Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Great Toad]

I got the reject slip from EPIK for a sweet Bussan (ok well I should have gotten a Boys Industrial Middle school so maybe not that sweet ) public school job --- here is the quote




Dear <Lord Toad>,

Thank you for your interest in EPIK, Korea's public teaching opportunity.
After taking time to fully consider your application, we regret to inform you that your application has not passed this stage of the application process.

We strive to evaluate each individual application on a thorough and objective basis. Therefore, our decision is final and not eligible for appeal. Also, please understand that we are not permitted to release any information related to the reasons for not passing any applicant. We strive to select candidates that will be a strong fit for a public school English teaching position in South Korea. Your application was not passed to the next stage of the process because our staff was not convinced that you were a strong fit for our program. So, the decision is not necessarily a reflection of your ability or qualifications as a teacher, but rather your suitability for EPIK.

We appreciate your understanding and we hope that there are other opportunities for you to work abroad or pursue your interest in international education.


Regards,
<xxxxxxxxx>
EPIK Coordinator
Room 301, 43 Ihwajang-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-810
Republic of Korea
+82.2.3668.1400

English Program in Korea
www.epik.go.kr

The last time I was this hurt and anguished was when my current school decided to strictly follow my contract and had me teach TWENTY - 4 weeks of solid 5 days in January Winter camp with ZERO extra pay - imagine my indignation when I saw not only would I not get extra camp pay but the camp would last basically the whole of January. Horrendous and gross it was.....

Anyhow this hurtful rejection has made me defensively think it is becasue:

A: I am not quite a 22-24 year old blond haired blue eyed boy- AGE
B: I would start out at the top of their pay scale - HIGH WAGES

Regardless I am very hurt about this and I guess I will have to go back and work for the US gov again or some stupid law enforcement job where I will get killed... no I think I should just go back to being a lifeguard again maybe get a job with David Hasselhoff- this higher thinking type job bosses are not on to my great thinking they just want hawt girls and guys to do esl right out of uni they can pay 1.9 mil a month to... I think I am going to call Lee MUng Bak and complain after I post this...

Anyhow anyone else here who may end up in Formosa or Thailand teaching in Sept?

[Fishead soup]

EPIK is famous for it's 11 month contract to get out of having to follow Korean law a provide a months salary. It was a mutation of the Koretta program.

[Weigookin74]

[The Great Toad]

Thanks Mr Fishhead that makes me feel better - I am still sad about it I would have enjoyed Busan.

[Fishead soup]

EPIK was formed becouse the Korean was listening to disgruntled Korean teachers complain that the working conditions, and contracts offered the original Wannamin were too generouse.

The Koretta teachers were making over 2000 dollars and paid in US dollars they were getting the same vacations as the Korean teachers.
There were no camps no workshops no seat warming.

The first EPIK contracts were horrible. Most of the first timers in EPIK were completely left alone in the classroom despite the fact that most of them were told they would be co-teachings. Lots of teachers had to stay in homestays while waiting for appropriate housing.

EPIK has a very checkered history.

[cragesmure]

[decolyon]

It's the salary thing. I'm upper mid on their salary scale, in Korea now, with all documents ready for a new visa tomorrow if had to, and glowing recommendations. Got basically the same letter.

It's a schools market now. They're flooded with FOB grads from State side that will bust hump 40+ hrs for 2MKW and wont complain about desk warming. If I was a manager, I'd hire those people to.

I've also seen a lot, and by a lot I mean somewhere around 30% of a hundred or so, contracts that exclude housing. I said that was going to be the next thing to go and I was right. First I said lower salaries. Came true. Then I said self-funded flights. Came true. Then I said no housing. Came true. Next, they'll lobby to get the completion bonus cut totally or at least, cut in half. Mark my words. I'm like a psychic man. That's what having a business degree will do to a man. Just train you to look at a situation and how to maximize revenue by eliminating inefficiencies and redundancies. Cutting fat here, plugging leaks there. Business school took my soul away and replaced with Terminator like vision. Everything is a dollar. Everything has a cost to benefit ratio. And right now my friends, we all provide the same service... a pretty white face. Just some come a hell of a lot cheaper than others.

[soupsandwich]

O.P..,

There are worse things in life. EPIK is becoming more of a joke, along with most other public school contracts.


You have other options.

1. China
2. Japan
3. Vietnam
4. Taiwan


Korea is not the "end all, be all" market in the ESL industry.

You can also still go with a private school.....but you would be taking your chances.


Best of luck, OP.


soupsandwich

[Weigookin74]

[recessiontime]

OP you have told us NOTHING about yourself. How can we tell if this was just or not?

What is your experience? Age? looks? gender? previous pay? urban/ rural location? etc etc

[The Great Toad]

Ok well I think in retrospect I will just go back to teach in Formosa if I can not bag another job here- My life exp is long and terrible From the ethos of the past with a platoon of killers in the Gulf coming from the ship before dawns light getting hit with salt and smacked with kim - it was all Bout the GI bill... then I spent some time teaching in the USA KOrea Latin America and Formosa... so yes I am a bit on the over 24 smile-pay-me-2.1mil a-month-teacher. I do not want to get into exact details as I will get esl lady stalkers - I already get a lot of strange PMs after I posted some vids/pictures here so I had to edit stuff a bit...

But the point is well taken I think I am too old for this and maybe I should just go back and teach again in the USA - but I so hate the busy work of a US highschool.... And yes law enforcement woork is boring to I guess if I lucked out some how and got on a bike patrol unit - but I am guessing those are like getting a job at an all female Language high school in Korea with advanced self-motivated students - which is to say a golden job for a fat fellow that is hard gained... Anyway I am disappointed with EPIK for turning me down the letter is very very imprecise and it is my peevish pet theory that they turned me down due to my age and over qualification... Like I said I am now considering a job in Formosa where I know I can ALWYS get a job that most of you CAN't due to my super smart guy Englis 6-12 State government teachers license - you guys will just have to work illegally with the cheater public schools and legally with the business English academies... as to my return to law enforcement or the Marines I am thinking that is out of the question as I still get terrible dreams about that employment then wake up in my Korean apartment and am always sooooo happy I am out of there besides as most conspiracy theorist know there are plenty of Bourne identity sleeper agents all over the world
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTIkDmNVJeA
oh hold it it is me in my apartment forget the top one�well no I do not trash food like that I eat it�

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcXPvh8UrVM

and if I was one you can be sure I chose Korea to live in as no US government ever orders actions taken against Koreans - though this new policy of going after American citizens with no trail is troubling. Anyhow my whole point is I am shocked and insulted that a level headed thoughtful, serious, brilliant, over qualified, and very honest and humble teacher like my own self is rejected by EPIK I think it must be they are jealous of the good life they can trace on my resume and like spoilsports decided to wreck my Busan beach bash. Anyhow I see some poor guys in this trhead do not get EPIK also ...

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=206935

so must be this market crash has done so I guess I should sue the Bankers for this EPIK burn as all these 22 year olds can not get add jobs or net.com jobs.... yes I will sue the uS and Brit banks... and housing lenders - it sure is not my fault!

[Swampfox10mm]

I find it rather ironic that time and time again, Korean educational officials or teachers complain about the lack if qualified foreign teachers, then refuse to hire them.

This country sure likes to play the victim!

[Ramen]

[Konglishman]

[marsavalanche]

Are people this bummed out about getting rejected from EPIK? With all of the complaints from them these days, this thread is a shocker.

OP should just moved to Busan, stay in a goshiwun for 250k/month and find a good hagwon by interviewing in person if he wants to live in Busan so much. It's really not that difficult people.