Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BananaBan]

Hey, i am a newbie with a few simple questions.

I completed a few recruiting applications from agencies that have received some positive feedback.

In the event that they do call me, what will the recruiter want to talk about? Would it be like an interview? Do i get a chance to speak with a representative of the actual school i may be placed in?

What i am particular concerned about is that everyone warns us newbies to essentially perform 2 tasks, being:

1. Ensure the recruiter is not BSing about the job or giving me a misleading contract (i.e. schedule,hours, false location).

- Would i have to talk with the school representative to ensure no BSing is being done?

2. Get the emails of at least 2 current or former (preferred) employees and ask them about their experience to identify any possibility of an abusive manager/crummy working environment. Additionally, to also perform an internet check of the school branch and manager.

-When would it be appropriate for me to ask for the contact information? And do i ask the recruiter or school representative?

~ I also understand that the recruiters' sole duty is just to connect you with job opportunities and profit from serving as the middleman. They are not there to help you out or ensure the school is fair/good place to work.

Any other things i should know that may be beneficial to me?

thanks for reading and any input u may give

[ttompatz]

[young_clinton]

Make sure you're cover letter and CV has no errors. Recruiters that don't contact you within a day or two of your application for a job are not going to contact you at all. Recruiters tend to interview all short listed candidates, but that doesn't mean you're that close to getting a job. Recruiters will more often than not just not recontact you and ignore your emails when they decide they don't want you after an interview. When job hunting contact different recruiters at the same time. Unless you have to work in a public school in Seoul, Gyeongido, Daegu, or Busan, use non-EPIK, GEPIK recruiters that are preferably western.

The way you're CV is constructed is one of the most important things. If you want I can e-mail you an example of my CV which is in a format that Koreans and Japanese like.

[PRagic]

As long as you have a standard CV and cover letter, you're fine.

A lot of the placement process boils down to timing and flexibility. A great hakwon (though many would argue that that is an oxymoron) may have a slot to fill when your CV just happens to put you on the radar.

You'll have a lot more options if you tell them that you'll work outside of Seoul, in a lesser populated area, and that you'll teach kids. If you want to teach adults and you want to be in a great area of Seoul, then the competition may heat up a bit.

This is no new news, and there are many posters who are much more up on the hakwon/public school job market. Just remember that you're making a choice about where you'll be living and working for at least a year, so take it seriously. If you don't think you'll like teaching kids, don't do it. If you want to be in a big city, don't accept a job in the hinterlands. You'd be surprised just how many people don't even consider the basics. In general, those are the people who come on Dave's and whine.

[Jingo besus]

Be nice to them on the phone, tell them what they want to hear, give them everything they ask for and make them feel like they're the only one that you're with. Its a lot like having a girlfriend....

Also, never forget that they're running a business and that putting you in a bad school will put money on the table for them the same as putting you in a good school. No matter how charming and reassuring they are, keep these cynical thoughts in the back of you mind when dealing with them.

These are the conclusions i've coming to as a first timer....

[koreatimes]

[bbunce]

Be patient and courteous. If the recruiter needs more information or something done, do it asap. True, recruiters get paid once the employee starts working just like realtors. Try to get all your paperwork and documents in order first, otherwise recruiters won't waste their time. Find out as much as you can about the position but usually, hagwons have little to no information available. Don't go after positions where there is only 1 foreign teacher because they are to risky. (Go out of business all the time) If you are a drug user, don't bother to apply because you will get busted and won't pass the drug test(s). It really is about timing and luck though which is something you can't control. Good luck.

[BananaBan]

when and who do i ask for the emails of 2 former or current employees and for photos of the apartment? from what "koreatimes" has said, i get the impression i should direct this question to the school official when im on the phone with him, but should i ask the official this after its confirmed that i have received the job?

i know i should decline if they refuse to give me email contacts, but should i also decline if they dont/fail to provide any apartment photos?

[Rayna~]