Korean Job Discussion Forums

[curtis76]

First, if you enjoy posting rude replies, please go to the next message and bother someone else, thanks. I've dealt with rude people here a lot when asking simple, honest questions.

Okay, here goes...I am thinking about going back to Korea. I have all of the papers ready. I am considering whether to take a vacation there first and scout out jobs, or just wait and apply from here. My question is whether anyone has any experience or knowledge about being hired within Korea while on a tourist visa and then taking the visa run to Japan. A friend said it's harder to do nowadays for some reason. Is it impossible? I would really like to see the school, the neighborhood, and meet potential co-workers before signing up for another year.

Any thoughtful reply with information or experiences to share would be great. Any rude comments will be reported directly to Dave Sperling via e-mail.

[ttompatz]

[curtis76]

Yes, that's something I had considered. It's a lot of money for a flight ticket, just to throw it to the wind. But, I was thinking it might be a good investment to ensure finding a clean, reliable institute and satisfying living conditions.
Thanks for the input, especially about the rule for first-time E-2 visa candidates. That's not me, because I have had a couple of E-2 visas. But I would feel better having my E-2 visa in hand going there.

[Skippy]

Ya, if you have already done a previous E-2 and you have no black marks on your record - stayed past your visa, committed a crime, or that you are golden.

It is better, you can find a better job. Come on over!

As tompattz said you might loose out on plane ticket and school will pay for Visa Trip usually less then half of a one way trip).

Another aspect you need to be aware of is the paperwork, you say you have it - good, get more, get extras, get things copied and Notarized again, go overboard. Once you get here and you start the process you will might find yourself getting a request for something that you can not easily get here, but back home would take all of a couple of days and a few bucks.

If you want a good job - have a couple months of backup money ready. The more money you have the pickier you can be. Thru illegal - I have even test driven some jobs before signing on completely. I have avoided some stinkers - one was bad paying on time, another the paperwork was hell. Actually it is usually the school does not mind as they are always needing someone ASAP. You can usually leave gracefully if you give them time or warn them before hand of what you are doing! Still it is illegal! Consequences with that!

You might even earn a little extra. If you find a school who is not using a recruiter, you can ask for a bit more of a wage since they are not wasting money on a recruiter or even a plane ticket. Ya it might be only an extra 100,000 a month but it helps. Maybe even a friend could make some money off you as he could recruit you out.

Also you may need to start thinking about where you will live. If your lucky you have a friends couch to stay on for a week or two or longer. But you might need to get a Goshiwon or Guest House stay for awhile.

Also coming over can decrease the shenanigans some schools can do, it can increase some too. One problem I have heard of is, some one comes over, starts work illegally as the school needs someone ASAP, signs a contract and waits for the school to start the visa process and waits and wait and waits...... The longer you wait the high the chances of being caught and deported get! The boss or school goes yaya and uhhuh we will do it next month or next week. Sometimes this is just bad management or laziness, others on purpose. They need a teacher now but they can save money on plane ticket, recruiter, severance and so on. When they had used him up enough, they can toss the teacher to the curb because he can not really do anything to them. Labour board out no legal contract. Immigration nope the teacher themselves might deported, ya the school might get a fine but they can talk themselves out of it (or bribe).

Timing can be in your favor. Want a University job! Deadmans boots! Get here a month before the hiring times for Universities - I think August and February. Network, meet as many friends that work for Universities. Now normally they will probably look at you and your resume and say NOPE next, and they find someone who fits what they need - Masters Degree, a woman, etc but many times those people flake for one reason or another (better offer, not what they want in the end). Classes are starting next week and school does not have enough teachers - they start frantically looking for a teacher. Tada! there you are all ready to go and willing says your friend plus he has some experience (ignore it is Kindergarten kids). You are now teaching adults and being a bit more serious.

Also Curtis, the rude and silly replies are part of the fun! If you get defensive from the start you only raise peoples ire and the chance of jerk replies. I would skip that part if you want less rude replies. Do what you did! Ask an intelligent question, provide details, write clearly and if possible show you did some research and thinking. People will answer your questions more readily and happily. Also you did not ask a question that has been asked again and again and again. Thru ya could have searched a little more.

Good Luck Mate!