Korean Job Discussion Forums

[genesis87]

I have been in the process of getting a teaching job but I have had some thoughts about maybe waiting for a month or two after the major schools start in feb and march. I feel like if I am to get a job in feb or march at this point, the jobs that are still avalable are the ones that nobody would want because its so close to the major starting dates, and from what I have heard there are a lot of people who leave soon after getting there because they cannot assimilate or for other reasons. So is it worth waiting it out or just get something sooner rather than later? Any thoughts?

[northway]

There really aren't that many people that bail on their contracts in the first month or two, despite that Korean newspapers like to say. Hagwons generally start hiring about two months out and often don't fill positions until about two weeks prior to the starting date, so you're not exactly scraping the bottom of the barrel just yet. There's a serious shuffle that goes on in January and February as experienced teachers try to find the best possible job and schools try to find the best possible teachers; both sides have a tendency to wait until the last minute to find the best possible fit. Jobs tend to be a bit scarce in March and April, and banking on people bailing on their contracts isn't exactly a winning strategy, particularly given the glut of public teachers who weren't renewed that will soon be flooding the market.

[vivid]

I would say get a job you want, whenever it comes about. It is my understanding that a lot of jobs are being cut this year for foreigners from the public school boards. This is to increase the amount of Koreans teaching English instead of expensive foreigners.

At my school there were three foreign teachers at the start of the year, and now there is only going to be one.

Find what you like, and apply. There is always going to be a better (or worse) job out there.