Korean Job Discussion Forums

[EmigratingIrish]

So, having received the congratulatory email from the EPIK interview I set about getting my documents in order. I realise that even at that stage (the 11th of June) I was cutting things quite close with respect to getting one of my first choices. Since I only just finished my exams in college this year, I really couldn't focus on anything else besides study, so application was sort of on the back foot.

I have since been told that my transcripts will be arriving fairly soon, but my Criminal Record Check could take up to 3 weeks. Ireland being the laidback, easygoing and consistently late country that it is, it could be July before I actually send off the apostilled documents to Korea.

My question is this: if I'm not really concerned about the actual location I end up, how do my chances of getting a NOA look? I have read on this forum (sceptically I hasten to add) that there are up to 20% more successful interviewees than actual places, which does make me a touch nervous!

EDIT: I applied myself to EPIK directly, so I won't be sending documents through a third party recruiter and thus exacerbating the problem.

[Finster]

Hey, where did you apply to for your CRC? For a visa for SK, you don't need get the one from Thurles, that one takes a while.

You should apply to the Superintendent of the area you're from. I had mine back and apostilled within six days but then again I'm not from a crazy busy area so they likely had more time on their hands (rural Gardai, eh?).

Not that I'm having any luck getting a job or anything but just said I'd give you the shout if it helps any...

[EmigratingIrish]

Yeah, I applied to Thurles because I thought that's where I had to get it from. I rang up my local Garda station and they basically said get on to the lads in Thurles. I guess I'll try and put them under some pressure, although I imagine that the Gardai aren't going to respond too well to that sort of foreign behaviour!

I'm sure I need it at state or provincial level for EPIK, so I imagine I don't really have any other choice but to go through Thurles.

Disaster! Thanks anyways though.

[pulse_pace]

Hey, seems like i'm in the same boat. I submitted my application after my exams and I was reading on this other website that said you should submit your applications ideally 4-6 months before your desired start date...especially if you had a place in mind. But, if you're not picky about your location, then you have a good chance of starting in September.

Ideally, I would love the rural setting, away from the city and the clutter. But, I don't know how many other English speakers I would meet there.

Good luck to you though!

[kimdeal54]

Hey, the local guardai usually tell you that you need to get a CBC through Thurles. This is not true.

Just go to your local station with a copy of your passport and a list of your previous addresses in Ireland, and say that you need a letter stating that you did not commit a crime, signed by the superintendent, for visa purposes. Make sure that they state that it is for South Korea. Depending on how lucky you are (or well connected), you can get this within a day. Seriously, don't let them tell you that you need to contact Thurles.

[sallymonster]

If you have a TEFL certificate or if you were an English or linguistics major, I recommend that you submit documents for SMOE (Seoul). I could be wrong, but I hear there are still plenty of open spots there, due to the fact that they're more strict than regular EPIK. If you're willing to shell out a couple hundred pounds or Euros, you can get a TEFL certificate through ITTT or one of the many other online courses.

Otherwise, start asking recruiters about independent public schools and applying directly to education offices. There are public schools that hire year round, due to teachers quitting/running mid-contract and such (not all teachers leave because the school is horrible, and co-teachers and administrations do change). These schools do not always hire through EPIK/GEPIK. I myself just started my GEPIK public school job mid-semester, and my school has been great so far.

[the ireland]

you def don't need one from Thurles. The gardai autmatically assume you do cos you will be working with kids, but it's not the case.

You only need one from the superintendent to get a visa, not to get a job. Go back into them and tell them your name, address, date of birth etc and also give them a copy of your passport.

I typed all out in a letter and left it at reception for the superintendent. I also left my phone number and current address just in case there was a problem.

I got mine withing 4-5 days and this was over the christmas / new year period with the crappy icey conditions forcing people not to come to work.

[vaticanhotline]

The other posters are right, it's not even slightly necessary to go through Thurles. Just go to the local station; the length of time it takes to get the CBC is apparently relative to the amount of places you've lived (in my case, at least seven or eight, so it took about a month). I'm sure you know yourself that the guards can be an awful shower to have to deal with, but they weren't too bad when I kept ringing them to ask "where's the CBC? where's the CBC?" and such.

[EmigratingIrish]

Thanks dudes, I'll definitely be down the local Garda station so asap. It's pretty annoying that I'd ring them up and they would just pass me straight on to Thurles, but I guess that's to be expected. Pity I wrote them a postal order for 6.35 for the whole thing. The idea of giving them money they don't deserve is pretty depressing

Oh and vaticanhotline, how long did it take you to realise we are related?

[Finster]

If nothing else, this is a great thread for flushing out all the Paddies on the board.

Hup ya boy ya!

[candyteacher]

If you tell them its for a job and theres a strict timeline on it, they will speed up the process! Its also fine to list your family home and only about two other places on the application (that is if you have rented while in college etc) It also makes the process faster. I had mine after a week and my boyfriend had his after a few days.

Good luck with it.

[the ireland]

<<<<< I was trying to gide my home country

[lordflyte]

[vaticanhotline]

[Morticae]