Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ro2]

iya,

I'm just wondering if anyone can shed any light on why I'm not hearing any more job offers. A few months ago, I tried contacting a few agencies and since then have been liaising with the one who replied with the most helpful answer. It turns out that they're not exactly a terrific agency, and I've no chance of getting work in a larger city with them - and I would definitely prefer to work in a larger city.

So for the last few weeks I've been replying to job ads by agencies on a few sites, saying I want to come to Korea at start of September to teach AND that I would prefer to be in a larger city such as Busan, Daegu or Seoul. But i've heard nothing back from anyone - or at least nothing with any promise.

My credentials are: I'm a native english speaker (from Dublin, Ireland), and have a master's degree.

My (i'm told) disadvantages: no teaching experience or tefl cert, not north american accent,

I've also been told that I can only apply for public schools positions because I'm not applying from my home country (i'm currently travelling in China), so that apparently rules out hagwons.

Still, i thought by now i'd have received some promising options, especially since I know several people who have simliar CV's and backgrounds to myself (e.g. similar age, non-north american, no tefl cert) who are happily teaching in Seoul and Daegu.

Can anyone think of any good reason why i'm not getting anything?

[Julius]

[sugarkane59]

Maybe you are being too picky?

I wanted a public school due to working hours, but I'm now going with a hagwon due to high demand for public schools this year. My agency told me that EPIK stopped taking applications in June which is unprecedented for them (usually they stop mid-August apparently).

The cities you named are the most popular, maybe if you look at smaller places like Daejeon?

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Probably too early actually-schools are usually not that organised 2 months out from your desired start

[FistFace]

"Schools are swamped with North Americans" is a bullshut line.

It's a line recruiters use to get you to accept crap offers from hagwons they can't place anyone in.

They simply don't want to bother with you (and the paperwork) given that you're overseas in another country, due to the paperwork you'll have to get.

[Ro2]

[Ro2]

[FistFace]

You're not looking during a peak hiring time. That time has come and gone. The typical recruiter line is to tell you nothing is available because everyone wants their public school jobs. The truth is that the jobs are only allowed to be filled certain times per year. As someone else mentioned, wait around a month or three and things will open up drastically.

We see the same cycle happen. When these jobs open, there is so much talk about them being filled (Seoul mostly) and the gov't educational office inserts its obligatory "we've go so many foreigners coming to teach for us that we're overbooked" story in the Korea Herald. Then, a month or two later, you'll see articles in the same newspaper about how only 60% of positions were filled, etc..

Recruiters won't tell you that, however, because you may not return to them in a few months, and they want to place you in a shutty hagwon contract now.

[Tobias]

[Big Mac]

To be honest, I really think the fact that you're from Ireland is what is holding you back.

Irish accents are probably one of the least desirable for ESL in Korea. The fact that you may have a more neutral accent than some would only matter if you got so far as the interview stage. Many employers won't even want to look past the "Ireland" on the resume.

I actually think it is good for Korean kids to hear as many different accents as possible. But Irish accents are sometimes difficult for me to understand, so I can understand why Korean kids might have trouble.

Public schools in the country might be a better bet for you. I actually live in a pretty rural area and many of the public school teachers here aren't even native speakers, the fact that they hold passports from English speaking countries is what got them the job.

If you want to be in Seoul or Busan though, you'll have to be really patient, I think.

Good luck!

[kimuchiii]

Good luck! I believe there is information here: http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/index.html about how to go about getting a visa issued even if you are outside of your home country. Also try doing a search here (good luck!) and you may find more info or better yet someone with actual experience may be able to help you!

※ When applying from a third country is permitted:
- Those that have worked in Korea as a Professor (E-1), Foreign language instructor (E-2), or Researcher (E-3), and have no record of law breaking
-�Those whose education level has been verified by domestic verification agency (�Korean Council for University Education�) that was created based on Law on Korean University Education Association
▶By rule, must go through an interview at the consulate. (However, those that applied for visa issuance from a third country may skip this portion as situation warrants)
- According to the standard interview manual, conduct a face-to-face interview. However, if circumstances were such that making a visit is not possible or plausible, then it may be conducted over video conference.
- If, after the interview, the applicant is deemed unfit to work as an instructor, visa will not be issued regardless of the issuance of visa issuance certificate.

[Ro2]

[BabaNaja]

Try contacting a few different agencies then. Just because the one you're working with was the most helpful with your questions, doesn't mean that they have the most job opportunities that they know about. They also seem pretty set on placing you outside of a city, and I KNOW there are still schools in larger areas looking for teachers.

Also, remember to act confident (but not cocky) with the new recruiters: I'm a good teacher, this is what I want, which school is going to be lucky enough to get me? Good luck.