Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CSlinguist]

So starting out like most potential ESL teachers I only wanted a PS position in Seoul, now that most deadlines have long gone along with most of those bright and shiny Seoul positons, I opened up to living in Gyeonggido but ONLY if it was in a metropolitan city less than 40 mins from Seoul via subway. My recruiter set me up with a position in Icheon (not Incheon) which was too rural for my taste and too far from Seoul. So I turned down that position and now I've got a job offer for a PS in Osan, which is slightly closer to Seoul maybe 50 mins by bus and a lil over an hr by subway, and close to Suwon and Songtan. Now the problem is, should I settle for the position even though its in an area I'm not jazzed about? I don't know if holding out for a closer area (like Bucheon, Bundang, hell even Anyang) is a good idea this late in the game? Also the position starts Sep 29th which kind of eliminates me from trying for SMOE next yr since my contract wouldn't end in time to start with them in August...

So the question is: To settle or not to settle? Granted I do have a slight edge in that I have a BA in Linguistics/ Psychology and I have been studying Korean for 4 years. I'm also female but not Caucasian which has been something of a downfall for me unfortunately. Any advice would be greatly appreciated I need to accept or decline soon!

[tophatcat]

[SunDevil Dre]

[dirving]

[CSlinguist]

[recessiontime]

[Troglodyte]

[CSlinguist]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I decided to decline the offer in Osan.

I get the feeling that my recruiter is trying to burn off harder to place areas on me as I distinctly told them I wanted a metropolitan area and they kept setting me up with places in the (relative) sticks. (One place even offered the rural area bonus when I distinctly asked for no rural areas!)

I'm also slightly peeved that they kinda fibbed in telling me that Osan was 40 mins from Seoul via subway. From what I've heard it can take an hr+ on the subway and 50 mins via bus. Its a small difference but I don't appreciate being treated like I have no clue how to do a google search and find out exactly where they are sending me and what kinda place it is.

So, I will post an update when and if I get a better offer. Hopefully, holding out for the right area will prove fruitful (fingers crossed).

[toph]

As for hagwons...like someone else mentioned, there are pros and cons to both. The only reason you've read so many bad things here on Dave's is cause ppl come here to vent. But, if you don't want to work at one, that's up to you.

But, I have to admit that you seem too stuck on living in/near Seoul. Osan is a fairly big city, with one of the largest markets in Korea. Many cities in Gyeonggi-do are rather large, and what recruiters market as "rural" are actually suburban areas.

I'd go for the next available job to get experience, especially since you seem to want to work with SMOE next year. More experience = more money, and usually means an easier time getting a job. Anyway...good luck~

[Howler Monkey]

If you are looking for the creature comforts of home in the form of western goods and westerners I'm hard pressed to understand why you didn't take Osan.

Osan Airforce Base...

Make friends with an Airfarce flyboy and you have taco bell covered.

Go to Songtan and you have your international food needs covered.

I'd go to Songtan anyday before going to Itaewon. Farther south you have Pyeongtaek, though that place is a bit of a nasty dive. I wouldn't go there too often as the area out front of Camp Casey looks like a slumlord's wet dream.

Osan is a fairly decent billet as far as that part of the province goes.

[CSlinguist]

[PigeonFart]

Good for you cunning Linguist.

Sticking to your guns has paid off. You deserved it too. You can tell a lot about a person from the way the write.

[pikachun1]

I really wanted to go to Seoul, but found a position in Daejeon with great conditions. It was 1 hour away by KTX. I absolutely hated it. Don't settle.

[Louis VI]

Advice to live by: Economize, compromise but never settle.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

If you're a party animal you'll want to be in a city. If you only want to go out once a month, I'd go for a satellite city (easier day to day, no commute), and go stay in a Seoul motel once a month.

Maybe it breaks down: under 30 / over 30?