Korean Job Discussion Forums

[natalia930]

Just had my first interview with a school. Except it was NOT at all what I expected. It wasn't the director that interviewed me, but their current native english speaker, and then another (Korean) teacher. And then they called me back asking to Skype, and gave me a Skype tour of the school! (Which took me by surprise as I was in my pajamas haha) At that point I did see the director, but he just said hello and mentioned that the teachers said I was bright and enthusiastic and he'd let the recruiter know (it seemed favorable).

Is this as bizarre as I'm feeling it is? I'm confused as to why it wasn't the director who interviewed me. Also, it was important to me to talk to a current teacher - but since the one current teacher was the one interviewing me, while I still have more questions about the school atmosphere, I'm hesitant to trust any information he gives me about the school....Finally, they were saying that they are about to open a new campus, and that's probably where I'll be. In which case, maybe this one teacher's experience doesnt matter, because it will be totally different people that I'd be working with?

Omg, I'm such a newbie at this...

[natalia930]

Also sometimes I can be kind of high strung/OC...is this a case of that? Should I just chillax until I can actually review a contract?

[Taya]

In both of my schools, I was not interviewed by the director. The first school's interviewer was a native English speaker, but he was not a teacher. He was like a vice-director or something. The second school was for a public school so I was interviewed by someone in the program.

The Skype tour is a little strange but nothing to worry about. I'd suggest the "chillax" route. It's better to talk to teachers than the director anyway. I think teachers are far more honest.

[lifeinkorea]

The only strange thing is that they usually have current teachers teach at the new location. I would ask why you would work there and not them.

With me, I was interviewed in Gangnam (which meant a higher salary), but when I signed the contract it said I would teach north of Gangnam (closer to Uijeongbu). Since the pay was the same, I didn't complain. I met some nice teachers there, and all was good.

In China, it was kind of strange. There were a few teachers who were with the school for a few years, and when they saw my name listed under the new school they questioned why I would be teaching there. With a new location, you have a "nicer" school. In this case, they have interactive screens and put more money into it. So, common sense would tell you to put your veteran teachers there.

I am now a "veteran" at another school, and I have been given priorities. I got to select the classroom I would teach in. Now they want to open a classroom on a different floor of the building and they asked me if wanted that.

From this, it seems like a red flag to tell you that you get the "new" location. Ask them why. Ask any current teacher why they aren't going to the new location. One would assume a new location would bring in more money. Why do they want the "rookie" there? Also, find out when the current teacher's contract is up. Are they just trying to find a replacement?

[natalia930]

So I emailed the foreign and just got a bit more information. The hagwon is only 3 years old, and this is his first year there - apparently he was their first native speaker, so at first he said they had no idea about registration processes, government reqs etc (but that this is all figured out now), and that he had to do a lot of the work creating the curriculum for the speaking and writing classes he teaches. He said he imagines that I would also have a lot of room for creating my own classes - he's going to be handling TEOFL and presentation level classes and I'd take over the elementary and emergent speakers...He did say they were hoping to hire 2-3 more foreign teachers, but he's been there 8 months already - I'm slightly concerned as I don't think I want to be the only native speaker in a school for my first gig.

[mandaf]

Natalia, will you PM me the name of the school? I am wondering if it could be the same one I interviewed for, and I don't have the minimum number of posts to PM.

[natalia930]

Oh dear, I don't have enough posts to PM you either! But I am definitely interested in talking with you if this is the case...I'd like to give you my email or skype..I'm a bit hesitant this being public, shoot...

[Darkeru]

[lifeinkorea]

Why does it need to be a private conversation about a school you both might be interviewed to teach at?

I think there is more to this than just two girls wearing the same dress.

[jack_b57]

Once or twice, I got the feeling that the staff were trying to keep me away from the director during an interview, since they knew his personality would turn me and other potential teachers off to working there. Has anyone else had this same experience?

[natalia930]

Well if I knew there WAS going to be another teacher there around the same time I start (if I take this job), that would make me feel better about taking it. Its in Daegu, mandaf, if that rules this whole scenario out..

[Xylox]

[mandaf]

Natalia, Daegu definitely rules it out, haha. Sorry about that..

[Troglodyte]

I would recommend to people applying for ANY job, that they speak to a FORMER teacher, not a current one. Current teachers can be influenced to give the school a good review. e.g. "If we don't find a replacement for you, we'll dock your pay." If you speak to a former teacher, you'll more likely to get a better picture because they have less to gain or lose from giving you an inaccurate assessment of the place.

The Skype tour doesn't sounds strange. I've never done one in an interview but it doesn't sounds odd. It's also common to interview with a teacher (foreign or Korean) because the boss might not speak English (well).

[natalia930]