Korean Job Discussion Forums

[leavinghome]

I've been tossing around the idea of teaching in Korea for a couple of years now, and after losing my job here in the states and attempting a job hunt for months I am seriously wanting to move. I have some serious questions, as things have changed from when I originally considered two years ago.

1. Can I teach in Seoul with no prior teaching experience? I have a friend who says there are jobs everywhere, but the most recent response from recruiters is that I don't have a chance without an education degree or experience.

2. Will a 120 hour TESOL certificate really do me that much good in improving my chances of landing a job in a large city like Seoul or Busan?

3. How many activities are there in smaller cities in Korea? My recruiters seem to tell me getting a job in a smaller city is my only option.

4. A more personal question, how do I deal with my family being so upset at me even thinking of leaving the US for a year? They flipped out at the idea two years ago and every time I bring it up they get very upset. I live 8 hours away from them, and have for 7 years now, but they take offense to the fact that I would even consider moving that far away.

Any help with these questions is very appreciated.

[imoscardotcom]

In response to your questions:
1. Yes. There are jobs in Seoul for those with no prior teaching experience, although it helps to be young, North American and female. You just have to look. It may take awhile.
2. Maybe, although I'm leaning more towards "no" on this one. It might help you get a pay bump, though.
3. This really depends. What sort of activities? Nightclubs? Bars? Expat community? Sports? It will certainly be easier to find those things in bigger cities, but it really depends on where you go and what you're looking for. I think your recruiter is probably pushing a small city job because s/he only has small city jobs. Remember this about recruiters: They don't work for you, they work for the schools. You're just a peg they're trying to put in a hole. Don't just use one recruiter. Use as many as you can!!
4. Uhh, how old are you? This is YOUR life, and YOUR choice. Besides, as you said this is something you've wanted to do for some time, you don't have a job in the states, and you want to move abroad. They should show a little support. Tell them you love them, but this is about you & your life. Remind them that you can always come back and they can always visit you. If/When you leave, set up a Skype account and maybe gift them a webcam. That way they'll be able to see you and chat with you whenever they like.
Hope this helps a bit! Good luck.

[northway]

I wanted to limit myself to Seoul when I came here, but found it was quite difficult to find a job there. I ended up in Anyang, a city twenty or thirty minutes outside of Seoul on the subway, and find that it's just as easy for me to get to a lot of places in the city as it is for people who live in Seoul proper. I would say that you don't really need to limit yourself to the city limits, and can look to some of the nicer satellite cities while still getting everything Seoul has to offer. Everything in Korea looks the same anyway.

[Chris.Quigley]

Your recruiter is full of BS... They are lying to you... So, now that you know they are lying, you need to play your cards right.

You should easily be able to find a job somewhere in Seoul, Incheon or Gyeongi province. Your recruiter just wants the easy money that comes with placing you in the middle-of-no-where.

This being said, finding a good job is more difficult, especially with no experience and the fact that you are not already in Korea.

Use more than one recruiter. Don't tell your recruiter you are using other recruiters. This is a business, it is about money. They don't care about you, so you have no reason to care about them either. I know that's harsh, but it's the way it works. Once they place you at the school, they don't care whether the school is good or not. They have their money and they drop you.

When one of your recruiters finds you a job that you like. All you need to do is call the other recruiters and let them know that you found a job elsewhere and thank them.

[Chris.Quigley]

[sirius black]

1. There are always jobs in Seoul. Use more than recruiter. your recruiter's number on priority is to get paid putting you into any school who will have you. You can get a hogwon job fairly easy enough but do your due dilligence. Research. Research. Research. Find out if its blacklisted by other teachers. Talk to present or prior teachers. Do a search on here to find out if anyone commented on it. Its going to be a little hard getting a public school job (depending on a few factors) but try anyway. Hurry, the app deadline ends soon. I'd also think twice about kindergarten jobs unless you are up to it. It can be draining. Those are fairly easy to get though.

The advice about places outside Seoul is good advice. Also take a look at Incheon.

2. It can't hurt at al to have a certificate and some cases it helps a little or even moderately but make sure its accredited.

3. Define 'actictivies'? There are great places outside of Seoul. Thinking Seoul is the only place you can have a life is akin to coming to America and thinkng NYC is the only place you can have a life in America. I'd be willing to bet Busan, Deagu, Incheon and possible Daejeon and Kwangju are bigger cities than where you are from. The aforemention have thriving foreigner areas as well as other places much smaller.

If its museums, parks, and other 'cultural' things, yes, plenty in other cities. My guess and not judging, you probably mean are there opportunies to meet up, drink and party with other foreigners similar to yourself at bars and clubs, while taking in the occasional cultural event or going to a park, etc. If so, there are tons of places outside Seoul.

4. Maybe time to cut the apron strings. You're an adult who can legally make your own decisions and should start doing so. Of course family and friends are worried about going so far especially with recent events. Trust me they won't disown you for moving away. They'll deal with it because they have no choice.

[DeMayonnaise]

[northway]

[Kimchifart]

[northway]

[allovertheplace]

OP - it also matters what part of the suburb your in. Suwon was great and honestly spent most of my time there. Loved having a 'Seoul Night' once or twice a month at most and it would take me 45-hour to get to gagnam etc.

Sometimes I thought I would have loved being in Seoul but only a cool area. A cool area of Suwon, Anyang, or Bundang beats Nowon etc. Being in Seoul also is more money...Id have spent an extra 5 grand during my first year. Instead of a night out in Suwon spending 60k, Id have done tons of Itaewon nights costing 100k.

Also-the comment about tighter nit suburbs is dead on. In Bundang, Suwon, Anyang I knew of great foreign communities. Everyone would go to Seoul in cool groups and share cabs home. Then Id see two drunk dudes holding each other up leaving a Seoul hotspot who lived in Seoul. Seemed like I had the better deal.

[injuredeagle]

3. I live in Daegu and although I like Seoul a lot on my visits there, Daegu really offers a lot especially considering how much I work during the week. So, if you really want over here, I wouldn't limit yourself to Seoul.

4. SKYPE. And I bet after you're here for a month, they will even start to balk at staying up late or wake early to Skype with you. It's always the fear of the unknown.