Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Konglishman]

Recently, I learned that my job contract was not going to renewed due to there now being plenty of American PhD's (I only have a master's degree in my academic subject area) willing to come over to their Korean University and teach the related academic subject area in question.

Anyways, there is one global recruiting website which I have used in the past. I updated my CV on the website and said that I was now looking for a job. Then, a couple days ago, I got a call from a Chinese lady saying that there is a school near Hangzhou, which is looking for someone to teach my academic subject area to high school students. She asked for my skype account in order to make communication and later interviews easier which I gave to her.

Later while I was at a cafe, I logged into skype. Then, I got a few messages from her. I replied to them, but something that I noticed was that some of her comments consisted of smiley faces and "cool". So, yesterday, I became suspicious and looked at her skype account profile thereby discovering that she is only 20 years old. How can it be possible that a 20 year-old Chinese girl is working as a recruiter? However, I rationalized this oddity in my mind thinking that maybe she is very mature for her age and got this job through a relative.

Finally, she sent me an email address to send my scanned copies of my degrees and a photo of myself. Then, I sent an email with those documents attached. However, my picture is from 2010 which I stated and said that my appearance has not changed much since then. Essentially, I expected that they would be satisfied that I am not ugly or something but would request an updated photo.

After coming back from an errand, I checked my again and saw that she had replied. In fact, she said that I am very funny and that her appearance has changed a lot in the last 4 years. As proof, she attached 5 different photos of herself (ages 16, 17, 18, 19, and the current age of 20). Further, in each photo, she was trying her best to look cute.

Of course, at this point, after I finished laughing, I have to say that I was wondering what the hell was going on. Is this a Chinese tactic to get foreign teachers to work for less money? More seriously, what does this say about the professionalism of school that utilizes such a recruiter? Further, I have yet to receive an email directly from the school in question leading me to wonder if this is even a real school.

[Julius]

She's only 20 years old. Try to remember how you were back then. A little bit dizzy? Me too.

Also its China. Foreign guys are still a big curiosity attraction to chinese women. Thats partly what she's reacting to as well.

[The Floating World]

[Julius]

[Konglishman]

[Panda]

I flied from my hometown to Hong Kong a couple of weeks ago.

There was a fairly young looking girl (25 something) who took the same flight of mine.

We naturally started a chat.

She is working at the local branch of a big company that offers oversea study service and at that time she was about to take a business trip to Australia.

She was cute, nice, and in my opinion quite naive. she didn't know how to get free wireless internet in Hong Kong airport and told me she had never traveled by herself.

Later she surprised me though by telling me she was the head of the provincial branch...

Hmmmm.So I think we might just meet the similar girls.

[NovaKart]

I would chalk this down to cultural differences. For Westerners, it's extremely unprofessional to be so familiar with someone you barely know in a work-related context. In China, maybe not.

[nate1983]

If Bill Gates started Microsoft at 20, what makes you think this girl can't handle a few phone calls at that age? Assuming she finished HS at 18 and didn't go to college, it seems like a pretty logical job for her to have. I'd hope a college-educated person in their 30's would have something better to do.

[koreatimes]

I don't see what the big deal is. Someone talked about their photos, and then someone else replied. BIG FRIGGIN DEAL!!!

It's not like she specifically contacted the person, which would have been impossible if the person had not contacted them first, and sent their photos. There was a conversation that took place, and it was initiated by the original poster. Makes you wonder.

It's not that strange to have 20 year old recruiters. What they do is work in something we call an office. This is a place where groups of people work together. Often times we might see older people in higher ranking positions in these offices. The term we use is boss or manager.

As crazy as it may seem, she could be working out of an office for an established recruiting agency. I have gone to dozens of interviews in China (Shanghai and Beijing), and they always have young people working the front desk, taking calls, and yes OMG sending Skype messages. Will the madness end?

It's a new age gramps, young people work.

[everything-is-everything]

[BananaBan]

[Konglishman]

[Konglishman]

[Konglishman]

[Panda]