Korean Job Discussion Forums

[R. S. Refugee]

Hello,

I am facing a severe crisis and so I am calling on the wisdom, experience, and kindness of people in the Korean ESL community to share your knowledge with me to hopefully help me find a solution to a crucial employment problem that I am facing.

Currently, I am unemployed. Ordinarily, this would not be that severe of an issue for an ESL teacher in Korea. Jobs can be found. However, I am dealing with a severe liability that I don't have the power to change. That is my chronological age.

Though I am very mentally alert, have an excellent memory, and am also trim and athletic, my chronological age is over 60 and I have hit a wall regarding finding a new job. Everywhere I contact and send my resume to, when they see my age on my passport, they say, "Sorry."

I know some of you will say, well I know someone who looks like he's over 60 and he's working in Korea. That's great. I'm happy to hear that. But I need more information to make use of in trying to solve this problem. If any of you are over 60 and can provide any knowledgeable advice, I would be most grateful. Likewise, if you know of anyone who is over 60 that you can put me in touch with for advice on dealing with this crucial issue of finding employment, I would be most grateful also.

Saying I would be most grateful is kind of nebulous statement, so I'll put a more tangible label on it and say I'm quite willing to pay for such help to anyone who can provide me with a successful route that leads to employment here in Korea. Information that successfully leads me to new employment is certainly worthy of payment from me.

If your solution is that I should just retire, thanks, but that is not an option for me for 4 more years. I must work.

Thanks for considering my dilemma and offering any useful advice you may have. If you would like to be more private in your advice, you can PM me or write to me at kind_comrade@ yahoo.com

Thank you and Good Bless. (No, it's not a misspelling. It's a blessing for agnostics. )

[Skippy]

My father worked here till he was about 66. Thou he had the credentials to get some Uni Jobs. But with the market a bit flooded and Uni's getting better pick of teachers, well it will be harder. Plus the retirement age is 65 So for many places they will be reluctant to hire you. Also some program I think like EPIK (public schools) have a limit of 55. I could be wrong.

The one thing that got my dad jobs was willingness to work anywhere. He worked in places that where in the middle of nowhere. Lucky to have a car but he went to some mildly isolated places.

You will have to sell what makes you special. Any advanced degrees? Unique job? Have you lived overseas before? Also how is your health? That will be a big one some places think will be problematic? In the end my father left because of health issues.

Good Luck!

[koreatimes]

China

[ontheway]

Over 60:

Try small cities and towns in rural areas.

Hit up every English hogwan in these areas.

Let them know that you are an experienced, friendly, outgoing, fun, likeable teacher who will help their students learn and keep them happy.

Let them know that you are already in Korea, so you don't need airfare, and (if you apply directly) no recruiter's fees. You can also work fewer hours, so a lower salary, if necessary. Being over 60, you are no longer eligible for the Korean Pension plan as well, another savings.

In other words, show them that you are a quality product available at a discounted price.

Also, you could post a link to your resume and picture here on Dave's, in this thread, and someone might take a look and recommend you.

Good luck.

[nero]

Thailand. The weather and lifestyle are better, too.
I know it isn't really helpful advice, OP, but the market is rather saturated here at the moment. If I were you I would head to Thailand. I have worked there before and it's a blast and easier than you may think.

[R. S. Refugee]

These have all been helpful as have the PMs I've received. Thank you all.

But regarding China, I did spend some time looking at ads on the China board and came across a restriction of not being over 60 because of the work permit requirements. But I have also heard enough about China to know that such rules can be flexible depending on what people you know there.

Something to think about.

[young_clinton]

[R. S. Refugee]

Just thought I'd mention that I got a new job as a direct result of a contact I made with an employer who read this OP.

Cheers everyone and happy job hunting to all of you who are doing that.

[rainism]

[R. S. Refugee]

[some waygug-in]

Glad you found a new job. Congratuations.


Hope things go well for you in the future.


To the guy recommending Thailand....

have you checked the news lately?

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/27/world/asia/thailand-flood/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[R. S. Refugee]

[The Floating World]

Good on you Op for getting a new job.

Man Yawarat road area is my favorite part of Bangkok, shame about the flooding. Notice how noone looks that peturbed though, a laid back bunch are the Thais.

[MA-TESL/AL grad]

Ageism is a huge problem in both Korea and Japan. There are very few people working in Korea over 35-40 in my experience and when they do they are typically exceptional people (advanced degrees, fluent in Korean, often have Korean spouse, know how to network). It is getting better, according to them... but they still caution against working in Korea even at that age. My wife refuses to come back to Korea even though we both have graduate degrees in TESL. She thinks that we will both have trouble finding working once we are over 40 unless we own an academy or find steady work with a university in her hometown (which pays less but offers the opportunity for private lessons).