Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mararowan]

Hi,
I was just wondering which recruiter is better for public school jobs and if there is any way to avoid getting into a bad school situation. Many teachers have told me that public schools can be just as hit or miss as hagwons. Thanks again for your help!

[computermichael]

They're recruiters. Neither of them care about you as long as you last for six months and don't harm any children. They get paid to find you, so don't get your hopes up about anything you hear because it's just anecdotal. It's a business, and you're for sale.

[Totti]

IF you're applying to individual public school positions go with both. IF you are applying directly to GEPIK/EPIK just choose one, there will be no difference.

[sojusucks]

[Xuanzang]

I used Korvia a long time ago. They were quick to answer and on top of things back in 2006. I've heard they expanded and some people left there. Joyce was a great recruiter and person.

[notinKS]

Korvia has gone above and beyond for me, working with my school when I had to delay my contact by a few days, and then responding immediately when I found out that I won't have a job after June. My first recruiter, Joyce, was based in the States and my second recruiter, Dia, is based here in Seoul and they've both been wonderful. I highly recommend them!

[AustSaint]

I used to say Korvia was great but I have had a negative experience with them recently and wouldn't recommend them now. It is a shame as I had a great experience with them when I got this job, the recruiter did leave and so I imagine they replaced her with someone who was inferior.

[hkverde]

I applied with Korvia and was placed with a GEPIK school in Yongin. Right before the placement I told the recruiter, Joyce, that I ideally needed 30 days notice in terms of a departure date so that I could give notice on my apartment, job, etc. She told me to give notice on both for a departure date of the 20th of March. I did that and now it's the 4th and she still can't give me a date when the school wants me to arrive. It's making me a little nervous that I've only got a week left of gainful employment and two of a roof over my head and nothing concrete in Korea. Has anyone else had this experience with Korvia or GEPIK?

[Xuanzang]

[loubird]

My husband and I used Korvia this summer-- they really went above and beyond-- though our recruiter insisted on giving us strange personal and relationship advice. That aside, they were great. I highly recommend them. They managed to find us public school teaching jobs nearby each other and worked it out so that my school let my husband live with me (much harder than it sounds). I'd say go Korvia all the way, but if Jessie is your recruiter, be prepared for a little wackiness.

[fake_blood]

Haha, I had Jessie as my recruiter through Korvia and she was harmless, if not a little eccentric.

She was on the ball about communication and overall I had no issues working with Korvia. I would do it again.

[loubird]

Eccentric is a fantastic word for Jessie!

[Cont Drwg]

[loubird]

Cont Drwg, you'd think that it wouldn't be a big deal, but I lost two jobs because the schools thought it was innapropriate for a couple to live in a single person's apartment (as if it were shameful to offer such a small apartment to a couple). I also had to provide my marriage certificate to my school.

The tricky thing wasn't so much living together (we could have done that without anyone finding out), it was orchestrating two public schools nearby each other to hire us. For a long time it seemed like we would have to work an hour or more apart from each other, and Jessie kept suggesting that we each keep separate apartments and just see each other on the weekends (this is what I mean when I say she's eccentric).

Jessie could not find us both jobs that stared at the same time without divulging that we were a couple, hence the difficulty finding a school that would house two of us while only one worked for them. There's really no such thing as privacy from one's employers here, so it's not too strange that they caused a fuss about the living arrangements.

[Cont Drwg]

alright that doesn't sound too bad. you had me worried with that first paragraph.
i'm going to be living with my other half shortly... shes there, apt. isn't the biggest and the landlord lives opposite... thats the main concern, but other than that i think we'll be alright without anyone putting 2 and 2 together. the landlord is an ajoshi and hopefully he just thinks im her friend or boyfriend visiting and not living there.
plus it makes sense by splitting the extra housing allowance i'll be getting.