Korean Job Discussion Forums

DJ Clae · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul

I've been working in finance for 6 years in the US and I have a decent job, but it will be ending for sure sometime within the next 1-2 months. My rent, utilities, and car are high, so I have a comfortable boring life with little spending money, but currently don't make any progress on my school debts.

My major is Japanese language and I haven't been to Japan because I became bored with the idea, seeing friends and my brother go. I applied to JET this year and didn't get an interview (no surprise). My major gave me some good cultural studies about Asia in school, but I know nothing of the Korean language. I recently got interested in teaching in Korea because I thought it would be more of an adventure, and the pay sounds like a good way to put some dent in my debt.

I responded to an ad on Monster.com when I was searching for temporary work in the US, and that's how I got the idea, found this site. Now I have that recruiter from craigskorea.com/Hoya English/G'Day Korea or whatever they're calling themselves now saying she can hook me up with a job by early April, but I need to act quick.

Is the rush a warning sign? Will I be able to find plenty of good opportunities in Korea if I search in say April-June this year, or is now a better time? Can I get a public school job that will be better if I wait until August? I think a hagwon sounds okay for my needs. Of course if I have an offer I will fully research the school and the people there per the great advice on this site.

For that matter, should I just explore the other, lesser organizations for teaching in Japan at a private school?

Thanks for any help/suggestions.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

oskinny1 · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Location: Right behind you!

Do not be rushed into a job. There are tons out there waiting to be filled, the recruiter just wants to fill that job and get the fee.

I don't think going to Korea is the best idea if you want to save money. When I was there I was able to walk away with $18,000(US) but that was when the exchange rate was 1000won=$1. As of writing this it is 1,550won=$1.

I am surprised you don't want to go to Japan. There are other jobs than JET, and JET takes a year to for the interview process. I worked at an eikaiwa (yesterday was my last day) and really enjoyed it. There are some listings on Dave's job board, I say check those out.

But if you really want to go to Korea, I say go for it. I had a good time there and no real bad experiences. Good luck either way.

The Cosmic Hum · Joined: 09 May 2003 Location: Sonic Space

ChinaBoy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007

NO NO NO never leave a decent job to teach English!!!!!

Plus, I'm confused why you would go to Korea instead of Japan. There's more than JET (and they're not "lesser organizations").

There are always plenty of jobs available. No sense quitting a decent one now just to be shafted later.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject:

semi-fly · Joined: 07 Apr 2008

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Does a base salary of $1,300 / month appeal to you? It's about the worst time it's ever been for an American to come over here to teach.

hugekebab · Joined: 05 Jan 2008

DJ Clae · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul

Thanks for all the helpful feedback, everyone. So let me get this straight, for hagwon jobs it doesn't really matter when I go, but for public school March is the best time?

asams · Joined: 17 Nov 2008

I guess the theory is that while I'm in Korea 1,000 won will be sort of like $1 USD, and hopefully the exchange rate will recover a little within a year before I move all the money over. The cost of living is much higher in Japan, is it not?

this theory is valid if you're not trying to send money home. you can definitely save money and still live well, but if you're trying to send money home each month then this theory becomes null. I have the same deal (needing to pay off some loans) as do many of us here, and waiting it out is most likely the best way to go, but the exchange rate could go either way so it's really risky. If you want to make progress right now, go to Japan where the exchange rate is better and send money home every month.

DJ Clae · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul

Of course money is important here, but it seems silly to decide which country to work in for a year based on money alone. This should be first and foremost about life experience.

Ever since I graduated college it's been expected of me to eventually go to Japan like everyone else I know, based on my major. I landed a lucky job at a prestigious financial firm instead, and for a while I lost interest in going anywhere and was happy where I was. That's all over now, I've switched companies 5 times, the glamour of the job is long past. I can go anywhere in the world I want now, and might as well since I've made the decision I don't want to do finance for the rest of my life, and I'm in need of a fresh start. East Asia still interests me, and Korea always has. I think this would be a more exciting experience than living in Japan, a country I already have a ridiculous amount of second-hand experience of.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Insidejohnmalkovich · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Location: Pusan

Just remember that regardless of your maturity and job experience, you are starting from the bottom again in Korea. Listen humbly and go with the flow for the first months. Prove your worth by hard work and results, then you will be given more and more respect and freedom.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Oh yeah. One other thing.

Having learned to speak English from your mom and then survived X number of years as a student doesn't qualify you as an educational consultant in someone else's business. Too many people here seem to have that impression.