Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ajak568]

My name is Aja and I will be graduating this May (2012) with my BA in Spanish and International Studies and a minor in Chinese (I am American). I am currently trying to get a job in Korea (preferably public schools, but I'd also like to be able to consider private options), but from talking to my recruiter (I'm using Gone2Korea) and talking to some others that have taught in Korea before, I've been warned that it is very possible that my skin color (I'm black) could hold me back from being offered teaching jobs, especially in private schools. I'm not as worried about facing discriminatory attitudes, but I am worried about being able to obtain and hold a job given the fact that my skin color could be relevant to parents' attitudes about the quality of ESL education I would be able to offer their children.

Are there any other black teachers who have taught in Korea, or people who know something about this situation? I'd like to know more about what my options might be as far as the job market goes, given that a lot of parents want their child's English teacher to have blonde hair, blue eyes, etc. and I've got dreadlocks. :-/ Has any one ever been turned down/fired from a job or not been able to work with a recruiting company because of their race? My recruiter has been very straightforward with me, letting me know that they will put my file out there and give me a good recommendation, but also informing me that, especially for the private sector, finding employment could present a challenge.

For those who aren't black: Have you ever seen a black ESL teacher in Korea? What were they teaching (i.e. qualifications, what grade level)? (Also I'd be anxious to get in contact with one of these individuals if that's possible. I have love for everybody out there, including those with blonde hair and blue eyes, I just need to know what my job prospects might be looking like for the Fall!)

[ttompatz]

Discriminatory hiring practices are alive and well in Korea (racial bias, ageism, gender-bias (in favor of females)) and in fact, all of Asia.

Your chances of finding work in a hagwan are not very good but they are not "0".

Your chances of finding work in a PS are the same as anyone else but your "dreads" may cost you the job. Get a haircut, look business professional and you will improve your chances a LOT.

You will find similar issues throughout Asia in general.

.

[ThingsComeAround]

Your recruiter is (secretly) hoping that you quit your search so they don't have to work selling you to the school.

There are several Black teachers here- American/Canadian/South African- there are jobs here.

Racism? Light. Disrespectful from a western standpoint (blackface) but nothing frightening or dangerous.

You have dreads? That's fine. There is a famous African named Waffle who also has dreads. Find another recruiter.

[pkang0202]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlWavGDgwlA

You can thank this guy for making your job search harder.

[ajak568]

Dreads cost me the job? Teehee. I hope not. My specialty is fooling people into thinking they're not dreads. (Curl them, twist 'em, etc.) My recruiter really didn't give me a bad vibe about being racist at all, it just seemed more like he wanted to be up front with me. Also, it seems like my prospects aren't totally lost if I focus on the public school system? More opinions are welcome, so keep sending me your feedback to my questions! Thank you all.

[ghohn]

[ThingsComeAround]

Are you male or female? Although I've met both men and women with long braids and dreads, for men its best to be more conservative.

Also- are you using one recruiter? You should have at least five. If you wish to start in Autumn, you are way ahead of the curve. You can apply to EPIK early but most of the time you can apply in summer. Start preparing yourself by getting your criminal record check, apostillize your degree, read up on Korea and practice Korean.

I was serious when I said the recruiter didn't want to work too hard. Sometimes people will try to throw a curveball at you hoping you will go along with their implication. Be persistent- but to play it safe you should find another recruiter

[BananaBan]

[northway]

Contact Star Teachers. From what I've seen they're generally pretty color-blind.

[Malislamusrex]

I was hired before a black person with a PHD... that was in a university, hakwons and public schools are worse.

[ttompatz]

[ajak568]

Hey, hey, now. No hard feelings or negativity, I just want some honest opinions. I'm female, so I guess that helps me a little. Thanks for the advice on finding more than one recruiter. I'll definitely look up Star Teachers and Google some others and see what quality recruiting agencies I can come up with. I have already sent for my criminal background check and I am collecting documents that I'll need for a visa, so I'm definitely trying to keep up to date on all of that. After I get into the interview process, I also plan to take an online TEFL course that would be acceptable by EPIK once I decide that I will probably be able to find a job. Thanks again for all the help, you all, please keep posting if you have any more comments or advice, this is really good stuff.

[nathanrutledge]

If you don't even have the documents yet, you should hold off. Documents in hand, notarized and apostilled, you apply. Without them, you're wasting everyone's time.

I know quite a few blacks that teach here. Few years ago, the school next to mine hired black women exclusively, and there were half a dozen or so in the neighborhood, as well as some black guys.

The big thing here is presentation. Think Condi Rice or Oprah Winfrey, not S. Epatha Merkerson or Whoopi Goldberg. Your hair should probably be described as conservative, professional, neat/clean (as in neat, not as in not dirty, but I have known folks with some disgusting dreads before...). If it would be described as ethnic, wild, unkempt, then it will be a hindrance. This is an across the board thing. Mohwaks/fauhawks, long scraggly hair, shaved head that's got a few days of stubble on it, afros, women with shaved heads, men with a pony tail, etc do NOT go over well here.

Yes, you'll hear people on here say "I've got a pony tail" or "My kids LOVE my liberty spikes" but they are the exception to the rule.

Just make sure that the image you present is clean and conservative. When you take a photo, have it professionally done (not the drug store clerk with a polaroid). Good lighting, wear makeup, nice shirt (that's NOT low cut).

Long story short - you are NOT the most desirable candidate because of your race. It sucks, but it IS possible to overcome it. Present a clean and professional image and you can get something.

Also, if you do take out the dreads for the photo, there is nothing wrong with putting them back in later, either before you come over, or after you get here.

Good luck!

[cincynate]

Racism is not a problem here at all ( you may be called black face or chocolate when someone is describing you), but you won't have any racial slurs or dirty looks or anything like that. Unfortunately, Korea is pretty much 100 % Koreans, so there are very few, if any, laws on the books to protect certain races, ethnicities, sex, etc. If you read through some of the job postings, you'll see that private schools can be very specific in the teacher that they want. (I.E. Female, blonde hair, blue eyes, 115 pounds, northern accent, etc.) Your best bet is EPIK, they don't get specific with their hiring requirements. There are quite a few African Americans here, so your while white females have a better chance, you still have a good one. Good luck!

[tideout]