Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Illysook]

A friend from home is thinking about coming here. She's a tall, thin, totally gorgeous African-American girl from Ohio. I can't recommend the hagwon where I worked that first year, and now I work for a GEPIK school. If she can't find a public school position, where would you send her? Poly? PSA? YBM? JLS? Some other school? None of these?

Don't bash schools, just give a newbie an idea to start when she applies to schools directly.

[willteachforfood]

I wouldn't send her to any specific chain of hagwons....just apply, see who offers her a position and then have her call the current teacher at that school for a chat...don't take a job anywhere that doesn't give you a contact number for a current teacher.

[lalartu]

certain franchises, especially the ones dealing with younger kids, tend to take only specific...shall I say phenotype...of people

they would very unlikely to hire an African american. I know so because my wife works for one and she's been specifically told by her boss to avoid everything that is not white enough or anyone who doesn't fit the stereotype of Korean cuteness.

it's sad, but it's true

I think she has a much much higher chance of getting hired by the government programs (SMOE/EPIK/GEPIK/JEPIK etc...) because they aim for diversity all the time. Hagwons, especially well established ones, will very unlikely to hire her unfortunately. especially nowadays when they prefer a thin white chick on her first year to a shorter white dude with 4 years of experience...(ahem, yours trully)

[Space Cowboy]

[schwa]

I'd be wary of "sending" a friend anywhere. Should things not work out, for whatever reasons, an element of blame will attach to you.

Better she does the research herself & takes ownership of her decision. By all means be an experienced sounding board for her, but not her sole guide.

[hogwonguy1979]

easy, wonderland, its always wonderful at wonderlland

[ontheway]

[cyui]

Really? What part of Ohio?

[cyui]

and yes, we are freaks'

Where is the path?

[madoka]

[siwawalter]

Why don't you send her where you work or where you're at so she has a friend.

[Radius]

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

Yeah, I wouldn't send her to Korea. No way. She'll get the "A-peu-ri-ka sa-ram" on a daily basis as well as the pointing and that colorful "ooga-ooga" that accompanies anyone who has dark skin. I knew a black chick here in Korea, a very nice person, and boy did she have the stories. You white guys thing you got it rough, nothing on par with the crap she had to deal with.

[CPJ]

Apply everywhere.

I would guess that about 95% of schools will not be interested. So the more you apply, the more job offers you will get.

You can't tell whether a school is good or bad based on the franchise name. For example, I worked at a GNB and it was great. However, I know others that worked at a different GNB and it sucked. So it all depends on the specific school and location as every school probably has a different owner.

Like one of the above posts said, talk to a teacher. Ask enough questions and you'll find out.

[siwawalter]

Job market is bad, I would apply everywhere as well.