Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cherrisue]

I am 56 and trying to go teach in Korea. I have a number of reruiters calling and wanting my resume. But no one can explain the process.

can someone make it simple for me?
passport
transcripts--do official sealed transcripts need signed by a korean embassy?
criminal history--does it need signed by someone?
who is the korean embassy?

I am in Texas.

what do i need?
how can I make sure the contract and the school I am going to is really a school?

one promised me $38,000 for first year. as i look at ads, it looks like a certified teacher can only make about $2,000 USD if lucky....what is the 2.4 million won translate into USD?

I am trying to get all my documents. passport , CHC, transcripts, ...
what else do I need

and how can I protect myself from being lied to?
does anyone have legitimate names of recruiters....it is June 2010....not 2003 as these old posts I have read...

I need help. I want to leave as soon as possible.
PLESASE HELP??

[salgichawa]

[quote="cherrisue"]I am 56 and trying to go teach in Korea. I have a number of reruiters calling and wanting my resume. But no one can

Hi,

explain the process.

can someone make it simple for me?

Firstly if you have not been a teacher here in South Korea before you will have to call the consulate and tell them you are applying. You have to have a phone or in person interview before you come depending on them.

transcripts--do official sealed transcripts need signed by a korean embassy?

For safety's sake I would get three copies. One you have to get apostilled to be accepted here in South Korea. The second one can be the same but sealed by your school or just in the envelope. It must not be opened. That is why you will probably want to bring a third transcript in the envelope to Korea for backup as employers etc tend to ask for them and they get opened accidentally.

If you want to apply for your visa from the USA get a photocopies or a few spare as they seem to enjoy asking for originals. Make sure the deal is certain before sending them.

criminal history--does it need signed by someone?

It needs to be apostilled and the apostille office might require a countersign however they will let you know the appropriate person to countersign.

The chances are the check will be an official form and they may not need it countersigned at all. The consulate may advise you to make sure the check is the right one. Depending on your previous moves, you might need more then one.

The apostille office will let you know what to do for the documents to be accepted and you can use an apostille service or courier service if you prefer it.

Do you need the address of the embassy? Use google. They will require your visit. Once you find the website they might have details. They can be a point of call.

You can deal with the consulate in houston for the interview I think.

http://usa-houston.mofat.go.kr/eng/am/usa-houston/main/index.jsp

Houston 1990 Post Oak Blvd., #1250 Houston, TX 77056 T:(713) 961-0186
F:(713) 961-3340 Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas

What do i need?

Storage for whatever you leave behind and an open mind and a bunch of stuff you will need in your suitcase. Hard/expensive to obtain....plenty of deoderant, english books. Some only people want to buy Laptops in the USA??? if you are one of them bring one. All kinds of weather here, you can use four seasons worth of clothing. Bring shoes if your feet are a big size and plenty of clothes. Just remember many clothes here are for the thin and petite. It depends a lot on the size of the city you end up in.

Post a box rather then be without what you really want to take.

How can I make sure the contract and the school I am going to is really a school?

Websites, name the school on here and ask for a previous teacher. The address is important as many schools are chains. Also you can post your contract on the contract thread here.

one promised me $38,000 for first year. as i look at ads, it looks like a certified teacher can only make about $2,000 USD if lucky....what is the 2.4 million won translate into USD?

1998 USD use the yahoo currency converter. The rate changes. They may be including the final severence or bonus that you get at the end. It is an extra months pay for finishing your contract to the day.

I am trying to get all my documents. passport , CHC, transcripts, ...
what else do I need

Some cash to live here for the first month of work. Bank account details and address which you want to send pay back to if you do.

and how can I protect myself from being lied to?

Ask for previous teachers experiences and ask a lot of questions about the place. Ask to speak to your school director get the phone number.

Get someone to check out (ie view) the school and accomodation if possible. At the mimimum ask for digital photos of the school and apartment.

If recruiters do not listen to these requests you may have to take a chance. When you come to Korea if you have paperwork but no work visa yet you can decide to work for another school. Once you have produced papers, contract and passport to immigration here they will issue it. Then it is definite you will work with the school. That is unless you have sent original passport etc overseas which no one really does, it is not arranged.

You will know when it has been arranged at immigration because you will be given a visa number.

Hope this helps.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Lots of confused questions in your post cherrisue along with some questions I find very odd and that may not bode too well for your chances...but here goes.

[frankly speaking]

For safety's sake I would get three copies. One you have to get apostilled to be accepted here in South Korea.

Is this true now? I heard that if you have a duplicate of your diploma it needs to be apostilled, but I have never heard that transcripts need to be apostilled. If they are sealed, then how can the apostile check to see if they are legitimate.

I must admit that I haven't applied for a job in about 3 years, but last time I did all I needed was the CRC apostilled, original diploma (if photocopy, it needed to be notarized and apostiled, the Korean embassy needed to sign aslo) and Sealed Transcripts.

Salgiwacha: Are you sure that you need to have transcripts apostiled?

[ttompatz]

[cherrisue]

yes it is true. I know nothing of Korea or this process. Yes-- I know what a passport is--but I have never requested a Visa or overseas employment.

I have official sealed transcripts -three. I have an original copy of my bachelors of arts certificate and my masters of arts certificate. Will I have to give those to someone or should I make copies and have them "apostilled"? (which is a term I have never heard of before.)

My passport and CHC are being processed . I have 2 extra sets of passport photos. It will take 2-6 weeks for the CHC since it is FBI / state .

Are you saying I should wait until then to apply? I have contacted recruiters and have sent resumes and photos. They in turn arrange a phone interview with a school, right?

But I cannot go to the embassy for a Visa until I have a contract in hand, is that right?

is it best to try to get a job in Seoul or are small villages good? I have read horror stories on the internet about how English teachers are treated in Korea and how contracts are not honored, etc. I would like to do my best in getting with a respectable school. But there are so many recruiters and so many "hagwons(?)" that I am unsure on how to determine legitimate ones.
I appreciate your help.

Yes I am old but thought this would be an experience--I would like to try it ...

Please bear with me and my ignorance.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Your questions are normal cherrisue.

I for one did not mean to imply you should not try to work in Korea.

However, take the time to read the FAQs here, it will be worth it.

I personally would advise that you wait until you have your paperwork in hand before you apply or at least a short time before you have it all.