Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ksamsoon]

I'm applying for a public school job with SMOE in August, but I would like to work in Korea from now until the SMOE position begins (~4 months).

I've "heard" that SMOE will not hire me if I break contract within 1 year prior to working for them. Is this true? If so, is this situation limited to those teaching under the E-2 or does it extend to those breaking contract under any visa? I have the option of working for a hagwon under the E-2 or working in a non-teaching position under the E-7. Either way, I would have to break my contract when SMOE starts in August.

Any help is much appreciated! Thanks.

[dbtm]

I'd say your SMOE odds are an incredible longshot because they aren't hiring middle or high school teachers anymore and lots of the open elementary schools positions will be taken from ms/hs teachers transferring down to elementary.

[Ksamsoon]

Thanks for the info dbtm. I have over 3 years of teaching experience (2 in Korea) and excellent reference letters, so I think I stand a pretty good chance. If it doesn't work out, I can always apply to hagwons.

However, at the moment I'm more concerned about the logistics of breaking contract to begin a public school job and whether the rules change depending on my visa type (E2, E7).

[luckylady]

I broke a contract to work for them a few years back, no problem, but then my hakwon was very reasonable and provided an LOR. I had only been there a couple of months, started end of Aug for SMOE.

don't know if they have a policy, would think it wouldn't matter if your hakwon relented, as mine did. otherwise, maybe not.

[Ksamsoon]

Hm... maybe the policy has changed since then? My recruiter told me he cannot recommend me to SMOE if I will be breaking contract.

[TheUrbanMyth]

The "breaking contract" only applies if you are breaking contract with ANOTHER public school job and not a hakwon. I quit a hakwon job six months into it because I found out that they weren't paying pension or medical insurance. Even though I listed that on my resume I had no problem getting a P.S job a couple of years later.

I'd say your recruiter is either misinformed or doesn't like the idea of you breaking a contract (doesn't look good for him).

[missty]

I broke my hagwon contract a month early to start working with SMOE. But then I had worked with SMOE previously and so I could skip the recruitment part.

Also, because I was just quitting my hagwon a month before (basically meaning that they didn't pay severance) the hagwon gave me a LOR no problem.

If you're working for a company for just a few months then getting a LOR from them will not be guaranteed at all. Why don't you just wait for the few months until August?

I'd be very cautious about working for a hagwon for such a short time before quitting. As I really do doubt that they would give you a LOR.

[Ksamsoon]

I think there's some kind of rule (although I'm not 100% sure of this and can't find information anywhere) that if you break contract 1 year prior to working with SMOE, they will not hire you. I don't think it's an issue if you've broken a hagwon contract 2, 3, etc. years ago.

I don't want to wait until August to start working because I've already been back in the States for 4 months and I feel like I'm going stir crazy waiting any longer.

Any ideas on if short-term jobs (~4 months) are available with visa sponsorship (maybe a C-4) starting April/May?

[Weigookin74]

[Ksamsoon]

Weigookin74 - haha, no, I'm not starving and yes, I am living with family, which is driving me insane. I might do a summer intensive course from June-July, but ideally a 4 month short-term contract would be perfect.

[Troglodyte]

Go to Vietnam, Thailand or the Philippines for a few months.

[Weigookin74]

[Ksamsoon]

Troglodyte, Weigookin74 - Thanks for your suggestions! I'll look into those programs. For anyone else who is having the same issue, there's a program in Japan called Westgate that allows you to teach at a university for 3-4 months.

[Troglodyte]