for sure before being tossed into it for 2 years once you get here.
Fourth, get leads and jobs from recruiters, but be very weary of recruiters and of hogwan jobs. Going for a public school job is the best bet for an honest employer if you are seeking a job from outside Korea. Most people go through a recruiter to get those, so look at SMOE, GEPIK and EPIK websites for info about applying.
Finally, get a TEFL certificate, even if an online one, before coming here to make yourself a better teacher and better candidate for the public school jobs. |
Other than I think Bip meant to say 'leery', I'd say he gave good advice. |
Really? I thought he meant 'wary'. I see 'wary' as 'weary' as often as I see rediculous or definatley. |
Aww, you're right. I shouldn't post before having some coffee. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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And OP, make sure to check your posts on this site for misuse or misspelling of words!  The grammar nazis can make you weary. |
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maeil
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Location: Haebangchon
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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Hehe, I wouldn't have said anything if caniff hadn't. Really. Honestly. Trying to break myself of that bad habit  |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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| maeil wrote: |
| Hehe, I wouldn't have said anything if caniff hadn't. |
 
OP, do you have any family still in Korea? If you did, and could stay with them for a short while, that could allow you to check out places in person. Even if you don't have family you can stay with, it might still be a good idea to come here first as you can find cheap places to stay short-term. |
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maeil
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Location: Haebangchon
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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| caniff wrote: |
| maeil wrote: |
| Hehe, I wouldn't have said anything if caniff hadn't. |
OP, do you have any family still in Korea? If you did, and could stay with them for a short while, that could allow you to check out places in person. Even if you don't have family you can stay with, it might still be a good idea to come here first as you can find cheap places to stay short-term. |
Ah, I'm sorry. I guess I meant I wouldn't have said anything if *anyone* hadn't said something first. Time to keep my big mouth shut.
But yes, OP, I'd listen to one piece of Bibbitybop's advice in particular.. before you set foot in this country be very sure that you are exempt from military service. There was a very long thread on this board about someone who came back to Korea to teach English after spending most of his life in the US, only to (at the end of a struggle) be forced to serve his two years here. I don't know the details in particular, but I believe it has something to do with being on the family registry and making sure you renounced your Korean citizenship before you turned 18.. like I said though, please find out the details for yourself.
Good luck! |
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640x480
Joined: 02 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice.
Good thing Justin isn't my real name, just a nickname.
I signed a military waiver form when i was 17, I think that should settle that, but I should still check. |
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Cerriowen
Joined: 03 Jun 2006
Location: Pocheon
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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I agree you shouldn't mention you were born here. Because everyone here knows that your language proficiency depends on which hospital and doctor you arrived. If you were born in Korea, you lost valuable hours of learning english, which will negate your "native-speaker" status. Or at least lower your desirability to some people.
As far as recruiters go...
I've worked through recruiters who were blood sucking parasites... and just now worked through one guy who was really great. Kind of a surprise really.
A lot of recruiters act like their you're buddy, and they have your best interest at heart, and they'll do anything short of paying your salary themselves to ensure you get a great job...
This guy acted like its a business transaction, where he's the middle man, and was very blunt about the down-sides, without being negative. He was helpful but also not shmarmy and sleezy.
So I guess it's a lot of what you expect from them, and if you're well informed, and then a hit-and-miss process of selecting who you work with. |
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collegeboy
Joined: 06 Jun 2007
Location: Janhangpyeong - East Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:24 am Post subject: |
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| hey the recruiting service that me and a ton of my friends went through is great, its called gone2korea...check out the website, the guy who runs it is an awesome dude, totally upfront about things, will go out of his way for you, etc etc...everyone i know who went through him had absolutely no complaints...and hes throwing a bunch of his teachers a party next weekend with free food and drink and door prizes...i know, amazing...but check out the site, www.gone2korea.com the owners name is Kirk |
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Beeyee
Joined: 29 May 2007
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:35 am Post subject: |
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| collegeboy wrote: |
| hey the recruiting service that me and a ton of my friends went through is great, its called gone2korea...check out the website, the guy who runs it is an awesome dude, totally upfront about things, will go out of his way for you, etc etc...everyone i know who went through him had absolutely no complaints...and hes throwing a bunch of his teachers a party next weekend with free food and drink and door prizes...i know, amazing...but check out the site, www.gone2korea.com the owners name is Kirk |
Thanks for the info Kirk |
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Mandinga
Joined: 12 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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| why does that sound like an infomercial? So far g2k hasn't impressed me, they've tended to leave out bits of information on schools. |
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CA-NA-DA-ABC
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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I disagree that the OP should conceal his/her Korean-born status. This could mean the difference between an F4 and an E2 to a prospective employer.
This may affect his/her job chances, for better or for worse. |
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