Korean Job Discussion Forums

mtessence · Joined: 24 Jan 2009

Hi- I am submitting my EPIK app. The only jobs left are in:

Chungnam
Chungbuk
Jeonbuk
Gyeonbuk

It's all Greek to me. Any feedback as to which are best. I would prefer to be in a large city but I know I cannot choose with EPIK. I also understand that there are differences in vacation policies in different provinces. I might end up not accepting a position but I might as well apply.

Thanks

cruisemonkey · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:14 pm Post subject:

Who ever is telling you that is full of crap!

Don't apply through the 'national' EPIK office - as you know, you have no choice as to your placement. They allow you to rank three options, but there is no guarantee of getting even one of those - they can send you virtually anywhere in K-land!

Do some research, figure out where you want to be and get a recruiter who can put you there.

mtessence · Joined: 24 Jan 2009

I am going through a recruiter, ESL-Planet. I picked them because they seem to be well thought of on this board. They told me which provinces have jobs and said there is no choice with assignment.

yeremy · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject: Not (100%) true

EPIK is many different things to as many different people. Some hate it. Some have a love-hate feeling about it. Others love it. I just want to say that up front. EPIK is what it is and I'm not going to say otherwise.

First of all, you can apply and get the POE you want to live in. If you apply to work and live in Gyeonbuk, you won't be sent to Chungnam because they're covered by different EPIK POE's.

Second, I applied through the EPIK website to teach in a certain city in a certain POE for EPIK a year ago. Well, I did get the city but not the level I wanted to teach. So, you can get whatever city or village you want to live in.

Third, recruiters have lost their instant access to the hiring powers at the POE's, so a recruiter may not necessarily have much more information than you may have as the applicant. They are no longer able to pick up the phone and call the hiring official at the POE in question to inquire about their clients applications and status.

However with all that said, once you are in the EPIK system and have gotten to know your EPIK area manager, you are better able to represent yourself in changing schools, cities and teaching levels than a recruiter but generally at the end of your contract.

As I said, I applied to EPIK through the website but I was already in Korea at that time. I have met many who applied to EPIK through a recruiter and were outside of Korea at that time. It worked well for them.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:47 pm Post subject:

mtessence · Joined: 24 Jan 2009

mtessence · Joined: 24 Jan 2009

That sounds like good advice cruisemonkey. How do I apply directly with with a province?

Am I limited to 1 recruiter? If I apply directly can I also have a recruiter. I think I read that I can apply in 1 place.

I'm thinking Gyeongsangbuk might be good because it has some nice cities.

maingman · Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea

busan

cruisemonkey · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 3:40 pm Post subject:

maingman · Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea

Korvia!

sobriquet · Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Location: Nakatomi Plaza

I'm pretty sure you could tell a recruiter what province you want to work in and they could get off their lazy arses and call a couple of schools there and see if they need.

How I got my position at this school here. Contacted a recruiter that hired a friend, she contacted the school near my friend, they wanted a teacher, easy as that.

mtessence · Joined: 24 Jan 2009

Thanks all

blonde researcher · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject:

You can still get directly into a Pusan metro public schoool for March. Apparently Busan released more jobs after the EPIK quota was closed.
Only a couple of agents involved you can use, and ESL Planet isnt one of these agents. I know World English Service and Footprints are contracted PMOE agents as they had ads on the Korean job list on 3rd Feb. Check it out

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

How does one go about switching provinces? I'm in Gyeongbuk and it is nice. But I REALLLLYYYYY want gangwondo! i know they start taking aps lin April, but I have been told that once you are in EPIK you can no longer use a recruiter to apply. So how does one go about doing this?

Sorry for hijacking the thread!

yeremy · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:27 am Post subject: Picking a City in EPIK

I asked for a certain rural city and I got it. I've heard of others who have done it, too, so it's very possible to nowadays when you apply to EPIK.

I spoke to Ann at Korvia a couple of months ago and she told me that she and other recruiters were no longer allowed to contact the EPIK managers directly anymore. A recruiter is certainly very helpful at helping you to get a job in EPIK but they don't have the same access today they had before according to Ann.

Do you have to use a recruiter to get into EPIK? No, you don't, but you'll have to do it on your own. I found the EPIK coordinators in Seoul to be very helpful whenever I had a question. Whoever tells you that you have to use a recruiter may not be telling you the truth. You can apply directly to EPIK via the on-line application.

As for what are some good places to work in the EPIK provinces? I'm in Gyeonguk and from what I have seen and heard in Gyeonbuk, Daegu (lots of unis), Gumi, Andong (Confucian capital of Korea), Gyeongju (Silla dynasty capital), Ulsan (Hyundai), Pohang (steel and POSTECH), Gimcheon, and Kyungsan (near Daegu) are supposed to be good (enough) places to live and work.

I have met people who work near one of the aforementioned cities in a small town or village and they seemed to like it well enough. I know people who work in small cities or towns like Gunwi, Yeongdeok, Uljin and Cheongdo who seemed to give those places mixed reviews. Daegu seems to be the most popular Gyeonbuk city to party in for sure. Hope that helps.