Korean Job Discussion Forums

ronald_reagan · Joined: 28 Jan 2009

Decisions, decisions. It is tough to decide what one wants to do with the next year of their life. Thailand, Korea, China, Japan. I wish I could say the U.S. but there is not much hiring taking place. I am a trained teacher with experience in ESL and content and a graduate degree (which does not seem to amount to much in Korea from what I have read). I want to get maximum benefits and maximum paid vacation. I have heard that university is the way to go. I have seen a couple jobs here but they seem to want the candidate to live in Korea. Where else can I look for university jobs in Korea?

jinks · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Location: Formerly: Lower North Island

You need to be in Korea if you want to interview for university jobs.

esetters21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Seoul

The candidate living in Korea seems to be the standard. They want to interview you in person. Usually these jobs are filled by having connections. Do a search on the topic. There are many uni teachers that have posted on this subject here before.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:35 pm Post subject:

This doesn't answer your question, but -

It's extremely unlikely you will land a uni gig without at least a year's experience in K-land (or have a friend who is working in a university here already)... sorry. Crying or Very sad

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

If your graduate degree is in an English or language related field, it will make the difference between salary each month if you find an employer who appreciates and understands it. It is also the difference between top university jobs and mediocre university jobs (meaning more pay and more vacation).

michaelambling · Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Location: Paradise

If you have an M.A. or a Ph.D., you should be able to get a university gig even without being in Korea. I was able to. However, you'll probably not be able to live in Seoul, which just means waiting it out a year and then applying for a university in the capital city, if that's where you want to be.

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

If you hurry there are still univ gigs with openings for this coming year, some schools are being real last minute in their hiring

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

Scott in Incheon · Joined: 30 Aug 2004

With your qualifications, you might look into the NET program in Hong Kong.

They have a nice starting salary and your experience may count towards a few steps up the salary ladder. You will get a little more money with each year of experience. Your experience needs to be with the right aged kids...if you want to teach in high school then you need to be certified to teach in high school in your home country and each year you have taught will count towards your salary bump...but experience with elementary kids would not count.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Keep an eye on individual university web sites. A lot of the schools do want you here to interview, but many do hire people directly from overseas with just a phone interview. The MA and the experience will be the deciding factor in your case. SNU's College English Program, for example, has hired a few people from overseas. It's not the greatest place in Korea to work, but it's a good resume pumper so you can move on to better things after a year or so there.