Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eljuero]

Assuming anyone here has heard or will hear from GEPIK about start dates (March 1st?) isn't the arrival date coming up pretty quick? Don't people have to be in Seoul a week prior to the March 1st date?

Anyone heard anything new this week?

[Dangerous_Dave]

It seems GEPIK is holding out for people with the below requirements.


"Requirements

***must have minimum one of the qualifications below

1st preference : Teaching Certicate Holders
2nd preference : Bachelor of Education or Master of Education Holders
3rd preference : Bachelor of English or Master of English
4th preference : Master Degree Holders.
5th preference : Experiences in Public School"

That was taken off the job board. I don't know how many applicants they expect with those qualifications but they are obvioulsy trying to hold out for as long as possible because I havn't heard anything yet and neither have any of the people I know who've applied for GEPIK.

The waiting is a serious pain in the ass...

[hockeyguy109]

[Dangerous_Dave]

No idea. I just took that off the job board from 2 different recruiters and the ads were placed only a day or two ago.

I've had my all documents ready for months and sent in my application in October 2009 and still waiting for a placement...

[eljuero]

Just my two cents. Although I've seen a sprinkling of posts here on Dave's about GEPIK wanting higher credentials my recruiter never mentioned it (of course I haven't heard much from her in any case) and there are counter posts of people working for GEPIK with only the basics (B.A and tesol cert.)

I'm beginning to think there's a high level of disorganization.

While the job market isn't great in the US starting teacher salaries are still generally higher in the States. Maybe you're right though, they'll "hold out" for super qualified people and then have to herd everyone in at the last moment (with problems I imagine).

Given the fact a lot of people probably didn't enter college in the states dreaming of going to small isolated town to teach English in Korea doesn't this just add to the mentality and issues around the "temp mentality" of ESL in Korea? On some level some of it seems counterproductive no?

[eljuero]

I'm still hoping someone knows the likely date people would have to arrive in Korea for starting 3/1? That is the proposed start date? I thought arriving a week before was the norm.

[Dangerous_Dave]

My thoughts exactly. My recruiter told me that the results of the placements would be ready by the 22nd of January. No such luck. And as you say the start date is supposed to be the 1st of March with one week orientation before that which cuts things very fine.

[eljuero]

I wonder how many people have dropped out of the process at this point? There must be some of the existing applicants who've simply found other work or more likely, slipped into a coma?

[jmuns]

most people probably have found other jobs or better recruiters if they are serious about coming to korea and are getting the run around from their agency

[rayray123]

I was wondering about the start date myself.

I was told I would hear if I got a job with GEPIK by the end of Dec. That didn't happen and my recruiter said I'd hear by Jan 20th, then by Jan 29th. All I got last week was an email saying they are still working on it.

I was really hoping to work in a public school, but this waiting is really stressful. I am wondering if I should start looking for a hagwon. I'm unemployed at the moment, and I need to find a job either in Korea or in the US soon.

I can't believe they are putting people with public school experience at the bottom of their list. I have an MA but no teaching experience, so at least I'm on the list.

[Summer Wine]

I have kind of given up on relying on them.

I don't believe that they will get the NOA or immigration number in time for me to get a visa, even if I do get a placement.

I am willing to come if by some miracle it works out, otherwise I am just going to go on with my other plans.

Its not as if I was trying to look for a job in a difficult to get place, but the rest of the world doesn't act in the same way as Korea and so other plans need to be made and carried out while korea sleeps on.

[lizlemon]

my recruiter got me a GEPIK job that starts march 26. not sure what to make of it, and all i have is a BA in english. i'll keep you posted on how it develops if you want.

[passport220]

[strange_brew]

All I know, is this whole limbo crap, is a giant pain the ass.

[tokkibunni8]

Disregard whatever the start date say or whatever you were told. You will start when you get here. That's how Korea is. Orientation for Gepik runs 2-3 times throughout the year. You will eventually go to one of them. I went to one 7 months after my arrival, which was noting more than time away from school to get drunk with other foreigners

If you were told to start March 1st, my bet is you will start late March to early Feb. By the way, March 1st is a holiday.. Aaaaaaassssssaaaaaaaaaaaa!