Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Monster357]

Hi! Right now I'm applying for graduate school programs that would begin the fall of 2013. I'm also applying for hagwan jobs in Korea which would begin asap. Graduate schools have mandatory interviews for potential candidates between feb and march. My question is, is it realistic to think that what ever hagwan hires me will allow me to take a week off of work to fly back to the USA and do my graduate school interviews? Should i inform a school before it hires me that i may need to take a week off later to fly back home?

[Troglodyte]

I think that most will be reluctant to hire you. They usually have set holidays.

Alternatively, if you know in advance that you'll be leaving in February and coming back at the end of March, then why not just quit your job in February and then get a new visa when your grad school interviews are done? If you know in advance, then you just need to get two sets of documents. You might need to get a second CRC but since you know when you'll need it, you can apply enough in advance that you have it for March. If you have all your documents ready then you can get another job relatively quickly. You could even interview for it before you leave Korea. That way you get to see the new school.

[Monster357]

If I quit wouldn't i have to pay the hagwan back for airfare? Also, wouldn't it be hard to get another job since i broke my contract?

[luckylady]

surely all the places you are applying don't require in-person interviews?

why not set up a video-conference on Skype? there's going to be other students who aren't able to attend in person - you won't be the only one.

did your application already state you must be there in person no exceptions for the interview?

other than Skype, another option might be to go during the Lunar New Year which might give you a few days but doubtful an entire week.

that's more likely to be in January, check the calendar for 2013, it's always different every year.

you're going to be making a lot of sacrifices already for graduate school, if you have the opportunity to come overseas and spend a year, do it, you'll be glad you did. if your potential dept doesn't support that, I'd question how well they're going to support anything else you plan to do in the long run.

[Monster357]

Yeah, most of school websites i've been looking on said that they required an in person interview. A few schools though said they'd allow telephone interviews.

I'll be sure to check when the lunar new year is though

[Troglodyte]