Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Q.ski]

Hello there.

My name is Q-ski.

I wonder what is your main concern when you look for a job in Korea.

Could you guys post the numbers in preferred order?
(Ex. 2-1-4-3-5-6)

Here are the numbers below.

1. Location

2. Starting date

3. Money

4. Office hour

5. Workers in the school

6. Student age group

Thank you for your time to consider it.

[different]

My biggest concern is about the curriculum. I guess that's an unusual answer. If I don't feel good about the curriculum, I won't feel good about the job. And if there's no curriculum, I'm happy with that.

Among your choices, I don't know, it all depends on the situation. The least important for me are "student age group" and "workers in the school". But "workers in the school" can become the most important problem with a job if your boss is an a-hole, or there are some other interpersonal problems. Maybe be more specific about what you mean by "workers in the school".

[Q.ski]

[Ramen]

will i crap out or win with 7-11?

[different]

After you have a job, "workers in the school" and who your boss is makes a huge difference in how much you enjoy the job. But when you're LOOKING for a job, you can't know how your relationship with your boss or co-workers is going to turn out, unless you can feel in an interview that the boss is someone you won't get along with.

It's all about the specific situation and specific personalities of the individuals at the job. It's not something you can predict in a job search, and job searching is what you were asking about.

[minos]

[shostahoosier]

[lifeinkorea]

1. Location

I prefer closer to Seoul but not in the center.


2. Starting date

I don't understand this one. They all have starting dates.


3. Money

2.3 or higher


4. Office hour

These are more for public schools. Again, like starting date they all usually have them. Hagwons don't. So this one and number two are irrelevant.


5. Workers in the school

Co-teachers and managers/English head teachers. Other than that, the rest don't matter.


6. Student age group

I prefer 3rd grade to 8th grade and adults from 25 years of age. I am not interested at all in 2nd graders and younger or teaching testing for high school/college students. With that said, I am teaching conversation English now at a high school. So, as long as it is CONVERSATION and not testing, I am good to go.

[PRagic]

For most just coming into Korea, the top three all end in 'tion': LocaTION, CompensaTION, and VacaTION.

After that, success depends a lot on internal factors, many of which revolve around the theme of 'time'. Are you paid on time? How much time does it take to get to work? How much time do you have to spend desk warming? Are you teaching the same amount of time stipulated by your contract? Can you take time off when you want for as long as you want?

The biggest problems with hakwons (and associated recruiters) is that they will hire anyone with an undergraduate degree and a pulse. They are not looking to hire, nor will they pay enough to hire, qualified teachers. But once people arrive, many just looking to enjoy an overseas experience, they schools insist on 'professional teaching' and Korean style dedication to the workplace and employer, none of which, at least in the eyes of the foreign employee, has been earned.

Even in public schools, visiting English teachers are often treated more like a commodity than a professional addition to the staff. To boot, there are few long-term options for professional teachers to stay.

Which is why the bulk of the qualified ESL teachers gravitate toward university positions. And here again, the wheel goes round and round; some universities and their programs are 'good' and others are 'users and abusers'.

So in terms of the ESL food chain here in Korea, you have hakwons-public school-universities. Some are better than others anywhere along the food chain. Unfortuantely, the only viable long-term teaching option for professionals in TESOL are universities. That is sad given Korea's goal of creating proficiency.

[desertdust]

PRagic I agree with you on all those points. As time goes on vacation has

become a more important part of the job/contract.

[4seasons]

Vacation time is my number one consideration.

[cragesmure]

[denverdeath]

[SeoulNate]

[furtakk]

I'd probably rank it like this... Although there are more important factors as well (health care, pension, etc). The first three are kinda interchangeable. Pretty equally important to me. I would expect a fair wage, but it would never be the deciding factor. The quality of the job is more important to me. Quality being defined as hours, reputation of the school, treatment of teachers, location, benefits (not including money), etc.

1. Office hour

1. Location

1. Student age group

2. Money

3. Workers in the school

4. Starting date