Korean Job Discussion Forums

bcjinseoul · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

7 years after college and almost a year after Korea, as well as ten billion resumes sent out over the internet in terms of the job search in the good ol' US of A, I've decided to throw in the towel and head back to the land of the Morning Calm for what will be my 5th year in Korea, stockpile tons of money of the next several years once there, apply to grad/professional schools or consider something online, etc. Beats working in a call center...

Just a few things I'd like some feedback with:

1) I just turned 30. Will this really hurt my chances of getting a good job in Seoul? I'm d-o-n-e DONE with "regular" public schools, namely EPIK/GEPIK/SMOE and the slightly more time off they give than most hogwons these days, large classes, co-teachers, orientations, workshops, etc. I know I don't stand a chance with any college gig unless it's in the middle of nowhere, and forget adult hogwons and kindies.

2)I've got my heart set on after school programs and afternoon hogwons 6-7 hrs long, tops, in Seoul. Would I be better off just flying to Korea with the docs in hand and going for it once I'm there? Is Seoul REALLY that saturated?

3) Lastly, August of 2010 I began the FBI background check process, which was finished in October and Apostilled in November; something of a fall back plan I guess. Would it be possible to fly to Korea with slightly expired docs in hand, sign some kind of agreement, and just do the FBI check again? I've already started the process again, just to be safe.

Thanks.

bcjinseoul · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

One more thing: any such thing as a summer camp visa or a short term visa of sort I can pick up while I wait on the docs?

Thanks

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Go back to the drawing board. I feel your ideas are sketchy at best and half-baked. Here are some guidelines:

1) You want to stay in Korea for a few years? Why get summer work and then full-time work after? You'll just be doing the same document process over again. I suggest you find a full-time job for a year first before doing these shorter term jobs.

2) You need new documents however you want to do it. Which is easier for you, in Korea or in the states? For me it would be back in the states. So, I would get a full time school after getting my documents.

3) Instead of ruling out options, only list the options you want to pursue.

4) The only real reason to come to an area for a job is if recruiters or schools specifically want to meet you first. Then you have the advantage over other teachers not in the area. If you get a good job offer while you have documents in the states, then there is no reason in my mind to jump ship and go to Korea prematurely. Get your documents, then go to Korea.

myenglishisno · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Geumchon

Don't set up the "perfect job" in your mind and then mine the job advertisements only looking for that one job. Put your name on Worknplay or some similar site, keep pushing it to the top of the list and let the offers roll in. Spend about a month just looking at contracts and being uber picky about the details, even make some demands. Eventually you'll find something good this way.

Or even better. Fly over here and then find something. Use whatever old connections you have.

ZIFA · Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:11 am Post subject:

I'd be wary of coming to seoul to job hunt. You can easily end up wasting lots of cash and waiting around a couple months.

Sit at home where its cheaper. If you have what they want, then a return ticket is not an issue. Nobody is going to employ you just because you're in seoul. Market is too saturated for that to even make a difference.

myenglishisno · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Geumchon

soviet_man · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul

Afternoon hagwon gig pre-arranged before arrival <<< that was the best of those ideas.

If you have been here for 5+ years, you may also want to keep your eye out for some head (waygook) teacher positions going occassionally at places like YBM (sometimes).

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

It seems strange to me that after 5 years in Korea, you couldn't send a few Facebook messages or make a few Skype calls and have a prime job lined up in no time. Did you not make any connections during your time here?

qcat79 · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Location: ROK

Jackie, he made very, very little connections. That's why he's screaming out to us to help him.

No joke.

litebear · Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Holland

oxfordstu · Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Location: Bangkok

ZIFA · Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 4:38 am Post subject:

bcjinseoul · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

For the half you who were supportive or gave decent advice or their own 2 cents or perhaps constructive criticism, thanks guys.

Some bashing from the usual suspects, as well...

Nice. (Suffice to say I'll be changing my screen name ASAP...)

If I have to wear my heart on my sleeve in front of 1,000 strangers in Korea and the rest of the world reading this, so be it. Fact is I have some connections, I plan on using them as well as recruiters to get the right job...WHEN I have the docs in hand. Patience, patience. Nothing wrong with being just a little picky. An after school program in Seoul is at the top of my list, NOT a professorial position at SNU that requires an MA in something.

I've certainly had some bad luck in the home front, and honestly, if I could do my time in K-land all over again, it would have been 4 years non-stop, some side work, save tons of money, walk out of there a winner. Pretty much crawling back on my belly as a dead last resort, folks. I've got a dead end job, couch surfing at place much to the land lords dismay, a shaky old car that worries me, diminished savings, bad luck with the job search, rejected from a school I applied to earlier, and clearly no connections around the metro area I'm at right now. I've learned from the past, and if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I know I'd rather be back in Korea than waiting tables, working at call centers, working for min wage, making only 10-12 an hr as an admin assist or a million other things that only pay 10-12 an hour (which is like NOTHING compared to 5-7 years ago). I'm pretty much going back for the money, not a life-long-MA -in-TESOL-inducing career in ESL in East Asia. Money is the biggest obstacle to all of our dreams. I wouldn't be going back if I had tons of money laying around.

Any 22 year old in Korea reading this right now: save your butt off till you have over $100,000 in your name, especially if from the States. You owe it to yourself....and don't exit without an exit strategy.

And I'm DONE.

ajosshi · Joined: 17 Jan 2011 Location: ajosshi.com

minos · Joined: 01 Dec 2010 Location: kOREA

After school programs have gotten much more competitive these days. I didn't have problems getting offers from all of them, BUT I was over here.

They have enough in country applicants and they generally want you to meet the principal of the PS school before actually signing the contract (even if they do want to hire you).

I don't think you can do a skype meeting for that last step.Your going to have to fly over if you want an after school gig.

I'm guessing you'll end up working at the same generic hogwan as most newbies, but higher pay unless your experience is college, SAT/TOEFL, adults, etc.

The FBI check has slowed the applicant pool greatly....it was better than the good ol days in March for jobs.

I'd go PS again....your experience is a easy 4+ pay bump plus a TEOFL cert. Should be 2.4-2.6 a month. Better than you'd get at a hagwon applying from overseas.