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PCRamplified
Joined: 25 Jun 2010
Location: PA, USA
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 Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 7:54 pm Post subject: got documents, want Seoul, what's my best bet? |
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I've finally gotten together all the documents I need (with the exception of the FBI background check which I submitted over a month ago so should hopefully be getting soon-ish) and I am ready to start applying to jobs, but I'm looking for some advice on the best place to start because there are 2 things that are very important to me.
1. I want Seoul. Or at least nearby. The Korean boy that lived with my family a couple of years ago has said I can live with him in Ichon-dong, if I decide I want to. (I'd be cool with living with him again, no problems there, I do have some concerns that it would be somewhat awkward to live with his mother, and that might put a damper on staying out late at nights and stuff.) If I find a job outside of Seoul, commuting distance would be nice, but as long as I was close enough that I could pop into to downtown Seoul regularly, that would work. The Korean guy can't really help me find a job because he is in the army until November, and at present, even his internet access is very limited.
2. I'm really not good with little kids. At all.
I'm thinking about GEPIK, but I'm worried I will have a hard time finding a recruiter who is going to be willing to work hard to get me what I want. I'm also concerned that jobs that are close enough to Seoul to make me happy might be hard to get. I think I'd like a SMOE job better maybe, but then I'm stuck waiting around until next March right? I'd rather not wait that long. Uni would be awesome, but I haven't got a Master's and the closest thing to an English degree that I have is a B.S. in Spanish. Teaching adults or working for a company doing editing work would also make me pretty happy, but I am wary about finding a job with decent hours that won't screw me over. (Although knowing someone who I'm sure has got my back if things get shitty probably helps.)
So, I value your input  What's my best bet? Should I try for a GEPIK job and also try some recruiters for jobs in Seoul? Can I apply for SMOE if I get a job with GEPIK? Would it be worth considering getting a less-than-ideal job in Seoul and then trying to find a better one after a little while? |
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tanklor1
Joined: 13 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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You've seen to have got a lot on your plate there. Or least you want a lot on your plate. The plate you're holding now seems to be empty except for a few pieces of paper.
The facts are:
More people want jobs.
Most people seem to want to be in Seoul.
Most jobs require teaching kids.
Adult hagwons and Unis don't normally hire from outside the country.
My advice is cast your line and see what nibbles you get. Don't exclude the rest of the country because its not Seoul. I wouldn't advise exclusively for a job teaching adults because those jobs normally go to teachers who have taught for a few years. And I'm willing to bet in the first gig you do land will revolve around the wee ones. Don't let that scare you.
Last edited by tanklor1 on Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:16 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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sigmundsmith
Joined: 22 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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| 2. I'm really not good with little kids. At all. |
But thats who Gepik et al cater for. Teaching public school kids.
If you are not good with little kids may I suggest teaching adults through YBM or CDI. The hours suck but you will most likely get a position in Seoul which seems to be your main priority. You can google their respective sites and contact them directly without going through a recruiter.
Yep, forget about university positions. You are not in country and you don't have the qualifications they are currently looking for.
BTW don't trust a recruiter. They don't have a say in where they put you when it comes to public school positions. And my understanding is that Gepik does the recruiting for Seoul public schools now, but I could be wrong as I have been out of that system.
Also, look at private middle school and highschools. They sometimes advertise directly throughout the year. But again, it might be better for you to at least get some sought of teaching certificate TEFL etc to improve your chances.
Good luck. |
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PCRamplified
Joined: 25 Jun 2010
Location: PA, USA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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Tanklor1- I know I am asking for a lot, that's why I am asking what my best bet is.
| sigmundsmith wrote: |
| But thats who Gepik et al cater for. Teaching public school kids. |
Middle or high-school kids are fine. Disorderly, disobedient teenagers I can handle.  PreK to about 9 or so, not so good. I have next to no motherly instincts.
Private Middle and high-schools sound interesting, and I will also look into CDI and YBM. Thanks for the tips.
Last edited by PCRamplified on Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mr. simmons
Joined: 31 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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| It's tough to get Seoul these days. |
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Oliver
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Location: Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:59 pm Post subject: Re: got documents, want Seoul, what's my best bet? |
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| PCRamplified wrote: |
| 1. I want Seoul. Or at least nearby. The Korean boy that lived with my family a couple of years ago has said I can live with him in Ichon-dong, if I decide I want to. (I'd be cool with living with him again, no problems there, I do have some concerns that it would be somewhat awkward to live with his mother, and that might put a damper on staying out late at nights and stuff.) If I find a job outside of Seoul, commuting distance would be nice, but as long as I was close enough that I could pop into to downtown Seoul regularly, that would work. The Korean guy can't really help me find a job because he is in the army until November, and at present, even his internet access is very limited.? |
Straight off the bat, you need to be open minded. You are looking for a teaching job in Korea, not Seoul. When you travel you need to be flexible. What are your reasons for coming here? I 'want Seoul' does not suffice. In my experience you'll want your own space too. Korea is great in that Schools will provide you with an apartment.
| PCRamplified wrote: |
| 2. I'm really not good with little kids. At all. |
You have just alientated yourself from 99.9 percent of the teaching market here. Korea is all about teaching kids. If you wont teach kids then forget Korea.
| PCRamplified wrote: |
| 'm thinking about GEPIK, but I'm worried I will have a hard time finding a recruiter who is going to be willing to work hard to get me what I want. I'm also concerned that jobs that are close enough to Seoul to make me happy might be hard to get. I think I'd like a SMOE job better maybe, but then I'm stuck waiting around until next March right? I'd rather not wait that long. Uni would be awesome, but I haven't got a Master's and the closest thing to an English degree that I have is a B.S. in Spanish. Teaching adults or working for a company doing editing work would also make me pretty happy, but I am wary about finding a job with decent hours that won't screw me over. (Although knowing someone who I'm sure has got my back if things get shitty probably helps.) |
With Public School positions you cant be too fussy. At the end of the day the education board will place you where they need teachers. It is unlikely that your preference will get you the job you want. Again, be flexible. There are plenty of people who are flexible and they tend to be the ones who get work. Anything close to Seoul is hard to get. You will have to wait for SMOE yes. But you have already said that you hate kids so why bother? You wont get a Uni gig with your qualifications.
Your expectations are unrealistic. Lower them, considerably. Start with being more flexible. Second, if you are genuinely interested in teaching in Korea then do some research.
Last edited by Oliver on Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: got documents, want Seoul, what's my best bet? |
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| PCRamplified wrote: |
| The Korean boy that lived with my family a couple of years ago has said I can live with him in Ichon-dong, if I decide I want to. (I'd be cool with living with him again, no problems there, I do have some concerns that it would be somewhat awkward to live with his mother, and that might put a damper on staying out late at nights and stuff.) |
Get your own place, or a place for you and him, you do not want to live with anyones parents. |
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drcrazy
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Location: Pusan. Yes, that's right. Pusan NOT Busan. I ain't never been to no place called Busan
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:04 am Post subject: |
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| I have been in various parts of Korea my 12 years here and from my experiences and what I have heard from many others and read here Seoul is for those who: (a) Are allergic to oxygen, (b) Love noise, and (c) Want the worst housing conditions in the country (if any is even provided). |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:09 am Post subject: |
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| If any are provided? What contract these days DOESN'T provide housing? You make it sound like it's a rare thing to get housing or something. |
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dumpring
Joined: 06 Apr 2010
Location: Auckland, NZ
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:51 am Post subject: |
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Honestly, Bucheon and Incheon aren't bad if you're close to the tube or know the express buses. I can get to Hongdae quicker on the express bus than my gf could taking the subway from Gangnam. It stops around 1am rather than before 12 like the subway too.
Obviously aim for Seoul, but if you can't get a placement then one of the Satellite cities should do the job. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:01 am Post subject: |
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| dumpring wrote: |
| Obviously aim for Seoul, but if you can't get a placement then one of the Satellite cities should do the job. |
At this point, I think folks are better off if they aim for an ideal satellite city to start, if only to get a recruiter to talk to them. My friend had a job within a week after telling her recruiter she would be perfectly happy living in Anyang, per my recommendations. |
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drcrazy
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Location: Pusan. Yes, that's right. Pusan NOT Busan. I ain't never been to no place called Busan
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:21 am Post subject: |
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| RMNC wrote: |
| If any are provided? What contract these days DOESN'T provide housing? You make it sound like it's a rare thing to get housing or something. |
I am only talking about Seoul Area. More and more you see they will give you key money or a certain amout per month (e.g., 400,000 Won) and you find your own place. I was in one of the top universities in the country (and in Seoul) and I lived in a little dorm room that cost about 7 million won a year. They had no faculty housing. Have heard the same story from others teaching in universities in the Seoul area. I have taught in some very low ranked universities in the past and had a huge studio appartment with livng room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, dining room and a huge balcony.
And I have heard from and or read about many teachers in Hogwons in the Seoul area and how terible the housing was. Many of them had taught in other places and the housing was much better. |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:29 am Post subject: |
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I've gone over dozens of public and private school contracts for Seoul in the past month and I've never seen one that offered no housing. It must be a university thing.
I've seen housing stipends as well (e.g. the 400,000 won), but that's always a second option after the offered housing.
But yeah, Seoul is crowded, so you're going to get an officetel. Some of us (most, I'd wager) are just fine with that. |
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Junior
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: the eye
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:25 am Post subject: |
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| drcrazy wrote: |
| RMNC wrote: |
| If any are provided? What contract these days DOESN'T provide housing? You make it sound like it's a rare thing to get housing or something. |
I am only talking about Seoul Area. More and more you see they will give you key money or a certain amout per month (e.g., 400,000 Won) and you find your own place. . |
Housing is one of the new cutbacks.
The housing allowance used to be 600, not 400. |
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Radius
Joined: 20 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:34 am Post subject: Re: got documents, want Seoul, what's my best bet? |
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| PCRamplified wrote: |
I've finally gotten together all the documents I need (with the exception of the FBI background check which I submitted over a month ago so should hopefully be getting soon-ish) and I am ready to start applying to jobs, but I'm looking for some advice on the best place to start because there are 2 things that are very important to me.
1. I want Seoul. Or at least nearby. The Korean boy that lived with my family a couple of years ago has said I can live with him in Ichon-dong, if I decide I want to. (I'd be cool with living with him again, no problems there, I do have some concerns that it would be somewhat awkward to live with his mother, and that might put a damper on staying out late at nights and stuff.) If I find a job outside of Seoul, commuting distance would be nice, but as long as I was close enough that I could pop into to downtown Seoul regularly, that would work. The Korean guy can't really help me find a job because he is in the army until November, and at present, even his internet access is very limited.
2. I'm really not good with little kids. At all.
I'm thinking about GEPIK, but I'm worried I will have a hard time finding a recruiter who is going to be willing to work hard to get me what I want. I'm also concerned that jobs that are close enough to Seoul to make me happy might be hard to get. I think I'd like a SMOE job better maybe, but then I'm stuck waiting around until next March right? I'd rather not wait that long. Uni would be awesome, but I haven't got a Master's and the closest thing to an English degree that I have is a B.S. in Spanish. Teaching adults or working for a company doing editing work would also make me pretty happy, but I am wary about finding a job with decent hours that won't screw me over. (Although knowing someone who I'm sure has got my back if things get shitty probably helps.)
So, I value your input What's my best bet? Should I try for a GEPIK job and also try some recruiters for jobs in Seoul? Can I apply for SMOE if I get a job with GEPIK? Would it be worth considering getting a less-than-ideal job in Seoul and then trying to find a better one after a little while? |
yea dude, they will likely go on to the next, less picky applicant. Id say check out the satellite cities. good luck |
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