Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gnomead]

Okay, now that I'm finally in the job hunt, I've noticed that most of the postings on the job boards are by recruiters. I know it's an old debate and a lot of people here say to apply with as many recruiters and schools as you want but I'd like to avoid over-saturating the market with my less-than-stellar resume and I don't want to just post my resume because I'd rather not have lots of random phone calls (if that's even a concern given my total lack of experience).
So, by responding to a job posted by a recruiter, am I applying with that recruiter and therefore potentially stepping on their toes if I respond to jobs posted by other recruiters? Would I be limiting my options too much if I didn't?
Thanks for any advice.

[pavement burns]

It would be hard to get your best possible position without taking your time and shopping around. Try to use the "fall in love with three of anything" maxim and then atttempt to confirm or review those three contracts with someone you trust.

Don't sign anything unless you are willing to do that job under those conditions. I think there is a sticky for posting contracts. Avoid including the name of the employer/company. You might peruse that sticky to get a sense of contract conditions. Some people are experts at deconstructing all of the pitfalls which can be set out in the contract which should be bald warning to beware in advance.

There are plenty of toxic work environments.

Conditions range from horrid or grueling to acceptable and/or generous.

Shop around.

It might be best to refer you to opportunities and pitfalls of teaching ESL in Korea. It is a US document however it remains useful in explaining the process of hiring even more than a decade after first publication to anyone coming here.

Unless you are in the country and can inspect the potential employer, premises, conditions, and housing, you will generally be at a negotiating disadvantage. If you are beyond a first year then you know that already?

"TEACHING ENGLISH IN KOREA, OPPORTUNITIES AND PITFALLS"
http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/teaching/teaching_1240.html

[ddeubel]

Good suggestion about the "fall in love with 3"!

Find a wide selection of jobs that meet you basic requirements and go from there. It takes time and you have to spend some major time to find a good job - well worth it.

I've assembled a nice feed of all the jobs in the TEFL universe, updated by the minute and on one page - Job Universe Might be a handy way to widen the job search. There's a lot out there.

Cheers,

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

[gnomead]

Thanks for the replies.

I should have been more clear in my post. I've done a lot of general research and have a pretty good idea of what to expect and avoid in terms of working conditions and contracts. I'm just trying to avoid one of the potential pitfalls of the application process that I've read about on the forums: being rejected by recruiters for applying with more than one at a time. In other words, if I've applied with recruiter A and see an opening that I'm interested in posted by recruiter B, can I ask recruiter A to contact the school with said opening or do I then have to apply with recruiter B in order to have my resume sent to that particular school and thereby landing in the aforementioned pitfall?

I hope that makes sense. I'm trying to avoid burning any bridges but I guess at some point I'll just have to throw caution to the wind and start shopping around.

[yingwenlaoshi]

I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill. Just apply for jobs and be damned about however many recruiters you use.

[Teelo]

[gnomead]