Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DGibson]

The search function is giving me trouble so I'm sorry if this is somewhere else.

I am looking to go to S. Korea for the first time this November if possible. Everyone I've spoken to (recruiters), don�t have jobs orders that far in advance (It�s just before August). They seem to think it shouldn't be an issue though. My question is, I'm not really sure how many public school jobs there are mid-semester, or should I expect to wait for February? I just want to know if I'm being misinformed by the recruiters (trying to horde candidates), I've talked to, that there will be jobs.

Also, I have this little fear that there are tons people I'll be competing against. I don't logically think that is the case, but I'd like to ask if others have found it easier, harder, or about the same as past years finding teaching jobs in S. Korea?


Thanks,


~D

[cruisemonkey]

There are always PS jobs available thru out the year due to: no shows, runners, resignations and firings. Depending on where you want to work and any specific recruiter, you will not have as much choice as to location as during the two, main hiring periods. However, considering that to apply from outside of K-land is a total 'crapshoot' anyway... it hardly makes a difference.

Remember: this is K-land - recruiters lie, employers lie; and the vast majority possess no sense of honour - lies are justified in order to 'save face'.

Apply due diligence and use multiple recruiters.

[DGibson]

So I've been reading.

Glad to hear there are real openings out there, and not wishful thinking only on my part.

I know EPIK excludes canidates submitted by more than one recruiter. I normally would use as many recruiters as it takes to give me options and choices. BUT that kinda makes me nervious about how many recruiters I use...you're bound to get overlap at some point.

[cruisemonkey]

In essence, EPIK is the umbrella organization (under the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology) responsible for all foreign, English PS teachers in Korea - SMOE, GEPIK, all the POEs & MOEs are 'EPIK'. Confusion stems from the fact the national EPIK office does it's own recruiting and farms out some recruiting to certain private recruiters. If you apply to these, you can be sent virtually anywhere in the country. I always tell people not to apply through the national office (or a recruiter working for them) for this reason.

Other recruiters work for certain POEs/MOEs and can guarantee the applicant a job in a certain province or city. Certain provinces (Gyeongsangnam-do for one) even allow the applicant to pick their actual school. These are the recruiters you want to use... and use as many as you want. Just don't have multiple recruiters submitting duplicate applications to the same POE/MOE.

[DGibson]

Thank you for the advice. The recruiter I do have on tap works for GEPIK. I will look more into POE/MOE programs. Though I am not picky in least were I end up; having choices is never a bad thing.

[D.D.]

My jobs finishes October 18th and many other teachers finish mid- semester. This year will have a huge number of runners and no shows. I can tell by all the rookies that are arriving that many won't last.

[roadwork]

[DGibson]

You guys are kinda making it sound better to try for a mid semester opportunity.