Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Marakov]

Hi, everybody, wanted to ask for your opinions on what's happened to me.

A little background: I'm from the US, am a 47 year old male with a BS degree in Business, no teaching experience or training. A couple of weeks ago, I signed up at ESL Planet and was contacted by Rowan via email. He seemed interested and set up a phone call for this past Sunday. He called via Skype, almost two hours late, but no big deal - he apologized.

We talked for a while and I told him that I was not adverse to going to a more rural environment...more interested in that than cities like Daegu. He told me lack of teaching skills and experience wouldn't be a problem and gave me a few suggestions. My final choices, after doing some research, were Ulsan, Daejeon & Gyeongsangbuk-do province. I told him that I had most of my documents together...just waiting on my apostilles. He said he was going to send me an EPIK application and asked that I fill it out and return it to him.

I had already filled one and uploaded it at ESL Planet web site but told him I would fill it out again and send it back to him, no problem. I received the file and tried to open it with Microsoft Office and got a graphics error message but the application seemed intact so I filled it out and sent it back.

The next day, I received an email from him saying that the application's formatting was "all over the place" and asked that I try to re-submit it. I opened the file and got the same message so I decided to try another program: Word Perfect 12...to see if that worked. Well, that program opened the file with no issues so I filled it out and sent it back to him.

The next day, I received an email from him saying that the file I sent him didn't even register on his computer...then he asked what Word Perfect was. I've always used Microsoft Office Word but still I had heard of Word Perfect but, I guess, he hasn't. <shrug> He asked me to re-submit using a "normal and basic word document".

Well, these are the only two word processing programs I have. I did a search hoping I could find another EPIK application somewhere I could find on the internet I could download, fill out and send to him. I have a gut feeling that the reason I got the graphics error using Microsoft Office Word was because my version is pretty old...

Not much luck but I did come across the information that EPIK wasn't going to be taking applications for metropolitan areas after May 20. I sent Rowan an email regarding the application I had sent him that he couldn't access. I didn't get a reply for quite a while but that was perfectly understandable because I think it was early evening over there.

I started getting antsy thinking about the May 20th deadline I read about and didn't really see any possible solution with the recruiter being able to read the application I had sent him so I went to EPIK web site and saw that a person can apply directly online...not having to deal with the application file issues I was dealing with.

I was reluctant to do this, but felt it was imperative for me to get my application in so I finally did so. This was in the morning my time, by very late that same night I decided to send the recruiter an email and let him know what happened.

I explained the situation and said I wondered if my direct application might be construed as a double application via recruiter, which I had heard was a no no. I told him I would love to continue to work with him but wasn't sure if it was a possibility.

A couple of hours later I received a reply and he told me "unfortunately for us, you are now a DIRECT recruit for EPIK and unable to use us as a recruiter". He said he was glad I was able to get my application and wished me the best of luck in getting what I was looking for. Very nice reply and thought I felt I had a decent interaction with him, even though the the final outcome didn't turn out as expected.

Then, about an hour later, I received an email from Josh Kim from EPIK stating, "We have been inundated with applicants this semester, and we are sorry to say that we cannot accept you for this semester. We do want to apologize to you." Maybe I'm just paranoid but it seemed kind of coincidental that I received just an hour after the one from the recruiter...I don't know.

Not sure what happened...maybe the recruiter had submitted some paperwork on me to EPIK before or after my last email that got me flagged as someone who was trying to apply through two different routes. Wouldn't think so though, since he didn't have a completed application from me...but I just don't know. Or maybe they really do have too many applications...but I really doubt that since I wouldn't think they'd reject somebody this early in the process before they things more final with their new teachers, since some may reject what cities they're offered. But, I just don't know...

Anyway, the bottom line is...am I out of luck? I know it's kind of late in the application process and EPIK already rejected me, for whatever reason, and I probably can't effectively use a different recruiter anyway. I definitely prefer a public school...not too keen on the idea of working in a hakwon (sp?). Well, I thought I'd post here to see what you all think of my current situation. Thanks a lot for any replies, I really appreciate it.

[chachee99]

That's their loss. EPIK needs teachers all the time. Rejecting your application over that garbage just shows that they choose to struggle.

[chris_J2]

Word Perfect is so 80's! You really should switch to a current version of Microsoft! And do you have Adobe Acrobat installed? That was a problem on the new computer, back home in Australia.

Epik are currently rejecting anyone over 40, male, or non North American. Perhaps the current global recession has something to do with it? With the market being currently flooded, they can now pick & choose. Korean parents are demanding young, female & North American. I had a similar experience, & know of several other ex Epik employees treated in a similar shoddy fashion. I just hope it comes back to bite Epik in the proverbial, when times improve.

Try applying to Gepik, Smoe or even a hagwon. Stick with ESL Planet. They found me a job, & I'm male, over 40, & non North American. If they decline, (& they have the right to do that, imho) then try another recruiter.

[lifeinkorea]

You might want to consider a hagwon job out in the country. Those are often laid back and have better owners than city based hagwons. One thing to look for is the number of teachers. It doesn't have to be just foreign teachers, but some prefer to know there is another at the school they are going to.

[fromtheuk]

I'd like to say I contacted the infamous ESL planet. I was told they will find me a job, they did say they were having difficulty finding me a GEPIK job. Later on, they didn't contact me at all or reply to my emails.

The same is true of many other recruiters. I managed to find a recruiter who regularly contacted me with job offers, and then I chose one.

Seriously, most recruiters here are rubbish. Try GEPIK direct.

[dean_burrito]

If you want to come here just keep at it. There's still plenty of jobs to go around. As far as your word programs go I had similar issues. Let me recommend open office to you. It's free and highly compatible.
http://www.openoffice.org/

[Lostone7]

[nicam]

I too had crap Word Perfect on my laptop and was too lazy and cheap to upgrade (mostly because I had a fully equipped personal Mac at work), so I had to go to a friend's house to fill out my application and send it off.

Not sure if you know this, but you can save a WP document in Word.doc format, or as a rich text file, and send the converted version successfully. The recipient will be able to view it as a Word document, but will not be able to edit it. But since the application is in Word format, you can not edit it in Word Perfect, which is why you need to hit up a friend, or a library or something to actually fill the application out.

I agree about going for GEPIK direct. Or, you can try Footprints. They currently have ads on craigslist for August positions. I had a wonderful experience with them.

[Rory_Calhoun27]

Rowan's a good guy, one of the few honest recruiters I've found.

From the (lengthy) description, sounds more like a "Perfect Storm" of problems led to the problem the OP is having. A lot of little problems led up to the one big one. PS jobs seem to pop up when least expected, so when one does catch your eye, stick with it, apply with ONE recruiter for any particular branch (EPIK GEPIK SMOE) and just go with it.

I have my own issues with GEPIK, but hopefully will be able to embarrass them next week. our little secret.

[Lostone7]

[nicam]

Rory_Calhoun, looks like you are indeed cooking up delectable revenge plot! Yum.

[Robot_Teacher]

I too have had problems with .docs that come from Korean sources as well as websites. There are many technical issues with computer software and files in Korea. Even though Korea and America have the same hardware, the software, scripts, and such are different, often making the 2 almost incompatible or causing application hangs and crashes. I've seen it where a .doc came down from the POE such as a survey and it just jumps all over the screen as soon as I hit a key.

Try again with another recruiter.

[chris_J2]

Lostone7 wrote:

[I-am-me]

Just find some other recruiters. THere are plenty on Daves and lots of positions. I was turned down by GEPIK and started working a month later going through a recruiter. Just a word of caution...this is what you should expect in Korea. Why not try Japan first or China?

[Marakov]

Thanks for the replies, everybody, I appreciate it. Word Perfect is so 80's? Probably... lol I've never used it before...never even heard of it before, but it was on my computer so I gave it a try. I've always used Microsoft Office Word program but my version is kind of old, I guess that was probably the problem. Like Rory said, sort of a "Perfect Storm" kind of thing...

Rowan sent me a follow-up email telling me to get in contact with him if I had any questions, even though he wouldn't benefit monetarily from it. I sent him an email telling him that I got rejected and he replied saying he was quite shocked. Told me he could try to get me with GEPIK and asked if I'd be available Friday night (my time). I replied I would be, so we'll see how that goes. Might check into hagwons too...even though I was hoping for a public school, but I might run into even more problem there due to my age.

Thanks for the info, Dean, I downloaded that program and will see if that works.

Yeah, didn't mean to imply that Rowan worked for EPIK...the rejection email I got from them was from a guy named Josh Kim. I received it about an hour or so after the email from Rowan but it was a day or so since I had submitted their application at their web site.

Thanks for the information about converting the files, Nicam, I did not know that...will give it a try.

As far as trying another country, I'm kind of set on Korea. If the pay and prospects for employment were better in Ukraine, Russia or another Eastern European country I would probably pursue that though.

I was stationed in Korea in 1985-86 with the US Army, was my first duty station as a young lieutenant and I absolutely fell in love with the country and the people. I was stationed in Uijongbu, but used to go down to Seoul almost every weekend...was so awe-inspiring to a farm boy who had gone to college in a town of 25,000 people. I got a chance to travel all over the world when I was in the Army but nothing compared to my time in Korea. Maybe it's kind of like one's first love... lol

Anyway, I guess I'll see how it turns out...once again, I appreciate everybody's comments. My youth may be slipping away from me but I think I've gained at least a little wisdom to replace it...have a couple of other things in the hopper in case this doesn't work out.