Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vw08]

After lurking for a few weeks to glean as much information as possible from the board, I'm finally ready to get everyone's two cents. I'm starting the application process to hopefully teach for the 2011-2012 school year with the EPIK/SMOE program. I'm at the point now where I have done most of the preliminary paperwork with my recruiter and next I'll have to start shelling out money for my FBI background check and such.

Does anyone have advice/warnings about the application process? I'd greatly appreciate any insight you might have.

Many Thanks!

[Boating3]

Are you hoping to start in Feb 2011 or August 2011? Did you already have your interview?

[vw08]

I'm hoping to start in Aug 2011. I've already been in touch with a recruiter and am starting to get my paperwork in order to be able to send it in by April/May.

[vw08]

Bump

[ttompatz]

[Boating3]

1) Get the national level CRC. If you are American, there was a recent policy change about this (only needed a state level last year), so make sure you get the national level, as I'm sure they will be closer to inforcing this rule by August. As said above, must be from within the last 6 months (though in America, they are valid for 1 year).
2) You may have a good recruiter and all, but why go through one when you can apply right through EPIK? Closer connections to the source just seems like a better idea to me. And you just hear so many random problems about recruiters.....Maybe use the recruiter for backup/private/other school options? Just a a thought....
3) Keep in mind, no matter what you hear from recruiters/EPIK contacts, you WILL be waiting until 3, 4 weeks at best, before orientation starts to get your Notice of Appointment and contract (after which you will have to go to the Korean embassy to get the visa). So plan on this being last minute and don't freak out about how long you are waiting, like so many applicants do. Just expect it to be last minute. This is how late the contracts have been sent out during every 6 month intake for years......so recruiters need to start being realistic about when the contracts will be out, grr, lol. For example, for Feb intake, EPIK orientations start on the 16/17 (SMOE-22). No one that I've heard has the physical copy of their contracts in their hands yet. Maybe tomorrow or Friday those already in Korea will have them.
4) Apply as early as possible to get your choice of place (and so you aren't freaking out about places being filled because you applied late). I think August intake starts applications on April 1.
5) Consider paying a couple hundred $ for an online TEFL course. Having the TEFL bumps your pay 100,000won/month. I haven't heard of any online TEFLs are really all that helpful and I could tell you about much better real courses, but Korea doesn't care if it's online or in class (or how cheap/expensive it was), so just go for a cheapy (unless you are making a career out of this) and have a certificate to show them.
6) Think about learning some Korean before you come. No, you don't need to, but it's fun! Plus, it gets you in good with Principals, VPs, other teachers, neighbors, restaurants you will frequent if you can utter a few words. Plus, it makes your life a lot easier in random encounters you will have than all the clueless other foreigners who never put in any time. (Sorry, but some people live here for years and never learn any....) It adds a lot of worth to your time spent in Korea, I think.
7) Do it! Come to Korea!

[geosdsd]

Thanks Boating3, I was looking around for more info on when people started applying for August 2011 jobs.

[Boating3]

[vw08]

Thanks so much for your help!! The process seems a bit daunting, but it's good to hear that it is worth it in the end.

[kardisa]

[kimdeal54]