Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ronnie555]

any specific things I should emphasize on my resume for an ESL job in Korea?

I know how to do a resume, but I thought maybe Korean language schools are looking for certain things, or a certain type of resume. If anyone has any tips, it would be appreciated.

[Goon-Yang]

Make sure to add these if appropriate.

1) Height (if you are over 190 cms...this is a plus)
2) Thin
3) blonde
4) Blood type (unless you are B or AB)
5) Do you have a pulse?


#5 is the one that's going to get you the job.

Don'tworry about it OP you'll do fine.

[frankly speaking]

great professional advice GoonYang. No wonder Koreans complain about the poor calibre of teachers.

Create a professional resume as you would for any job. Keep things short and focused on any skills that you have gained that can relate to teaching. Don't put on your resume that you were a waiter and IHOP and that is how you learned to work with a multicultural environment.

In your cover letter.
You might want to think about what is your teaching philosophy and how you can effectively integrate a boring lesson into something dynamic that involves your learners.

Leave out hobbies and other personal garbage.

If you want a crap school that treats you like crap, then follow GoonYangs advice.

[Deep Thirteen]

Don't use big words or trump up achievements. GPA's and academic stuff are largely not necessary for hagwon or public school also I'd say.

[MHS]

I'm taking my MBA off of my resume next time I am looking for something. It's easy to be overqualified for such a nothing job. You don't want people thinking its going to be difficult to push you around...

[frankly speaking]

I would leave the MBA on if you are applying for adult schools or any corporate gigs, but if you are just applying for some crappy kindy hagwon then yes it doesn't matter.

GPA isn't actually a bad thing, if it is high. I leave mine on and often get comments about it. If you have above 3.8, they think that you are really smart. Anything above a 3.0 is standard and doesn't hurt to have it on.

Just remember a good school wants someone with good qualifications. A crappy schools wants anyone that they can get.

[Ronnie555]

ok I think I got a solid resume going.

I included a waiter job, because I've only had 2 jobs. But I didn't make a big deal out of it, just listed it. Should I take it off entirely? I'm guessing no.

I also put my education and my GPA cause it's high, and academic awards i've achieved,

my computer skills (excel, powerpoint, etc.)

Also threw in personal skills @ the end. Nothing ridiculous like hobbies though.

Any thoughts so far?

Also when I was relatively young I refereed childrens soccer. I was 13 ish and the kids were probably 9. This was a real job, I got paid for it, etc. SHould I include this because it shows I've worked w/ children? or is this stupid

[MHS]

[Ronnie555]

1 last question too... what if I have a B.S. instead of a B.A.? they won't care right.

It's a BS in finance. Some schools it would be a BA though, it's not like I studied chemistry or somethin

[ThingsComeAround]

I've noticed something unsettling among schools in Ilsan (like mine)

Schools are cutting back and unwilling to pay that extra 100 per month.
Meaning it could be more difficult to find a job if you have too many "qualifications"

This doesn't apply to ALL schools, but I know that my principal is demanding yet he will pinch pennies when it comes to academic relevant spending. (Say nothing of school dinners/business trips) They're looking into hiring a 40 year old ex-jock instead of a 23 year old with a TESL cert (That's pretty bad, IMO)

[mj roach]

op - omit the waiter job
for most k/hakwan owners
resumes don't matter as much as a 'great' photo

[frankly speaking]

ditto about the waiter job and definitely omit the job when you were 13. Come on you were 13 it is not applicable.

I don't understand why people don't try to do some volunteer work at a local neighborhood teen center or something for a few hours a week or for a summer while in college especially if you want to be a teacher.

I have an MA and I put it on my resume. I also have a lot of publications and awards. I have never had a problem finding good jobs. If you want to get a standard 2.2 hagwon crap gig working in a korean/Engish environment then apply to those schools.

[Ronnie555]

[sheba]

Korea, the plastic surgery capital of the world. Looks are very important... sad but true.

When I was teaching adults, I had so many students getting 'procedures' done. Removing freckles and moles, teeth straightening/whiteing, skin bleaching, 'face contouring' (having fat sucked out in some places and pumped back into others), botox, one student (a girl) even got a chin implant! Not only do they want to look good, but it helps their chances of getting a job... which is why their parents usually pay for it all.

My friend is quite good looking and back home he gets his fair share of attention and second glances as he walks down the street. Anyway he came to visit me in Korea once - he had the time of his life!!! Girls and women of all ages were just falling all over themselves as he walked down the street, stopping and staring and taking pictures, giggling and laughing and following us, he was constantly being asked if he were a movie star or model (Koreans seriously thought he must be famous) even by random people like shop owners and waitors, being offered jobs by mere aquaintances... it was crazy... needless to say I barely saw him the entire time as he was being wined and dined by exectutives and attractive women all week! Couldnt speak a lick of Korean, no degree... but his looks got him a long way!