Korean Job Discussion Forums

crabstix · Joined: 14 Apr 2008

hi

I saw this on the job board

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=34998

It states that all SMOE jobs are full now. Is this really the case?

If so, what is the likelyhood of getting a job? Does that mean that the only chance of a job with SMOE is if someone breaks their contract or gets sick of their job and walks out?

Also I'd like to know if SMOE ONLY finds jobs for teachers in Seoul or do they also cover the areas surrounding Seoul.

johnny_larue · Joined: 09 May 2008

Maybe the jobs are filling up because of the recession in North America. I might sound like a broken record promoting the Incheon school board, but four months in I am pretty happy.

You might give Incheon a try, it's close to Seoul.

nomad-ish · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject:

they may be full right now, but i'm betting there will be more than a few people who drop out at the last minute. you might want to try again closer to march

jay-shi · Joined: 09 May 2004 Location: On tour

crusher_of_heads · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject:

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

I hear a lot of teachers are re-singing this year. On top of that, they just hired like 400 teachers in August for the "1 native teacher in every school" push.

From what I understand, August is when all the schools claimed to have 1 Native teacher.

So, the only vacancies now are people who choose not to renew their contract, and those that ran.

eurasian76 · Joined: 09 May 2006

a recruiter just called me and asked me about applying for an SMOE position starting end Feb so I guess they`re still available

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

No!

This issue comes up every semester, and it is false for two reasons:

1. Each recruiter is allotted only a certain number of positions. If one says they're full, try another recruiter. They have merely filled the small number of positions they were allowed.

2. When it becomes too late to hire (past a certain date) for upcoming positions, the recruiters will tell you they are all full so you will consider their shitty hagwon offers as the only choice left rather than wait. Once again, call around to other recruiters and look for open public school positions. If they are past the allowed hiring date, then wait a month or three until the next hiring period begins. That, or become a hagwon slave.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

wrong!
Recruiting companies are not allocated a number of positions for SMOE. It is a free for all until all positions are filled.

At the moment, SMOE are NOT taking any new applications. Their waiting list is also full. Even their training centre out in Gapyeong is full!
Just yesterday we tried to get an applicant in. No dice. They did not even want us to send the application form.

I guess 1.8MIL - 2.0MIL in Seoul is still fancied by some.

There will be dropouts in January/February you would think. So one can only assume that SMOE will be asking for applications again at that time.

But for the moment, they are full.

egrog1717 · Joined: 12 Mar 2008

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

Pre purchasing positions? ...Seriously? ...that is what you think happens?

Anyway, as far as I know, SMOE are full. Maybe they are just saying that to my company, maybe they really are full. Maybe they don't want our applicants. Who knows with these people?

Egrog:
There are some people still having interviews, but I can only assume they have had their stage 1 docs in for a while and their interviews dates are just coming around. We had a guy interviewed this week too, but his docs had been in for a while.
It is the new applications they are not taking until late January when they have a good idea of how many dropouts they have.

If you are deadset keen on working for SMOE, send your application to every recruiter that deals with them.
If you are awarded an interview then you have left no stone unturned and you have gotten what you want.

But this is what SMOE have told us:
They don't want anymore application forms until after Jan 31st.
This is the date the applicants whom already have had their interviews and have been offered positions have to get docs in.
After that date, they lose their position. That is when waiting list applicants are given the chance.

So email a few recruiters. Find out from them if they will take your applications and how long it will be before you can get an interview. I would love to know if it was just us getting shunned.

Maybe they have favourite recruiters that they allocate positions to. Maybe they are telling the new companies dealing with them for the first time in 08 that they are full to bulk up the older companies..I dunno..all you can do is ask around.

But don't ask us, I even took the SMOE jobs off the site.

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

Is EPIK filling up like SMOE these days?

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

With 652 positions available, it is a bit of a bottomless pit. Can't see them filling their jobs.
Exchange rates would have to dramatically improve or salaries would simply have to go up for that many people to get off a plane at Incheon Airport.
The thing about these public school jobs though....they always fill. 2009 will be their biggest challenge to date though.