Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mozsmith]

Hello all

I am considering a move to Korea at some point in the future (mostly for a change of scenery but also a career break/change) and would just like to get a feel for what to expect and aim for.

I am mid-thirties, native English speaker, and have bachelors, masters and PhD (another story...), although none of which are in English. I hold a TEFL cert and have one years' experience in Europe (some years back in between the degrees).

My apologies for being blunt but which positions give the best deal in terms of fewer hours/longer holidays and better pay? Would I need an MA TESOL etc. or would my non-English related masters and PhD be given some credit?

Thanks for any help and advice. Cheers.

[modernseoul]

A public school role gives you the lowest hours and longest holidays in general.
Universities are also great but I think you'd find it hard to land a role like that without experience.

[comm]

[Mozsmith]

Many thanks for the responses. Would Dave's be the best website to search for university and public school positions?

Cheers.

[thrylos]

Dave's is the best for ESL jobs, both PS and uni.

With a PhD, you can also troll http://www.higheredjobs.com/ which post visiting professor jobs at K-unis by department specialty. Look under "international" and "South Korea".

Just keep in mind that about 50-60% of the time, you'd still be doing "language" teaching, as most colleagues that I know in that racket are doing.

[PatrickGHBusan]

With a PhD you could apply for a teaching position in a Korean University in your area of studies if such jobs are available. You would not be teaching English per se.

Note that applying for a University position from abroad will reduces your chances. Also note that most Universities hire from November to January for the March semester start and some do hire in the late spring for a september start.

If you aim for an English Instructor position at a University, you will be severely disadvantaged applying from abroad.

PS positions may be an option. If you aim for EPIK, I suggest a recruiter that works with that program or applying directly through their website. I am not sure if they are still recruiting for september starts.

Hakwons could be an option but if you want to work in the better ones, honestly you will need contacts. Going through recruiters will not net you job offers from the better Hakwons who would pay for your qualifications.

Now, it all depends on what your aim is here. If you wish to stay for the mid-term, say 2-4 years, then you could accept a job that is not ideal but that gets you on the ground in Korea. Then, you network and apply locally the next year with better odds at finding what you want.

[lemak]

What kind of grim situation it's become back home that PhD holders are required to come to Korea to teach "A is for apple" and the "Jack's a Mechanic" song to elementary aged nose pickers in PS and hagwon gigs.
Most of us had better start brushing up on our dishwashing skills if we ever hope to be employed back home again.

[Mozsmith]

[mayorhaggar]

If you don't want to deal with the university hiring process from abroad, it might be worth doing a year with EPIK and building up contacts in Korea to transition to a university job. Lots of EPIK teachers get a master's in ESL and transition to university ESL teaching, I'd look into what jobs your PhD would make you eligible for.

In terms of EPIK (or other public school jobs) versus hagwons, public is definitely a bit cushier in terms of benefits and vacation days. However, it's a complete gamble in terms of where you will end up, with EPIK you will be assigned a province but you won't know which town until towards the end of orientation, so you could end up in a tiny isolated cow town or a big city. If you want a city then it might make sense to apply to Incheon, which has its own public school ESL program that is separate from EPIK and GEPIK. Also with public schools you're pretty protected from suddenly being fired for no good reason.

With hagwons everything depends on how successful the place is--you'll hear a lot of stories about hagwons suddenly shutting down or not paying salaries regularly. You'll be working afternoons and evenings instead of 8:30 to 5 like at a public school. But you have more autonomy in terms of picking the location, so let's say if you really really wanted to live in Busan but couldn't get accepted there with EPIK, a hagwon there might be the only option.

[augustine]

Yo, mayorhaggar, this is the second thread in a row where you advised someone with a masters degree (and in this case a PhD) to consider working for EPIK. That's dumb as hell. Reminds me of some snobby dude who, when I asked where he worked, said, "Oh, I'm with EPIK, bro" like it was some prestigious position to hold. Get a real job with those creds OP.

[mayorhaggar]

Yo, augustine, it's their life and they can teach with EPIK if they want. Not every master's degree will easily line up with a job in the US or in Korea, and EPIK might be a good way to spend a year experiencing Korea and networking one's way into something bigger. It's up to them. I don't even know what his PhD is in. If it's computer science or ESL then yeah EPIK's probably not a step up. If it's in something not in demand like history then EPIK might be a decent choice.

[augustine]

You sound exactly like that guy I mentioned and you're giving bad advice, even though the people you're giving it to will hopefully be smart and not take it. Isn't EPIK deal with positions outside of Seoul and throw you where they want to? Advocating for people with advanced degrees taking jobs that are way below them and wind up with their asses getting thrown in the middle of small town Korea is foolish. Sorry company boy! Enjoy boonies.