Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Thiuda]

This thread is an addendum to withnail's thread Do you want a University Job? Now's the time.

[makemischief]

Out of curiosity, what would be considered a "good" score?

Cheers

[KoreanAmbition]

Thanks for the information...it's very interesting and helpful.


Unfortunately, I would score very low based on that criteria. I'm just happy I got max points in the age category. HAHA



My guess about a "good" score would be 35 points. I would imagine there would be a lot of people with scores that high.

I'd guess that upper 40's would put you near the top of the point category, and you'd go over 50 if you had a referral.

The weighting system eliminates basically anyone with a bachelors degree or without an education/English degree.

[Xuanzang]

Better to know someone in staff or outgoing directly. Changes the scale to your favour. I know I certainly don't qualify under the HR scale.

[livinginkorea]

[KoreanAmbition]

Hmmm, interesting... I forgot to mention that Thiuda's university doesn't care what level of teaching you had or where it was done...

could have been Kimbap Hagwon for 5 years...




livinginkorea... 38 points isn't bad...

let me guess...

Age and F-visa = 15 points
Exp (3-9 years) = 5 points
MA + Eng/Ed/Ling = 15 points
Publication = 2 points
Relevant other = 1 point

[livinginkorea]

[PatrickGHBusan]

Good stuff thiuda.

I will offer up the selection criteria we used at the University I worked for...this is for English Teachers only. Professor positions were evaluated under a different set of requirements. We did not use points per se. Instead we listed the requirements each candidate met and then sent these candidates onto the second stage of selection.

Applicants with first level requirements stood a better chance of making it further. Second level requirements applicants would typically end up on a reserve list.

The University never had trouble filling positions with qualified people.

Educational requirement

First level
M.A. in an Education related field (English as a Second Language, Applied Linguistics...)
PhD in related field.

Second level
M.A. in unrelated field
PhD in unrelated field

Rejection pile
B.A.

Experience requirement

First Level
4+ years of referenced teaching experience in Korea or somewhere else.
Public School experience calculated at 1 year = 1 year of experience.
Hakwon experience usually calculated at 1 year = .5 years of experience.
University experience calculated at 1 year - 1 year of exp.

Note that un-referenced experience was not counted.

Second Level
Fewer than 4 years.

Rejection pile
No Teaching experience.

Bonus requirements
Publications in the field of education.
References from notable professionals or institutions.
Refered by a Teacher currently on staff.

Preferences of the University
Applicants over 30 years of age were typically prefered.
Hakwon only applicants tended to be disadvantaged unless the employment was continous and referenced.
Applicants residing in Korea (applicants from abroad were typically rejected).

This got an applicant to stage two of the selection process.

Stage two was comprised of a written exam (a composition and grading exercise, administered on site).

Once that was graded (by a group made up of one Korean professor and two foreign teachers working at the University) those that made the cut off score were invited for an interview.

The interview was the make or break stage. What came before was basically a sifting method to weed out the candidates that the University did not want.

Interviews were admistered on site by a Korean professor from the English Department, a Korean administrator and a Foreign Teacher on staff (I did this for a few years).

The applicants were required to bring a detailed list of references with full contact information, a teaching portfolio and to prepare a demo lesson plan.

The dos and don't of the interview process...

DOs

Dress up
Shave (for men)
Clean cut appearance
Professional presentation for ALL submitted documents
Demonstrate an ability to speak proper English.
Calm and professional demeanor
Being on time

DON'Ts

Casual dress
Unkempt appearance (you would be shocked)
Casual speaking to the interview panel
Shoddy documentations
Excuses for incomplete references
Being late

All these DOs and DON'Ts seem obvious but you would be surprised at the number of people who showed up at the interview looking like they just came from the beach without changing or like a teenager wannabe.

After the interviews, applicants were sorted out and the top applicants were offered positions pending verification of references and academic credentials. Again this led to many instances of people putting bogus information on their Resumes or providing faked references thinking no one would check....

So..be honest, make sure you present yourself professionally, have the proper documentation and meet the requirements...

Knowing someone on staff did not mean a thing unless you had the qualifications the university was looking for. However the university retained many teachers for years. Many of the hires were done through referals and in fact, the University typically asked Teachers on staff if they knew someone before posting an add.

Good luck

[Francis-Pax]

[Sandrita]

I appreciate all the postings about university positions in Korea since I am in the process of applying. I would be grateful for any and all feedback about my situation because I am a little discouraged by the criteria set out and don�t know how my specifics stack up.

I am 60, have been teaching ESL for seven years, got my Master�s in TESOL a year ago. The most continuity I have on my resume is four years at a community college; on the other hand, while I was working there, I also worked at an intensive summer program, designed and taught an accent reduction course at a business school, and taught a number of site-based classes. Many of my students were Korean. I had a private tutoring practice for three years, and most of my students were Korean visiting scholars, including a Fulbright who is now connected with the Korean Supreme Court.

During grad school I worked in an intensive English center. I haven�t landed since then, having left my first job for health reasons exacerbated by visa issues. I am now working privately in Latin America so have over a year of experience abroad but not much job stability.
It is not an option, at least now, for me to go to Korea to apply for jobs. Any suggestions to enhance my chances are most welcome.

Specific questions:
When universities ask for at least three references, how many are overkill?
Does it help to have comments from prior students, especially the Fulbright scholar?
I assume it makes sense to stress that I have worked with a number of Korean students?
Does it make sense to have a brief resume or a more expanded one?

Thank you in advance.

[Draz]

LOL! I scored 5 last year.

This year I'm up to 9! (I'm a year older.) Yay! Next year I'll hit 13 just by continuing to go to work for another year. This is a funny scale.

[andrewchon]

Draz, I beat you with 22!

[bassexpander]

Guys, this may be interesting to ponder, but to me, this is all irrelevant chest beating -- probably spurred on by concerns about BA's being hired over MA's for university positions in Korea. I understand where you're coming from and why, though.


By the way, you got the age factor backwards, and forgot the category for attractiveness. These days, more universities are favoring younger/more attractive candidates for jobs in conversational English. I'd honestly like to say things are different (I'm nearing 40), but it's true. Especially if you're young and have an MA.

Age
24-30: 5 points
30-35: 3 points
36+ : 1 point

Attractiveness
Hot: 5 points
Average: 3 points
Ugly: 1 point

Oh, and we can't forget this one:

Friend on staff who recommends you: Bonus 5 points

I can also think of one school another member here works for that prefers NOT to hire MA's, presumably because they are more demanding and can't be pushed around as easily.

This, however, may differ for those Korean universities who are attempting to appear (or hope to appear) as if they are respected internationally.

Another sad fact that makes chest beating about points somewhat irrelevant:

A married person with a BA in underwater basket weaving can make double your salary with an F-2 teaching kindy with a mix of company classes. The members of this board who I know making the most money consistently are not MA's... or even Ph.D's. They're BA's.

Sad fact, isn't it? Someone sent me a PM asking why I stay at a university, then? Simply put -- I love the vacation time and teaching students who speak English at a reasonable level. Let me tell you, though, with a baby on the way, I'm considering the PT freelance option. Provided they don't throw me out of here for arguing with the boss over contract issues this week, I'll be here at least another year until my MA finishes.

[kimchikowboy]

Thiuda, I have either 63 or 58 points, depending on what you consider a publication. So are you guys hiring?

[calicoe]

I have at least 40 points. Is that a respectable scored?