Korean Job Discussion Forums

mattdemers · Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Location: CANADA

Hi. I am trying to land a job in Busan (which has been easy), but I am picky about the location (PNU, or Haeundae area). Is it too much to demand these locations approximately? I'm a newbie graduate with 6months of ESL volunteer work and TESOL certificate. I'm also white and presentable. Thanks-you,
Matt.

mattdemers · Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Location: CANADA

bump.

dyc · Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Location: Vancouver

Why are you so picky about area? If you're in the city - to my understanding - it's not too hard to get around.

I would say be picky to an extent - if you're approaching the deadline of when you were planning to leave and you have no job, I'd say stop being picky.

blonde researcher · Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 1:01 pm Post subject:

I do not think you can be too dogmatic about being 'only' in those set areas, as just about every person wanting into Busan seems to pick these same areas as well. A bit like Gangnam and Hongdae and Shinchon in Seoul.
There are not a lot of well networked recruiters working in the Busan area and you may just find you get on the wrong side of them first if you are making them search further and further for you to get the 'right' job you want.
You may also find that pickiness works against you if you wait too long.
The timing of accepting job offers is vital as right now hagwons are desperately trying to sort their staffing for the main semester intake of February (when public schools go back) and if they miss having teachers on board at this time they may back off on offers. Hagwons always like to be able to advertise they have 'good foreign faces' as teachers at this high promotion time to get students into their hagwons.

Busan is also one of the lowest paying cities for salaries with the average 1.8 [public schools] to 2.1 million. If your are getting good offers and turning them down because they are too low or the wrong area, you may need to get a reality check and be more flexible.

A good idea is to extend your choice across Busan but staying on the subway station line locations. There are only 2 main lines intersecting Busan and once you leave these areas you may get a not so good area to be in.

millyfrend · Joined: 29 Apr 2010

It's probably best to pick a destination/area you like because it might be a waste of time. You go there and it doesn't meet your expectations then you just go back home. A job is a job after a long period of time (routine), you should like where you teach and the environment.

RMNC · Joined: 21 Jul 2010

In Busan, location doesn't matter as much as it does in Seoul. That said, when it comes to finding a job, "too picky" isn't in the ESL vocab.