Korean Job Discussion Forums

[maxh1985]

Hello everyone

I have been looking for teaching jobs in S.Korea for some time now and havnt been making much progress. I was wondering if any of you out there could give me some advice.

I am from the UK, have a BA degree in a non teaching subject, 140 hour TEFL cert, not really any teaching experience and have all my documents ready to go.

I just spent the last few weeks applying to EPIK, which took a crazy amount of time and effort. I had the Skype interview. Then a week later i had an email from my recruiter, saying basically 'its a no, and theres no feedback from EPIK because they're so busy. They had a huge number of applicants and not as many posts to fill this year'.

Im just getting worried this isnt a great time to be looking for work in Korea as a beginner teacher - due to how competitive everything is getting now.

Ive had a look at GEPIK, but not too keen on the thought of being somewhere quite remote, with an hour journey to Seoul as my only option to go out and socialse.

As a beginner teacher should I not be getting my hopes up in terms of getting a public school job in a semi decent area or an ok hagwon job in a semi decent area?

This has been my dream for so many years now and I want to do it right. Starting to think I might have to start looking at other countries.

Any advice you could give me would be much appreciated.

thank you for your time.

[Charlie Bourque]

Did you write a cover letter?

Did you do a YouTube introduction video?

Are your CV pictures professional looking?

Are you youthful/good looking?

Did you have anyone with some TESL experience look at your practice lesson plan?


If you said NO to any of these, you might have your answer right there. It could also be that they had already staffed most of the positions before they got to you, or that a local teacher walked into their office shortly after your interview. The later seems more likely than the former.

[maxh1985]

Basically I did everything I was told to by my agency. I had to write a 500-800 word essay on my educational philosophy (guess thats a pretty extensive cover letter?) I wasnt told to produce a youtube cover video, My picture looks professional (shaved, shirt, tie) Im 28 (im no oil painting but nothing too grotesque in my apearance im hoping!) My agency looked over my lesson plan and said it was fine.

Maybe I was quite late in applying, just wish my agency told me it was a long shot before I went through that much hassle and stress.

Thanks for the suggestions any more advice about the job climate in general these days?

[Charlie Bourque]

[Dodge7]

Lol at ESL teaching in Korea becoming fierce competition.

[ttompatz]

[maxh1985]

[maxh1985]

Thanks so much for all the info tom. I know your right, the security and quality of the job does have to come first and foremost. I might just go for GEPIK anyway and see what happens.

Im signed up with a few agencies, but they seem to have gone very quiet now.

As you say, will just have to keep the search as broad as possible and see what comes up.

Thanks again

[watergirl]

Hi
The only thing you've done wrong is too apply late. The public schools, from what I understand, are quite bureaucratic and they hire or start getting the applications in before you started applying. Check with others, but it's much earlier I think.
There are some last minute schools I see (I've been looking at ads lately too but I'm in Korea) but they seem to all ask for people in Korea.
The semester starts in 3 weeks.
Have you considered the big recruiters, because schools will need people throughout the year.
By the way, recruiters are HOrrible to deal with. They really will not tell the truth, but I've seen KORVIA and FOOTPRINTS both put ads up posting that there were still positions.
By the way, as another poster said, being in the 'suburb's of Seoul, is often nicer, easier to meet outher expats, less crowded, nicer and bigger apts, cheaper. REally, Korean suburbs, even an hour out, are not the country by any means. Even the top of ski hills here have a convenience store.
They don't really have 'suburubs' like we do back in our countries.
That said, try to get close to a subway.

[maxh1985]

Thanks watergirl, that makes me feel a bit better! Been starting to feel like I havnt got much hope as a beginner, but ill keep trying. i know what you mean about dealing with recruiters, it can be fustrating at times. Thats reassuring to hear about the surrounding area of Seoul, might be too late for GEPIK now, but could be worth a try

[Lucas]

[young_clinton]

Get licensed in your own country to teach K-12 schools and see how responsive the Taiwan public schools recruiters become to your applications.