Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jaybond73]

Hi,This is my first post ,though I have been reading this board for years. I recently been laid off fro my government job,I am 37 year old married male. I am thinking of finally trying Korea. my B.S. is in psychology but I have all the additional credits that i need to be a licensed elementary public school teacher in NYS(equal to ed degree). I also have prior experience as public school teacher .i taught 3 rd grade 12 yrs ago and worked in an international school as a first grade teacher 8 yrs ago ,kids who spoke another primary language,so i was basically esl teacher,,so a total of 2 yrs teaching experience. Will I have trouble finding a public school job(1 month vacation) with my background(experience,and teachers license,also student teaching was in kindergarden). My wife will not be teaching,she has green card ,will she have trouble accompanying me? Also our cat needs to come with us. will we be allowed to bring him and keep him in apt?
I am sorry for the questions but i want some clear facts.
1. Is it possible to get 2 room apt?
2. what job agencies are best?
3. Do we really have to pack up and leave end of 12 months if I want to work another year?
4. what salary sould I expect with my background?

[lostintranslation100]

Hey Jay,
You sound over-qualified!
I wouldn't worry about finding a job with those credentials. Sorry to hear about getting laid off. Korea is a great place to wait for the US economy to improve. Does your wife have a Korean green card?

1. Yes, it is possible to get a 2 room apt.
2. Any agency that has the best offer, keep looking.
3. At the end of 12 months you can either renew or find a new contract. It's pretty easy, especially with your resume. But I think the question will be in 12 months, "Do you want to stay in Korea?"

[jaybond73]

my wife ukrainian,will that be problem?she us green card holder

[blonde researcher]

lostintranslation is incredibly optimistic for you. I am amazed. The market I'm seeing is nothing like he is decribing for you.
Your situatiuon is more unique as you are wanting a months holiday which is GEPIK not EPIK and a 2 bedroom apartment and also to bring a wife and cat.

Facts;
The EPIK SMOE etc do not guarantee couples housing so there will be no guarantee you will get 2 bedrooms you want and if you are in a bigger city your apartment will be very small. housing is very expensive. Your wife is not teaching so the school only has the housing budget for one teacher and this is the same for single.

There was certainly discrimination against couples this year for EPIK for their hiring process as couples needed bigger housing and that = more expense.

Do you actually have a teacher's licence or just the 'equivilent ' to one . The EPIK only accepts the real licence, not eqivilency of one to assess your level.

Bringing a cat. Do not declare this to at the start when you apply. Organise it after you get a job

Finally lostintranslation is maybe dreaming of a market of 12 months ago with the optimism he wrote. Is he even in a public school.When did he get a job and where? What is he making his comparison to for telling you it will be so easy for you?

[jaybond73]

well one rm can be ok. but i was told pets are allowed but its best to let them know first so landlord knows .. as for my license. i said i have college credits equal ,if not better than an ed degree,but i have nys ,nyc k-6 teachers license. i havent taught in 8 yrs so it expired but it doesnt eve n say so on license so i dont see it being a problem,do you? usually in nys provisional licenses expire unless you teach long enough to make it permanent i didnt. i can ofcourse take 500 dollars worth of exams to make it current but i dont see the point being that korea seems not to require it.

[andrewchon]

Certified teacher will get higher pay, if you can prove it with records. I'd say go and get a rural job in public system. Much easier to get 2 room apt, and a pet permit in the rural areas. Much easier to get a job in rural areas, as well. I'm fairly sure you'd qualify for basic cat2+ with GEPIK: 2.2 mil/month. And if you get a job with designated rural school add 100,000/month. City job markets are incredibly competive at the moment. I don't see any particular problem with bringing an Ukrinyi wife to Korea, but would she be able to hang on to her Green Card with such a long absence?

[Hornbill]

Agree with Blonde.

I've been looking for a 'good' job for months in Korea, to no avail. Actually, I've found plenty. The problem is at each job at least 10 other sausages have found it as well. It's not like it was back a few years ago. Today you'd better bring your A-game to the table when looking for jobs. Competition is fierce, especially for the best jobs, IF there are any openings to begin with.

Of course, you can always find one of those jobs teaching brat kids. Those are always open and available. If unemployment hit 50% in the US and people were starving to death there, I'd still be getting advertisements for these jobs. People would rather starve than take them.

[storysinger81]

I'm not going to answer your questions because a little bit of research on this forum (or even the Job Boards) will answer them. And you should do more than "a little" research. I'm going to address some things that set off little alarm bells for me:

US Green Cards are hard to get (I know, I'm working on the process with my fiance right now). If your wife moves to Korea, she will probably have to give it up. If you plan to return to the US in a few years, I'm not sure Korea's a good bet for your family, financially. Your out-of-pocket moving expenses here (visa for wife and yourself, vet stuff for your cat, flights for cat and wife, likely a larger apartment--the difference of which you'll probably pay for yourself, nicer furniture, etc.) will be much more than your average ESL-er, then you'll have to pay for the green card again when you go back. In your situation, financially, you won't really do all that well unless you stay for more than two years.

If you really want to come to Korea, it's possible to do, but it sounds in your original post like you're more just frustrated with the loss of your job. I know you must be going through a really hard time right now. I'm sorry for that. I will happily talk to you about relocating your cat and having cats in Korea. I would recommend going for a smaller city with your need for a larger place and one that is cat-friendly.

Also, your Ukranian wife will experience A LOT of difficulties with negative stereotyping ("Russian" is a code word for "prostitute" and if she's pretty at all, she will be harassed).

[lostintranslation100]

Blonde Researcher - I got my PS job 6 months ago quite easily, I was optimistic because it sounds like this guy has great experience (he must have an easier time than I did).

I know that these past couple months have been darn near impossible to find good employment, but now isn't the rush over? I'd imagine a good chunk of these new recruits are in the process of running away. I'd think in October/November, jobs for qualified people will be easier to find.

[jaybond73]

hi,thanks for advice
i am not really worrid about wife losing gree ncard. i believe she can get extension to leave country up to 2 years. we married over 7 yrs paying us taxes,etc. just never was reason get citizenship as to fact her country only allows one passport ,etc. as to apt,we can live in 1 rm if Need be but i still want to get better deal. Also i wouldnt mind a smaller cheaper city.
cat is important but i would fly him under seat in cabin. we have done it often. I should have cleared up,that we looking for some travel,thus korea, and make money for maybe 2 yrs.i was retired early from my former career(disability,law enforcement). i didnt want to go and i thinking of getting lawyer to fight so in meantime i want to work make money. i hae taught in eastern europe 8 yrs ago in international school but i feel that the korean schools overall have a good package. i will be satisfied if i save 500 bucks a month,really.
for somereason it seems that people commenting on bad job situation there. but job site seems to still be advertising.
Are yuo going to tell me i will not find decent job for atleast 2 yrs,with a B.S. degree(pysch,but 30 credits in education) ,nys public elementary school certicate(license) and 2 years ful time teaching experience. one year at nyc public school and one year at international school in europe. this ofcourse was yrs ago.

[D.D.]

Why not apply for HK or public schools in Taiwan, or international schools. Go to a country where you wife can do privates. Korea would be boring for her and you guys wouldn't have much extra cash.

[jaybond73]

hi,when i worked at international school 8 yrs ago it was not very popular,everyone knows about them and very competitive now.HK even 8 yrs ago was competitive. I thought korea was easiest place to get job and japan also. My wife isnt going to work ,she didnt work when i was in law enforcement either. I get the impression alot of people are down on korea,WHY?IT SEEMS LIKE A MUCH EASIER JOB THEN MY OWN international school experience. I also worked with eastern european rich brats and in NYC I taught in ghetto so believe me i use to brats,lol.
actually like i said my wife has no desire to teach,but since you brought it up, is it possible to do lessons on side illegally?

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

It's very difficult to get an ESL job in Japan. That's probably the most popular place to go to teach English in Asia, and one of the most popular in the world.

GPA, age, qualifications, etc. count a lot more there. And though your salary is higher, your cost of living is much higher too.

[ontheway]

[Konglishman]

Jaybond73,

Why don't you try your luck applying for various international schools? Certainly, I know that the semester has already begun, but there will still be some openings due to some people leaving. If I were you, I would try searching on websites such as www.seriousteachers.com, www.joyjobs.com, or www.tieonline.com. At any rate, I wish the best of luck to you.