Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jinkiesfurry]

So my friend and I went through the same recruiter to get a job together in the same area with the same start date. We were both offered interviews for schools in the same area. My friends went perfectly she was interviewed by the director of her school and emailed back and forth with the teacher she was replacing. Whereas, I had an interview for a Language school in Daejeon. I was left waiting an hour for a phone call to be interviewed. I didn't speak to the director, I was interviewed by some random person who had never done an interview before (she told me this herself). I was then offered the job. I asked for a previous teachers email address for some more information on the school, if they paid on time, how far the apartment was from the school etc. I emailed the teacher Monday morning it is now Wednesday evening and still no reply.

I then asked for another teachers email address or the schools phone number, my recruiter ignored this request and sent me five or six emails stating how i HAD to sign the contract, that there were many teachers waiting "in the wings" to take my job. I kept telling my recruiter that I wanted to talk to a teacher from the school first, I was told to 'trust' the recruiter and to 'take a leap of faith' and sign the contract. I didn't reply to my recruiter, he then emailed again saying that I should send him all my documents so I could be given a job as soon as possible in the same area as my friend. I have never felt so much pressure in my life! So I'm turning down the job! My gut feelings tell me not to take it! What do you think??

PS i'm a first time poster so be gentle

[smithy]

In my opinion, there must be a reason why they won't let you speak to a current teacher. Taking a leap of faith is what will land you with one of the bad hagwon gigs. Sounds like you're doing the right thing by turning it down.

[FastForward]

They must be hiding something. I had a similar experience, where the recruiter kept ignoring my request for an email of someone currently working there. I asked 3-4 times. I suspect the conditions are terrible. If you do not think you will get another offer,really want the job, or are on an F visa where you can quit easily, then go for it.

[ChopChaeJoe]

What kind of advice are you looking for? Who in their right mind would take a job in a foreign country like that unless absoluely desperate?

[cincynate]

Change recruiters. If they are so anxious to fill the position, it is because they know it sucks. Don't take it. What recruiter are you using? Let us know!! There are plenty of good recruiters. Your recruiter sounds shady.

[rhizome]

[jinkiesfurry]

Thanks for the replies everyone! Am I allowed name and shame??? The recruitment agency I used was teachers for South Korea of TFSK. I heard great things about them so I don't know what went wrong!

I emailed the recruiter saying I didn't want the job but if he had any other i'd be interested and no reply at all! My friend has a job set up through them now! I hope it works out for her! I just need to find a decent recruiter now! I want to get to South Korea asap!!

[jinkiesfurry]

another update!

So when I told the recruiter I didn't want the job, I FINALLY got an email back from the teacher! she said she had been preparing for her wedding. The email said everything was great about the school. So maybe I have missed out on a good job. But the recruiters should have given me the email address of the current teacher or any other teacher there!

Any further thoughts from anyone would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Jotun_Symph]

Asking to talk to a current /past teacher is probably the most common question the recruiters get. And yet, some of them still act like you are asking them to part the red sea. I can't promise that was bad job, but I can promise that your recruiter is not a very good one. My first recruiters in Korea were TERRIBLE, and they gladly let me speak to a teacher.

[Feloria]

Don't second guess yourself--you did the right thing; there are loads of jobs out there. Good Luck!

[sojusucks]

[jeremysums]

Doesn't sound right. I wouldn't take the job.

[torp]

I applied for the same job last month, my recruiter told me they would only hire a woman and she should be single. I refused to lie, so didn't get the job. Don't feel so bad about it after reading this though! Did you find a good job in the end?