Korean Job Discussion Forums

satyagraha · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

The Bubble Sisters Evil or Very Mad

and the daily grind Mad

has spurred this.
Does anyone know of a list that exists of schools and/or recruiters who employ people regardless of the colour of their skin? If not, I would be very interested in people's personal experiences, including the names of places. This is not intended to promote a discussion on the state of race relations in the country, but hopefully a promotion of those places acting in a fair way, and maybe a bit of advice for people wanting to teach here.

panthermodern · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Taxronto

I work for a school as an H.R. director and we are a true equal oportunity employer with regards to race.

We are not an equal opportunity employer when it comes to background, education and experience.

If you are Black and have excellent qualifications we will hire you.

If you are White and have no qualifications we will not hire you.

Simple.

I, however, do not wish to name my employer at this time only say that their are schools and employeers in Korea that are more concerned with the quality and not the hue of their staff.

kimcheeking · Guest

I will second panthermodern. I have worked at 2 such places and am currently employed at a third like that.

names withheld sorry.

satyagraha · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

I don't doubt that fair schools exist, and I am sure your reasons for witholding names are valid, but is there any information as to specific schools and recruiters?

l'il kim · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: T-dot

I'd second the original poster's request. In the past month, I must have sent at least 50 resumes out to various schools and recruiters - silence. I was born and raised in Canada, have volunteer English teaching experience and a Master's from UT; unfortunately, once personnel directors see my Korean face on my photo, it's game over (or at least, it appears to be). Is it true that for Caucasian applicants from English speaking countries, all you need is a BA and a pulse for many schools??

So far, the quest for an equal opportunity hagwon has proven elusive. I'll give myself another couple weeks to find something, and failing that, it's time to move on and cut my losses.

panthermodern · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Taxronto

girl · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

i have to say that there are schools in korea that will hire for the experience, and not for the colour of your skin.
i worked at one two years ago and it was great. now i'm planning on returning to korea and as soon as the interviewer hears that my parents are korean they say that they only want white people, because white people are better. seriously, that's what they say to me. so needless to say, my job search this time around is a lot harder, but i'm getting phone calls with some hope.
keep searching, and make sure that you fight for yourself, tell them that you're a good teacher (if you have the experience) and if they still won't budge it's their loss.
if you have a higher degree than a bachelor's why not apply to the universities?

l'il kim · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: T-dot

So, do most MAs actually end up getting uni jobs? Believe me, I've also applied there, though I hear that it is a lot easier to land such a position once one is actually in Korea and/or knows someone, ie. through connections. Not that it's impossible to find one on the internet, just seems harder.

It never occurred to me that I was "overqualified." Maybe it should have? One of my main reasons for wanting to come over is to improve my Korean proficiency, which is this side of pathetic. I have no control issues at hagwons, though of course personnel directors at hagwons would have no way of knowing this...

phil · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

one word... epik....

l'il kim · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: T-dot

Believe me, I looked into Epik, but the problems were twofold:

1) I want to be in the Old Country yesterday and the Epik semester only starts in September.

2) There's no guarantee that I won't end up in, like, Jeolla Province when Seoul is the only place I want to be.

Anyway, it's looking like I'll need to fold up this tent pretty soon. I give myself another week, but one can only plod in futility for so long...

panthermodern · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: Taxronto

[i]Believe me, I looked into Epik, but the problems were twofold:

1) I want to be in the Old Country yesterday and the Epik semester only starts in September.

2) There's no guarantee that I won't end up in, like, Jeolla Province when Seoul is the only place I want to be.

Anyway, it's looking like I'll need to fold up this tent pretty soon. I give myself another week, but one can only plod in futility for so long[/i]

Ahhhh, so you can't find a position not because of racism but because your picky ... I worked in Jeolla for 4 years and it is not as horrible as it may seem. If you want to custom mix and match a perfect job your going to have to be patient

Hank Scorpio · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Ann Arbor, MI

satyagraha · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

Can I take it there are either precoius few fair hagwans and recruiters, or that this topic ilisitl little interest from white English teachers?

Captain Obvious 2.0 · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

satyagraha · Joined: 25 Feb 2003