Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mysteriousapien]

Hi, last week my recruiter sent in my applications through SMOE and now I am waiting for a phone call so they can interview me. I only have a bachelor's degree and no teaching experience so I am worried that they won't accept me. Also, my applications were turned in a little later(after June 10, 2009) than the deadline to turn in all applicants who only have a bachelor's degree. My recruiter told me that since my essay and letters of recommendations were good that I might have a good chance of getting accepted. However, I want to know if anybody has been rejected from SMOE with only a bachelor's degree?

[E_athlete]

lol....

only a bachelors degree...that's what most people have and get a job. Dont worry there are plenty of jobs for you to fill. If Korean schools actually cared about qualifications they wouldn't consider you and I to begin with. It's really about image. They look at your picture and decide based on that. Are you Caucasian? Good looking? Smiling?

[Bibbitybop]

E athlete has no idea what he/she is talking about.

SMOE is not a hakwon. Credentials do matter. Looks do not. Nothing is set in stone and there are subjective elements that go into new hires, but looks and nationality play a very minor role.

[Mysteriousapien]

@ E_athlete- I am actually Southeast Asian(well an Indian-American). I think I know what you mean because all of my recruiters asked me where I was born and how is it that I can speak Hindi as well. It was annoying at first but then once I was able to convince them that I am American, things went smoothly. Countries where the race population is homogenized, this is expected but it is up to us(minorities of America, Canada, etc.) to prove them that there are other races that exist, especially in America where there are lots of minorites like me who were born in America. Anyways, I'm not that worried because of my race, I'm more worried because of my lack of credentials and that I applied with SMOE late.

[E_athlete]

[Ukon]

[Ukon]

[E_athlete]

Im with EPIK for the win.

[egrog1717]

[sigmund]

I actually got rejected and then accepted about three weeks later. Pretty much they will look at your resume and maybe read your essay. If they call you for a phone interview you pretty much have the job.

SMOE is really not that selective. A lot of people don't apply because it is a little more of a hassle for the application process. Honestly many of the classes are a lot worse than hogwans, but you get really good vacation. If it doesn't work out, really don't sweat it.

[Mysteriousapien]

[sigmund]

Yeah, they rejected my application out of hand without an interview. With an interview I would say 98% the job is already yours.

Conditions about pay/holiday are excellent. You will always get paid and generally get what you expect in terms of contract honoring.

SMOE tries to put teachers in "in need" schools first. My school is a soccer school. Kids come from all over Seoul to be on the soccer team. Those kids pretty much don't study in any classes at all.

You just have to experience the public school system here to know what I am talking about. It is just WAY too complicated to explain in a short post. Most of the kids at my school have absolutely no motivation to learn. For them it will come when the are in High school and when, as many of my students have told me, they will have to start studying. At least in a hogwon there are some expectations. Money has been paid and fulfilled or not there is at least a little bit of pressure to advance.

I don't get much job satisfaction at work. This is my second and last year. I find satisfaction in other ways, and just try to do the best that I can under the circumstances. I have been to other schools to see open classes and they were all better then my school. The age of you Korean teacher will affect your job a lot. None of my teachers are under their late forties. None of them can hold a basic conversation in English on simple subjects. They DON"T speak English in class. They talk about English in Korean with the students and the students talk about English back in Korean. All of my teachers bitch about how in 2011 SMOE wants all English classes to be taught in English. They say it can't be done, and they are probably right for them. I have students in my classes that have been studying English for almost six years that not only can't read, but can't tell what sound ANY letter of the alphabet makes. Yet in two weeks they will take a midterm on the passive voice and pass. Nobody ever fails or gets held back in a public school.

Anyways, I could bitch forever. There are a lot of good things. Maybe this will be your first time living in a foreign country? A public school is really a great way to get a little bit more of an insight into the people of the country. Over all I have enjoyed my time here.

[Bibbitybop]