Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SandyG21]

I regret to inform you that we won't be able to help you in finding a job in Korea. The job market there has changed drastically in the last year, making it increasingly difficult for us to find jobs for teachers over 40 years of age. The reality is that there are many 20 and 30-somethings who are wanting to escape this economy and are choosing Korea as the place to escape to. Schools are in a new position of being able to be a bit selective in who they hire. Unfortunately those over 40 are the ones to lose out and even teachers in their late 30s are having a harder time

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I removed my name - their name and company name.

[sulperman]

Wow, ugly. This whole thing makes no sense. Sure, I've met some pretty odd 40+ers here who just can not adapt smoothly and understand why schools might be wary, but there are also plenty who do just fine. There must be a lot of really good older candidates that are being shut out because of this. I mean, obviously there are a lot of younger people who don't fit in well too. A proper interview and screening process is the answer, not this obvious age discrimination.

Not fair.

[Oliver]

Find another recruiter. There are plenty.

I've met plenty of people in their 40's, and older. They are doing very well here indeed.

If you are flexible with location you should be just fine.

[InDaGu]

It has nothing to do with how people 40+ adapt or any of that. Schools (especially hagwons) want a fresh face to parade in front of parents. I was told by one school that I, at 31, was too old.

[southernman]

Go the Public School way, no problems with age at all.

Plus, you possibly get more respect in PS because you are older. I've known young PS teachers who had reverse ageism happen to them from both students and colleagues

[bigqt4]

Apply directly, check to see if there is a Korean Consulate in your city and apply directly. The spring EPIK 2011 applications are now available. PM if you need more info. I was also not successful going the recruiter route.

[Justin Richard]

There is an American teacher down who lives down my street and is at least 60.

Age is a factor though this is true. I also feel that there are a lot more foreign teachers in Korea now than 10 or even 8 years ago.

And I never remembered South African teachers teaching in Korea. This must be recent.

For many reasons both the availabilty of jobs and the pay have gotten smaller since 2002.

I believe many teachers should rethink the future. I mean where does it lead to. A year by year contract is too unstable.

[chellovek]

What's this automatic asumption that the 40+ are mature and adaptable? I'm not so sure. The middle-aged are some of the biggest babies I've ever known.

[SandyG21]

Many schools and recruiters also want teachers who have Master degrees and/or teaching experience - so if a person graduates with a 4 year degree they are either 21 - probably 22 - then if they want a Masters - that is 2 years - get some teaching experience - 1 to 5 years - so right there we are talking approaching 30.

Even without the Masters - there seems according to this particular recruiter a short window of opportunity to teach in Korea.

[kickittome]

Have you thought about broadening your search to include rural areas and smaller cities?

Seoul has never been the easiest place to find a job, even before the recent flooding of the market.

[Koreadays]

recruiters are asking for a masters degree to teach at a kindy hakwon hahahaha i have even heard of recruiters asking for ivy league grads only
'we offer high salary to those ivy grads. 2.5' hahahahahahaha

which ivy league grad is working at mrs kim's hakwon for 2.5?

i think that the prices will come down also for teachers with flooded market of teachers. 2.1 2.0 etc. and owners will be out to gain more profit by exploiting the desperate teachers, but still charging the mothers more.
ohh got to love capitalism

[Radius]

[NYC_Gal]

[Louis VI]

Firstly, the supposed email from a recruiter sounds phony. Seriously.

Secondly, I'm over forty and the youngest of four waygooks at my hagwon here on Jeju. I guess that can count as rural. Certainly this academy can't be alone in valuing those with a lot of esl teaching experience and tesol/celta training.

Thirdly, there simply are too many teaching jobs to not be able to find one indifferent to age. Keep at it.

[creeper1]

Do you have a good picture? Are you in good health?

Maybe as an older native speaker the school would worry about your health or health insurance.

Any more info about where you are from? Got a TEFL?