Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kelly]

Ok I've been in Korea for two years and am so sick of the whole hagwon sh**** hours deal, so from August I'm looking for a normal job. Money isnt really a problem, I'll go as low as 2.0million. I've only got one or two stipulations, I want to be finished by 5pm at the latest. And I want an allowance for accomodation as I have my own apartment. Now I am a fully qualified high school teacher, and have an MA and post graduate, what are the chances of something decent????

[tokki]

How is your Korean? if its pretty good, then maybe you can get something good. If its crap, who will hire you if you cant communicate in Korean on a day to day basis about more than the weather and what food you like?

[The Lemon]

When you front end your spiel with "I want-I want"-style demands? Your chances aren't great. Nowhere in your post, even in your credentials list, did you say why you deserve to get your list of "I want"s. Nothing about work experience (two years in Korea, where? Adult or kiddie hogwons?), special skills, strengths and weaknesses...

You also didn't say what a "normal job" is - if you wanted to teach at a university, a corporate gig, a public school, or if you even wanted to still teach. There are plenty of decent people in this world who consider trash collection a "normal job".

Even after all the "I want"s, I'm still confused about what you're really looking for, thus I can't see how anyone can give you specific advice, or appraise your "chances".

Is this a job wanted ad in disguise?

[riverboy]

After two years, with a MA? You shouldn't have a problem Buddy. Try a High School.

[kelly]

Well I'm looking for a job where I can use my skills as a teacher. I'm currently taking Korean lessons and so its getting better. I've been teaching in the same hagwon for the past two years, but have in the past taught adults in Ireland, they were Chinese, Korean and students from various countries in the Middle East.I also taught for a year in a high school in Ireland. The hagwon gig was fine when I first came to Korea, as it gave me time to settle into the country and the reason I stayed a second year was because I loved the job and the children. But recently it was taken over and the atmosphere stinks and my hours have changed split shifts which I hate because I never get to see my fiance, well rarely during the week. I want a job preferably in either an International school, High School, or University. I'm just wondering are there alot of these jobs out there? I'm not specifically looking for a job right now, as my contract doesn't run out until August but I'm just scoping out the possibilities.

[Mr. Pink]

Kelly,

Most of the "good" jobs hire for March, if you are talking Korean universities/high schools.

International schools should be looking now, if I was you I'd apply to all of the ones in Korea. They should be starting in August.

Timing is everything in this country. Honestly if I was you, this is what I would do:

WAIT, yes you heard me WAIT until Nov-Dec when universities start interviewing. Get a job for somewhere that will start in March.

Now you say, what do I do about cashie? SAVE some cash up before then. Also I'd pick up some privates for day to day expenses. You will have a crapload of free time...STUDY KOREAN.

Also how long do you plan to stay in Korea? If it is a while, waiting and scoring a sweet job is worth it. I don't think anyone who is a qualified teacher, with an MA and 2yrs job experience should be working at a hawgwon.

I kinda wish my school had an opening in the summer, you sound well qualified

[matthews_world]

[discostar23]

This advice might be totally useless as you have an apartment in seoul but

They are hiring 10 new teachers at Chum nan university here in Kwangju city in the beginning of August.

If you are sick of hagwons I hear this is the way to go
Also, with your experience and degrees you will get hired no problem

[rapier]

Similar situation to the OP... I will have had 2 years of hagwon hell in 5 months time, and I'm determined to have no more.
What will my Bachelors in English Lit., CELTA and 2 years exp get me? What are the chances for uni job?

[kelly]

Yeah I'm not American or Canadian and I guess this poses somewhat of a problem seeing as most employers are looking for these nationalities. I'm Irish, but with all my experience I mean I started teaching voluntarily when I was 18 and have been teaching ESL and EFL since 2000. Also have my high school teaching, and here in Korea, I teach some Canadian kids, social studies, and regular school subject, its part of my schedule incase someone starts asking. So in my eyes I'm more than qualified but will anyone else see it that way??

[saint_moi]

[Son Deureo!]

I'm pretty sure Tokki thought that the OP meant an office, company, government, or other non-English-teaching job when she said "normal" job. That's what I thought at least, until I saw some clarification of what she really was looking for.

[phaedrus]

[just because]