Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Alabama Rattail]

Hi, this is my first time posting on the board. I've been interested in teaching esl in korea and have been talking with a recruiter from a company called Planet People.

I've exchanged many emails and talked on the phone with a recruiter and it seems good so far (no unrealistic offers or requests, acknowledging the existence of disreputable hagwans, and agreeing to put me in contact with current foreign teachers.) Despite reading all the BS that can go along with teaching in Korea I'm about it 100% and just want to make savvy decisions.

Also, I have all of my documents required for a E-2 visa already if anyone has any recommendations or know of any particularly good openings/companies to work for.

[son of coco]

I went through Planet People for one job and after saying no to it never heard from them again I asked to be put in touch with the co-teacher and they wanted me to tell them what I thought of the contract first, despite the fact a number of questions I had about the contract could've been cleared up through talking to the current foreign teacher. So on that basis I said 'no'.

The contract I was shown looked like it might've been written by one of the slightly more advanced students at the school. The recruiter wanted me to accept that all hagwon contracts look like that.

I felt like I was being pushed towards the job as the recruiter's meal ticket, I realise most recruiters are like this but I don't think it's a good look. Desperation to push a job on someone is a bad look.

[deeqtess]

I agree. I was offered a job via agency and was actually given the run arounds. This would have been first teaching experience in Korea and living abroad. First, interview was delayed because the head teacher was "too busy" to interview me. Also, after interviewing and being offered a position recruiter gave me name of contact teacher. Upon attempting to contact teacher, and not agreeing to contract until response was received from said teacher, agency gave me yet another teacher to call because initial teacher "had just arrived the week before". Never given email to second contact, although requested email address (only ph nbr). Lastly, although start date in intial job posting was Feb (provided to me via agency), school wanted me to start in January because they were "so busy". Needless, to say, was never put in contact with teacher. Also, this school did not offer a National Pension and the contract was missing a start date and included only 5 days of vacation time. Turned down job offer although recruiter offered to put me in contact with two other hagwons. Job offer was very shady and everything seemed so rush rush. However, this is not to say that all hagwons and recruiters are bad but its obvious that many are just all about the $. This was definitely a learning experience for me. Do your research. Opinions?