Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mindlessroller21]

Hopefully, around mid November I'll be heading to Seoul to teach. I have no contract yet or really anything setup. I do have my bachelors and have already sent in my FBI background check application. Although I've done a lot of lurking on this forum to answer my questions I still have a hand full which I do not have definite answers to. I made this thread so I can understand my situation early as opposed to finding out I had thing wrong when I go to start looking for jobs. Here are my questions:

1) My goal is to have my FBI background check done by late September, and then start contacting Hagwons on the job board on here. My impression was that as long as I was looking to leave ASAP and already had the background check as well as all other documents ready, the process of finding employment shouldn't be a long process. Am I right to think that I might be able to be on a plane to Seoul within one month of getting my background check or can the process sometimes take longer. I don't know how important this is bit I will mention that I will only be accepting positions in Seoul.

2) I've heard several stories on the value of having any 100 hour TESOL cert. If I get some random TESOL cert ( http://www.i-to-i.com/tefl/ for example) is it likely that I'll be able to get the extra 200 to 300k pay raise up to 2.4 mil or are these certs of dubious value.

[mugshotz]

I'm almost in the exact same situation except I hope to leave in October. I will be curious to see the answers to your second question as I just obtained a TEFL certificate. In addition to the TESOL/TEFL certs, does anyone know if having a teaching certificate/teaching experience in the US count for anything such as more pay or more likely to be hired?

[ttompatz]

The TEFL/TESL/TESOL cert gets you a 100k pay bump in a public school.

In most hagwans, they don't care and the cert (generic or branded like CELTA) means nothing.

In a hagwan you are worth what you can negotiate and in the current market (with the flood of US refugees) your bargaining chips (as a newbie) are pretty few (unless of course you look like Brad Pitt or a Playboy model.)

You'll get an entry level job, with entry level wages just like everyone else will.

.

[mindlessroller21]

well that saved me a bunch of time and money....

Anyone willing to venture a guess on how easily I will be able to land a Job once I have my background check? Am I going to be alright giving myself a months timeframe?

[ttompatz]