Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Smudger]

I'm wondering if anyone has had success by being their own recruiter.

It would take some skill in the Korean language (I have help). Essentially, I was thinking of putting 영어학원 into Google Maps Korea and having my Korean friend cold call the hagwons in my desired location. Are schools ok with being contacted this way? I imagine they'd enjoy saving the recruiting fee. I have teaching experience in Korea but I am back home right now.

[luckylady]

I knew a fellow who approached hakwons in person and always managed to come out ok - but he was there and could see for himself what kind of school it was

some schools advertise on their own - it's not that hard to find one like that, many in fact don't like recruiters either. one of my former directors told me that Koreans don't trust recruiters at all and don't like to use them

you also have to bear in mind the culture of Korea which is leery of things done out of the ordinary - which you are suggesting. just sayin'

[ttompatz]

[Skippy]

I assume you are over seas. You can try and find schools and apply directly. It will be a bit harder since you overseas. The Korean speaker helps.

One you will have to adjust your calling times to reflect the schools hours.
Getting past the gate keeper aka secretary will be hassle. Many schools have numbers but quite often they do not pick up. They are busy or gone. So you may get lots of ringing. So try different times.

Some staff are not known for there critical thinking skills. So if they get a foreign speaker, they will likely get confused and say stuff, then hang up. So try to keep SIMPLE. Treat them like morons and you may have to give multiple tries. Your goal is to find out if they NEED a teacher soon and to get an email or a phone number of a manager or waygook wrangler. Keep it to a couple of question for first introduction. If you get a feeler, try to go indepth later.

Expect some places to want to get you off the phone as they are busy, rushed, or just plain lazy. So you will get yaya's and straight nos, rather then trying to deal with you.

Good Luck.

[Smudger]

Thanks for the replies.

I am back in Canada which is why I tested the Google map route to see what came up....quite a few actually. I'm sure my friend,however, can find one of those labyrinthine Korean websites that would have better contact info for schools. I was going to have my friend (who's in Korea) call and just inquire on my behalf, stressing the fact that they're not a recruiter. Hopefully get an e-mail to send in a resume/document scans to let them know I'm serious.

[Dodge7]

Why, if overseas, would you even try to get a job this way? Take all the hard work out of it and go though a recruiter. You don't have to pay the recruitment fee so why do you care?

[ttompatz]

[Hotpants]

Even better still - why not just apply to schools who are advertising?

Sometimes, you just gotta think outside the box here, man

[iggyb]

I would skip the phone calls since you aren't in Korea. Mailing and emailing resumes will probably get better results.

I got a job like that years ago. It wasn't with a school I'd contacted but one who had gotten my resume from one of them.

I do agree with the others, though. If you have enough money to get their and rough it, it is your best bet if you want to cold call hakwons. Since you've been in Korea before, you know enough -- you'll most likely get offers to do work on the side right away. You could teach a few hours on the side to help pay for your job hunt while you do it.

If you had a spousal visa, cold calling would get you a job quickly.

I was part of the group of NSETs SMOE screwed over when they over booked people 3 or so years ago. I needed to get to Korea to help my wife's family since her father had passed away with terminal cancer - which is why I was heading over in the first place.

So I went to Korea on my own dime and started checking hakwons and recruiters. If I'd had the spousal visa, I'd have been working within a week or two. It took me about three weeks, and I ended up working for SMOE anyway...

Being in country makes it easier. I don't recommend it for newbies, but people with experience in Korea should know enough about it to navigate through even the worst case scenarios.

[Smudger]