Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gartenhut]

Hello everyone. I am a newbie, having completed my online TESOL certification in June and having completed 6 months of teaching English in Mexico. I began applying for jobs in South Korea two days ago. So far I have applied online with six recruiters and/or schools. Almost immediately I heard back from one recruiter who said he would send my materials to schools in Korea. I have received no other responses. I sent all the materials requested to these recruiters - resume, photo, copies of BS degree and TESOL certification, and whatever else they requested at the time. I realize that I started the application process on Thursday, that it is now the weekend, and that it is probably not unusual to have not heard from the other five recruiters yet. Or is it? I have heard that South Korea is obsessed with youth and beauty and that most places do not hire older people. I am a good looking 55 years old, have been told for years that I look ten years younger, and was a model when I was younger. I have a good photo, but is my resume being discarded because I am "too old?" I would appreciate some feedback on this phenomenon and advice on how to proceed with this "limitation" to my potential for find a job. Thanks from a newbie!

[Otherside]

The average Korean employer's ideal candidate is:
Female, Young, North American, White, Attractive.

Depending how many of those boxes you can tick, will determine your chances of getting a job. In years gone by, Korean employers had the same prejudices, but the demand for teachers far exceeded the supply, so anyone could get a job. Currently, the market is saturated with teachers, and the employers can afford to be a lot more picky (based on completely frivolous criteria, rather than experience or qualifications).

If you're willing to take a less than-ideal-job, working in a less-than-ideal location, you probably have a good shot, otherwise, it's gonna be really tough.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Your age can slow down the hiring process but really 4 days is a bit premature to be reacting no?

Your job potential will depend on how you present yourself, on what you demand as far as placement (location, conditions) and on what you bring to the table (qualifications).

What did you ask of these recruiters in the way of placement? Did you mention specific places to work?

If you asked for Public School positions you are too late as the hiring period is basically over. If you asked for too much pay, you will be put at the end of the line. If you asked for 'Central Seoul' only, another bad idea.

So, basically without knowing what you bring to the table, how you presented yourself and what you demanded, it is pretty hard to provide you with any sort of useful advice...



As an older applicant in a market flooded with younger applicant you can expect to wait a bit longer.

[Junior]

Right now is a very bad time to be looking.
public schools have already filled their quotas for a september start.(Mostly with young and inexperienced americans).

Hogwons are mostly full up. However ther are always those less desirable hogwon jobs available, if you're really not fussy. if you don't mind working split shifts in a rural area far from seoul you should find something fairly soon. Crazy thing is even these jobs know they'll land a young american if they just hold out long enough. And they do.

things might improve from the 1st of next month though, as I imagine many people will have trouble getting all the new visa documentation ready.

otherwise if you can wait, public schools will be hiring again for March starts. The new guidelines seem to be to hire only the young, pretty and inexperienced though, so if you do get anything with them it'll be out in the countryside.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

If you're from Britain, you could always try North Korea. They pay more.

Once you're there, start networking right away.

[carleverson]

If you're white, you'll get a job. Age and sex don't matter as long as you got the race down.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

I was walking down a street in Hualien, Taiwan about six or seven years ago and I Taiwanese guy riding by in his motorcycle matter of factly yelled, "You're white!"

I guess that they notice it a hell of a lot more than I do. When you have it pointed it out to you that you stand out like that, it kind of gives you the heebie-geebies.

[caniff]

[dizzyl]

Hang on a second, of all the research I have done on Korea I have not once stumbled across job ads for North Korea?! Could you further elaborate please WadRUG'naDoo? Sounds like a challenge!

[RMNC]

That's why it's a good thing I look like Paul Vandervort but without the stupid name Paul Vandervort

[winterfall]

[morrisonhotel]

[Louis VI]

[ThingsComeAround]

Hmm... lets see-

I doubt the OP is a Brit, most of them don't opt for the TESOL course in Mexico, rather a CELTA course right?

Anyway, no you aren't too old. Low standards helps, though. Get some patience, they will contact you eventually!

[Kurtz]

A friend of mine who is 63 years old recently got a job in a uni.

He wasn't a newbie, having maybe 5 years experience but he aimed high, wrote an interesting cover letter, and used his life experience.

Maybe you should do the same rather than compete for crapwon jobs with recent, fresh-faced college graduates.

If you're still struggling, there is always rural Jeollanam-do to work in, I know for a fact many hagwons find it difficult to find teachers there.