Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dodge7]

I've been going to a couple international schools websites that I found from Google, but they weren't really hiring. It seems these jobs are pretty hard to get. I meet the requirements and would like to work at one of these schools and get out of the "hagwon atmosphere".

Anyone know who to contact for these types of schools?

[PatrickGHBusan]

Your best bet is to visit the websites for the school, find the prospective employee page, read the requirements and procedures and apply during their hiring season.

You could be proactive and visit a few schools in person to drop off your application, email the principal to initiate contact...you know...network a bit.

If you have the qualifications and some good referenced experience it is just a matter of presenting your application profesionally and sending it in at the proper time. Note that applying out of hiring season typically means your file goes to the deep six folder...ie it gets trashed.

A long time acquaintance of ours worked at an International School in Seoul and he liked it. The contract was for 2 years and he was paid well. Note however that the duties can be heavy and include extra-curricular duties such as a study club, events, lots of grading, meetings and so on.

[Dodge7]

Well the extra-curricular stuff is to be expected, but if I'm paid extra for it, it's ok. So I guess what you're saying is no, there are no recruiters and I would have to just go by the schools' websites. Looks like a ton of time scouting schools and going through applications. Not my idea of fun considering the success rate of blindly submitting apps looking for an interview.
Thanks anyway.

[Drew345]

These are no Korea specific, but just in case you don't have these links, I put them here for reference:

http://www.ibo.org (apply to individual schools and not the IBO)
http://www.tieonline.com/
http://www.searchassociates.com/
http://www.tes.co.uk/jobs/ (pick a region of the planet)

[Dodge7]

[Mr. Pink]

[Canadian Club]

Hiring season is December-February plus a few stragglers in March. If you don't have the work ethic to go through the process of applying to these schools, then you probably don't have the work ethic required to be successful working there.

Good luck. International schools (the good ones anyway) have a professional atmosphere and you have to work hard. The schools will want minimum 2 years of experience in their curriculum (IB or AP). You could always start at a third tier one and work your way upwards, but without International School experience, I doubt you'd get into SFS, Dwight, Chadwich, or Dulwich.

You can also buy a membership to International Schools Review if you want some candid comments about teachers from each school.

[Dodge7]

I do not have international school experience and I only taught one year in the States before coming to Korea. Oops, guess I don't meet the requirements. Maybe they'll consider me anyway. It would be hard to sub in these schools because I have a day job that I can't take off from whenever I want.

The last two responses were very helpful, though. Thank you.

[Canadian Club]

If you have a year in the states, then go for a second or third tier school, and try to get some relevant PD before the next hiring season.

[MiXX]

[Canadian Club]

If you're feeling adventurous, look up QSI schools. It would likely be a crazy year, but a cool location and a foot in the door.

[PatrickGHBusan]

To to support what was said before: the extra curricular duties are NOT paid extra, they are considered part of your teaching duties and hence coverer by your basic salary.

In fact, if you worked in the Us in a Public School before, you know how things are for teachers! When I was teaching in Ontatrio before goign to Korea extra curricular activities (study clubs, the travel project group and so on) were NOT paid extra, nor was grading which I routinely did at home.

The flip side is that you end up working in a more formal and professionnal environement.