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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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macula31
Joined: 17 Jun 2011
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 Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:19 am Post subject: My laundry list of questions :) |
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Hi everyone. I've been lurking here for a long time. Now that the time for me to start looking for a job is near, I decided to register and ask some questions about my situation.
I will graduate in December with a B.A. in History. We will begin the job hunt as soon as I get my diploma. I am 35 and have no teaching experience outside of coaching summer league baseball many years ago. My fiance (who will be my wife before we leave) will also be headed to Korea to teach English. She is 28, has a B.A. in English, a minor in Education, and is licensed to teach Language Arts at the high school level here in Ohio. We are both currently doing the ITTT 120 hour TESOL course online and will be taking their Young Learners course as well. I know this is not the best course to take, but it was inexpensive, will provide us with at least some credentials that may separate us from other applicants, and so far, I feel like I have really learned quite a bit. We are open to pretty much anywhere in Korea, but would prefer to avoid Seoul initially.
I guess I will just list my questions...
1. Should we apply as a couple or look for two separate jobs in the same city?
2. If we decide to go with separate jobs, is it reasonable for us to try to find our own apartment, or should we just take one of the offered apartments and take an allowance from the other? It seems like it would be tight quarters for two people in some of the singles I've seen on youtube.
3. I was hoping to get an estimate on how long it would take for us to find a job/jobs. We will begin looking in December and are hoping to start in February. I am 100% on top of all the doc requirements, so they will all be ready for the job search.
4. Is it safe to assume we will not have any issues in finding jobs? Is there anything I can do between now and December to improve our chances?
I'm sure I have more questions that I am forgetting to ask, but these are the main ones. I appreciate any guidance any of you may have.
Thanks |
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 10:51 am Post subject: |
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There are different ways to go about it. It seems like your fiance might have a greater chance of getting a better job. I would first work on her getting a decent school. Then, play the waiting game for another school near hers. Try to negotiate housing allowance instead of them getting you a place.
There is nothing to say you couldn't do it the other way or both look for a school at the same time. Then, compare schools and decide together which one is better. |
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TNizzle
Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: Seoul via: Indiana
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:10 am Post subject: |
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1. I'd apply separately as she can probably get a much better job than you can. It of course wouldn't hurt to make it clear to your recruiter, or whoever that you are open to couple jobs as well.
2. Depends on how much "stuff" you two have and how much "space" you need. If you're ok with living in a basically a bedroom as your house. If you go the your own housing route, then make sure you have some money saved up as essentially a minimum deposit is 5 mill won plus first months rent. Of course, that will only buy you about what you'd be getting from a school anyways. You might be more in the 10-20 mill won deposit range...
3. I'd start 3 months before you intend on working. (Assuming you have all of your papers 3 months in advance). If you're gong the public school route, then I don't really know as I prefer Hagwons.
4. Yeah pretty safe. Make sure you have the documents as that is the biggest obstacle. If your wife is a blond it'll make it a lot easier too. You'll find out that Koreans tend to hire more on "looks" than "credentials"
Oh, and don't just take the 1st job that you're offered, there will always be another one. |
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macula31
Joined: 17 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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I read somewhere that being tall is a plus. I hope so because I am 6'3"and she is around 5'10" with blond hair and blue eyes. 
If she were to receive a job that started before mine and I took the accom. allowance, wouldn't there be an issue when her contract is up and I still have time on my contract, or is there a likelihood that we will both be going at the same time?
Finally, what kind of job should she be looking for with her qualifications?
Thanks again for the help so far. |
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DaHu
Joined: 09 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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Your contracts wouldn't coincide if you're working at different places. It might be several months depending on how long it takes you to find something appropriate near her.
She should be looking at international schools I should think (since she's a certified teacher), with appropriate housing for married couples. Anything other than that, you might get stuck in a tiny, tiny place. That's a relationship killer, being in a place smaller than many hotel rooms. |
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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| wouldn't there be an issue when her contract is up and I still have time on my contract |
Yes. After 6 months though, you should be in a much better place to decide how to proceed. Schools usually like to know 2 months before the end of the year if you will re-sign or not.
One plan of action would be for your fiance to find a job 1-2 months before you plan on leaving. This will give you 1-2 months to find a school near hers. I have never done this, but I think a one month gap is not going to be a problem and part of the reality if you can't get a school together. 2 months is the longest I would want, but it depends on what you two ultimately decide.
You could get a "goshiwon" which is small, too small for 2 people, but you could get this for a final month or so. I used one, called "goshitel" (same thing basically), when I moved from city to city.
Also, you could try renting a room from someone. I am in China and there are more offers here than when I was in Korea. However, it's still possible, especially during holiday periods. If you have a hagwon job, you'll still have to work during these periods and you could rent a place for just a month this way. Find someone who has a college job and will have time off. They could rent you the place.
| Quote: |
| Finally, what kind of job should she be looking for with her qualifications? |
It's interesting, I am curious what an international school in Korea is like. I have seen some in China, and I worked at a hagwon like school here where 99% of the students I taught were Korean. I wonder if you can get the same thing with Chinese people in Korea, but I doubt it. Koreans come to China to study because it is cheaper. Then they go back to Korea to take tests because it is easier in Korea. Definitely look into, but if the salary isn't high enough I don't know how good it will be.
Public school jobs will start low regardless of qualifications. Qualifications will bump the salary up a bit, but I wouldn't expect much. She could try getting a higher salary in Gangnam (rich area of Seoul). I signed up with a school in Gangnam, but in the contract it was at a different location. I got a higher salary than if I went directly to that area. If she doesn't mind younger kids, those tend to come with a higher salary too, but not because of qualifications. This is more of a preference. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:24 am Post subject: |
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OK here goes...
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| I will graduate in December with a B.A. in History. We will begin the job hunt as soon as I get my diploma. I am 35 and have no teaching experience outside of coaching summer league baseball many years ago. |
So you are a complete newbie with no experience and an unrelated degree. You can find work however and can expect the standard 2.0 - 2.1M Won per month contract at either a Hakwon or a PS.
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| My fiance (who will be my wife before we leave) will also be headed to Korea to teach English. She is 28, has a B.A. in English, a minor in Education, and is licensed to teach Language Arts at the high school level here in Ohio. |
She has a better employment profile than you so she can apply with International Schools (the window for those is closed for the year however but still, check them out).
she can also get a PS job but it is very late in the year for those and only leftover jobs are left.
Hakwons are also an option.
she can expect sligthly better pay depending on if she also has experience to go with her qualifications.
| Quote: |
| We are both currently doing the ITTT 120 hour TESOL course online and will be taking their Young Learners course as well. |
This will have a very limited impact on your job hunt.
| Quote: |
| We are open to pretty much anywhere in Korea, but would prefer to avoid Seoul initially. |
A wider look like this will enhance your chances.
| Quote: |
| 1. Should we apply as a couple or look for two separate jobs in the same city? |
Depends.
Look for job offers and hunt down those who are looking for couples. There are some.
Talk to recruiters if you choose to go that route and discuss this with them as they too have couples positions.
Applying as a couple does mean your fiance will have to work with you at a Hakwon and can put an X on International schools for example.
| Quote: |
| 2. If we decide to go with separate jobs, is it reasonable for us to try to find our own apartment, or should we just take one of the offered apartments and take an allowance from the other? It seems like it would be tight quarters for two people in some of the singles I've seen on youtube. |
You can find your own appartment and get no housing contracts with a housing allowance. This requires a bit more legwork and if you are unfamiliar with Korea can be a bit of a daunting task.
You could take one appartment and an allowance from the other but make sure you check with the school who provides the accomodations about having someone but yourself living in said accomodations.
Appartments in korea are smaller than what you are likely used to, no way around that.
| Quote: |
| 3. I was hoping to get an estimate on how long it would take for us to find a job/jobs. We will begin looking in December and are hoping to start in February. I am 100% on top of all the doc requirements, so they will all be ready for the job search. |
OK, your time frame is reasonable. That application frame also opens up some PS positions but the big programs (ex: EPIK) recruit in the spring for a September placement in PS. Hakwons hire all year long howeverr.
International schools tend to focus on September hires or sometimes a March start. You should start checking up on them in the fall if your fiance wants to work there.
Note that international schools are mostly located in Seoul with a couple in other cities (Busan has 1 for example).
| Quote: |
| 4. Is it safe to assume we will not have any issues in finding jobs? Is there anything I can do between now and December to improve our chances? |
First get your papers in order!
That means degree, transcrips, National Criminal Records Check.
what else could you do?
You could take a better course targeted at teaching English. It will cost you but it may actually improve your chances.
Try to find a way to get some actual teaching experience if you can.
Read up on Korea and jobs there (check out the FAQ) here, check out places like galbijim.
Good luck to you both and feel free to pm me if you have other questions! |
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Modernist
Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Location: The 90s
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| Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I am 35 and have no teaching experience outside of coaching summer league baseball many years ago. |
Just gird yourself, hard, for the reality of teaching here. I taught before I got here but it was adults and they are no comparison to kids in Korea.
The students you will likely have will know virtually NOTHING of English. If you don't know any Korean [I assume] it will be extremely difficult to teach them anything, let alone discipline them.
To give you a sense of it, I teach occasionally at the elementary level in a public school. That means, I have a co-teacher, which usually means my classes are fairly straightforward. Her translating everything into Korean doesn't help them learn English [which I don't particularly care about] but it does wonders for a smooth class.
Yesterday she was otherwise engaged during my 1-2 grade class. It was a complete mess. Even the good, hardworking students could learn nothing due to the disruption of the others. Physically dealing with them is a loser's game if the class has 20 kids. The volume was such that even yelling did no good. Etc, etc.
Now I'm sure a better teacher than me could have dealt with this. Perhaps I could have, too, if the students knew even a little English. But 'young learners' in Korea rarely do [the alphabet and scattered vocab words like 'xylophone' don't really count].
Obviously I would NOT recommend a hagwon for your first time. No co-teachers + very young students = torture.
Like I have said many times, if you can get a MS or a HS, I would very much advise taking them. They have their own issues but they are not nearly as exhausting as kids.
If your future wife is certified at the HS level, she should REALLY try to get either an International High School or at least a public HS. She will be MUCH MUCH happier than if both of you are suffering through screaming 7-year olds all day. Happy wife = happier you. |
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