Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Norith]

I did a midnight run at my first hogwon job in Korea, after having been there for about six months. My boss had strung me along with promises of fulfilling the contract, but eventually told me that major clauses from the contract would not be upheld...so I left. Since returning to the US, I've had little luck with the job market and find myself missing Korea.

Should I just honestly disclose my background in Korea to recruiters and potential employers? It seems like a decent hogwon owner will know about the shady practices of some owners and won't care that I've ran in the past, so long as they hear the story....am I way off base here?

I've considered removing it from my resume, but I'm sure questions of whether I've got teaching experience will come up in the interview, and I've got Korean stamps and the visa in my passport.

[lifeinkorea]

It's still worth putting it in your resume. I had a 4 month "thing" before going to a public school, and it was right there for recruiters, schools, and immigration to see. I was questioned, and only 1 recruiter told me I shouldn't leave. However, if you are not treated fairly, then it's best to move on.

Just don't expect the higher paying jobs because they usually use 1 year as a basis to give higher pay. Even if it was in another country, the 1 year rule still applies often depending on the school. Another reason why you are limited is that they want references, and obviously you can't get one.

The industry needs more teachers with these 6 month periods in their resume so recruiters and schools see that teachers are not their slave for a year. If they ask why you left, make it as much of a mutual agreement as you can. You didn't just pack your stuff up and leave without notice.

[Norith]

Thanks for your advice, but I really did just pack up and leave. It just happened to be after a 6-month bout of asking whether the contract stipulations would be upheld, and being assured that next month everything would be righted. I was just clearly told after half the year that I should take note of the situation and understand that things would not change from the way they were, and that the contract was not important in light of what the school owner wanted. It was infact the school owner who enlightened me, I guess because he figured he had nothing to lose, and at best I would stop bothering him about righting the situation.


Anyone else have experience applying for jobs with a sordid history, even (and especially) if it isn't your fault?

[jiberish]

Just put it on your resume. Just say you quit due to bad conditions etc. Don't say you did a runner.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

Take it off your resume and 'lose' your passport.

You'll come abck here under a new passport number.

At least take it off your resume anyhow.

Don't tell a recruiter or potential employer you ran regardless of how sh*tty the job was.

They'll see a red flag and just hire one of the other 100 applicants they have.....

[OculisOrbis]

How long have you been gone? Did you turn in your Alien Resident Card at the airport when you left? The only problem you might have with returning is if your visa from your first job here has not been canceled. If that is the case, then you wouldnt be eligible to apply for a new visa until your old one expired.

[tenchu77491]

I ran at the 6 month mark on my first hagwon job. I returned 2 months later and did not place it on my resume. Basically you want to cover it up and everything will be ok.

[Norith]

I never turned in my ARC actually, but I don't think that's a problem. It's been over a year, and I've called up the immigration office that issued my E-2 and ARC card, and they said my status was cleared and I was eligible for a new visa. I would certainly rather be honest, since I feel like I was a trooper for sticking with my employer for 6 months without the contract lining up with the actual working conditions...

Like I said, I'd considered removing it from my resume, but isn't getting a replacement passport a little excessive? Isn't it just as likely that the immigration office will tell my future prospective employer that this isn't my first E-2? And then I would be fraudulently getting the job, by telling them that I had no teaching experience, hadn't lived in Korea before, etc...


If I just put the job on my resume and say that I quit due to bad conditions, is it likely that my recruiter/prospective employers will want to contact my old boss?

[ontheway]

[Norith]

ontheway, thanks! I think I was phishing for just this sort of advice. I just needed some reassurance that not every recruiter/hogwon owner would pass me over for my history.