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Redstanggt01
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
Location: Florida
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 Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 8:17 pm Post subject: Got my EPIK results in; Failed, looking for other options |
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| I got my EPIK interview results in today and found out that I did not pass, despite how much I put into preparing for it. I'm not really eager to wait another year to apply to EPIK again, so I'm looking to see if there are other options that I can take in Korea. I'd prefer working in a public school, so I'd like to know if there are other ways I can get a public school job for February. If not, I'd consider working in a hagwon. If it does come to working in a hagwon however, what recruiters would you recommend I use? |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2013 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: Got my EPIK results in; Failed, looking for other option |
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| Redstanggt01 wrote: |
| I got my EPIK interview results in today and found out that I did not pass, despite how much I put into preparing for it. |
What happened? Your not a smiling 22 year old with blue eyes. Maybe if you would have taken a TEFL course and copied one of the instructors lesson plans into the application, like a lot of other applicants.
| Redstanggt01 wrote: |
I'm not really eager to wait another year to apply to EPIK again, so I'm looking to see if there are other options that I can take in Korea. I'd prefer working in a public school, so I'd like to know if there are other ways I can get a public school job for February. |
Oh Please, apply for a public school position with one of the none EPIK/GEPIK recruiters. Korean Horizons would be a good start. Don't waste your time with EPIK again. |
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Redstanggt01
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 2:00 am Post subject: Re: Got my EPIK results in; Failed, looking for other option |
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| young_clinton wrote: |
| Redstanggt01 wrote: |
| I got my EPIK interview results in today and found out that I did not pass, despite how much I put into preparing for it. |
What happened? Your not a smiling 22 year old with blue eyes. Maybe if you would have taken a TEFL course and copied one of the instructors lesson plans into the application, like a lot of other applicants.
| Redstanggt01 wrote: |
I'm not really eager to wait another year to apply to EPIK again, so I'm looking to see if there are other options that I can take in Korea. I'd prefer working in a public school, so I'd like to know if there are other ways I can get a public school job for February. |
Oh Please, apply for a public school position with one of the none EPIK/GEPIK recruiters. Korean Horizons would be a good start. Don't waste your time with EPIK again. |
Do you know any other non epik/gepik recruiters that hires for public school positions? Thanks. Also, I had all my documents already ready to submit before I did my interview. That includes my TEFL. I also don't see how the lesson plan really plays into me getting rejected at the interview stage, because they never asked me about it. |
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I'm With You
Joined: 01 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 4:33 am Post subject: Re: Got my EPIK results in; Failed, looking for other option |
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| Redstanggt01 wrote: |
| I got my EPIK interview results in today and found out that I did not pass, despite how much I put into preparing for it. |
JET, the Japanese version of EPIK, is hiring a few thousand more teaches in the next couple of years, according to an article I read recently. With the Olympics coming to Japan in 2020 and low proficiency scores, the government wants to throw a ton of money at hiring more native English speakers to get involved with their program.
Might have been at the Japan Times website or Daily Yomuri, I forget which.
Check it out. Have no personal experience with the program, however. But same shit different pile.
And would pay a hell of a lot more than anything in Korea with good / free housing allowances, etc. |
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Redstanggt01
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:09 am Post subject: |
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| Already applied to JET twice, and both times I haven't made it to the interview stage. Honestly it was a dream of mine to become accepted to the JET program, but I kind of gave up on it after spending about almost two years appling for JET and other positions in Japan, thus I'm looking to Korea to get my foot in the door. |
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modernseoul
Joined: 11 Sep 2011
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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You've been rejected by EPIK once and JET twice, what do you think the issue is?
I understand you'd perfer to work at public school but maybe gaining a years experience working a Hagwon would be the best move. The public school route both here in Korea and in Japan don't seem to be working for you at the moment.
If public school is the only way you wish to go apply to every recruiter you can for something starting in March or wait for the September intake and hope 4th times the charm. Good Luck. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 5:55 pm Post subject: |
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There are always positions opening up as contracts finish mid semester and some teachers quit. Just go through a recruiter and search through Daves and Way gook ads, you'll find something. Even though I had done EPIK for a long time, I doubt I would pass it. Then, again maybe, I would. WHo knows? The interviewers probably have stupid illogical reasons for hiring. I assume you must speak at lengths about your love of Korea, Korean culture, Korean people, and talk about worshipping the ground your co teacher walks on. When I got in, any recruiter would send you to public schools. I only got asked a few questions. One of which was "Did you know Korea has 4 seasons?" Stupid recession!! (Went and ruined everything.)
Yeah, I had read of folks who did 2 or 3 years of EPIK and then wanted to come back and got rejected for the EPIK interview even though they had experience. Strange. Then, I knew another guy who did get re-hired who was 46 years old. I've seen lots of South Africans, Balding people, fat people, etc too. Maybe EPIK doesn't like attractive North Americans anymore. Ha ha. (But it seemed to be rural areas.)
I think a lot of us Korean vets scratch our heads wondering what is going on. There's no logic to hiring processes from what I hear. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Redstanggt01 wrote: |
| Already applied to JET twice, and both times I haven't made it to the interview stage. Honestly it was a dream of mine to become accepted to the JET program, but I kind of gave up on it after spending about almost two years appling for JET and other positions in Japan, thus I'm looking to Korea to get my foot in the door. |
Looks like China or Vietnam for you then.
Both can and do offer jobs with comparable SAVINGS to what you would have in Korea for people who qualify for an E2 and have a TEFL cert.
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juskajo
Joined: 29 Oct 2007
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| What were your qualifications? What happened in the interview like? I'm applying again, after having worked for them a few years back. |
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Redstanggt01
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 4:42 am Post subject: |
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I have a TEFL certfication 120 hours online, have a bit of volunteer experience, and also used my work experience to tie into how in can help into the classroom. I don't have any real teaching experience however. My recruiter gave me a list of questions to study for, which I did thoroughly but there were questions asked in the interview which weren't on the list. The four that I remember are
1.What do you know about technology that can help in a classroom setting?
2. Give us three reasons why EPIK should consider you for a position.
3. Why did you choose those specific professors/supervisors to do your LORS?
4. (If you don't have any teaching experience) You don't seem to have any teaching experience. Do you have any volunteer work that ties in to helping children with English?
5. (If you've just gotten your TEFL fresh, and no experience, I was being close to getting asked this question but the interviewer saw I had my TEFL from November 2012 and changed to another question immediately afterwards). Why are you interested in teaching all of a sudden?
6. They also asked my height and weight in inches and km. Being the American I am, I had to ask her if it was alright to do measurements in feet and pounds. She was fine when I told her my measurements in feet, but when I tried to give her my weight, she got confused.
Also, for the past two years, I wasn't solely focusing on JET. I also applied to other companies such as AEON, Berlitz and Interac. Got rejected from those too. I'm fine with a hagwon, as long as it's an ok one. I'm just hoping to complete my contract in peace, and get some experience under my belt.
Preferably however, if public schools are an option then I'd like to look at what I can do right now. So far I've applied to Korean Horizons, and I have an interview scheduled with them tonight so hopefully they can help me with something. I'm not sure if there are any other recruiters that offer public school positions that aren't EPIK related. |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:48 am Post subject: |
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Bummer but at the end of the day teaching at a hagwon isn't the worst thing in the world (as long as you find a good one.)
If you can't find a public and you have your heart set on Korea then try to find a decent hagwon to teach at, get a years worth of experience and re-apply for public schools.
Trust me, there are some decent hagwon's out there where you do actually teach day in and day out and you're not required to dress up and act like a circus monkey on a daily basis.
From the sounds of it your lack of classroom experience is what's holding you back the most. |
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Redstanggt01
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| Hokie21 wrote: |
Bummer but at the end of the day teaching at a hagwon isn't the worst thing in the world (as long as you find a good one.)
If you can't find a public and you have your heart set on Korea then try to find a decent hagwon to teach at, get a years worth of experience and re-apply for public schools.
Trust me, there are some decent hagwon's out there where you do actually teach day in and day out and you're not required to dress up and act like a circus monkey on a daily basis.
From the sounds of it your lack of classroom experience is what's holding you back the most. |
I know what you mean, and I feel like having little/no experience in regards to teaching is holding me back as well. Its laughable when these public school positions advertise as no experience necessary, yet ask about it repeatedly in interviews and you end up not getting accepted because other applicants ahead of you have that experience. It's especially a struggle in Japan because a lot of teachers working in that country do have experience, and that's what you're going up against.
Also in the interview, I only had one day to prepare, even though my recruiter told me that EPIK usually gives you a week or more to get ready for the interview. I had to fake sick at work just to be able to do so. Not something I would ever do under normal circumstances, but in that situation I didn't have a choice. |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:15 am Post subject: |
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| Redstanggt01 wrote: |
| Hokie21 wrote: |
Bummer but at the end of the day teaching at a hagwon isn't the worst thing in the world (as long as you find a good one.)
If you can't find a public and you have your heart set on Korea then try to find a decent hagwon to teach at, get a years worth of experience and re-apply for public schools.
Trust me, there are some decent hagwon's out there where you do actually teach day in and day out and you're not required to dress up and act like a circus monkey on a daily basis.
From the sounds of it your lack of classroom experience is what's holding you back the most. |
I know what you mean, and I feel like having little/no experience in regards to teaching is holding me back as well. Its laughable when these public school positions advertise as no experience necessary, yet ask about it repeatedly in interviews and you end up not getting accepted because other applicants ahead of you have that experience. It's especially a struggle in Japan because a lot of teachers working in that country do have experience, and that's what you're going up against.
Also in the interview, I only had one day to prepare, even though my recruiter told me that EPIK usually gives you a week or more to get ready for the interview. I had to fake sick at work just to be able to do so. Not something I would ever do under normal circumstances, but in that situation I didn't have a choice. |
When the economy is struggling in western countries you see an influx of people returning to Korea/Japan etc to teach. These are the people you're competing against for these jobs. So maybe it's not "required" to have previous teaching experience but if you're competing against other candidates with experience you're at a bit of a disadvantage. Keep trying though you'll find something.
And like I said, there are a lot of decent hagwons out there, people come online to complain about things, they rarely come online to give praise, hence the in-proportionate amount of disdain for hagwons. |
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Redstanggt01
Joined: 08 Sep 2013
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:47 am Post subject: |
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| Hokie21 wrote: |
| Redstanggt01 wrote: |
| Hokie21 wrote: |
Bummer but at the end of the day teaching at a hagwon isn't the worst thing in the world (as long as you find a good one.)
If you can't find a public and you have your heart set on Korea then try to find a decent hagwon to teach at, get a years worth of experience and re-apply for public schools.
Trust me, there are some decent hagwon's out there where you do actually teach day in and day out and you're not required to dress up and act like a circus monkey on a daily basis.
From the sounds of it your lack of classroom experience is what's holding you back the most. |
I know what you mean, and I feel like having little/no experience in regards to teaching is holding me back as well. Its laughable when these public school positions advertise as no experience necessary, yet ask about it repeatedly in interviews and you end up not getting accepted because other applicants ahead of you have that experience. It's especially a struggle in Japan because a lot of teachers working in that country do have experience, and that's what you're going up against.
Also in the interview, I only had one day to prepare, even though my recruiter told me that EPIK usually gives you a week or more to get ready for the interview. I had to fake sick at work just to be able to do so. Not something I would ever do under normal circumstances, but in that situation I didn't have a choice. |
When the economy is struggling in western countries you see an influx of people returning to Korea/Japan etc to teach. These are the people you're competing against for these jobs. So maybe it's not "required" to have previous teaching experience but if you're competing against other candidates with experience you're at a bit of a disadvantage. Keep trying though you'll find something.
And like I said, there are a lot of decent hagwons out there, people come online to complain about things, they rarely come online to give praise, hence the in-proportionate amount of disdain for hagwons. |
Also take into account there are some people who are working in hagwons that have never worked a real full-time job before in their lives.. |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:02 am Post subject: |
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| Redstanggt01 wrote: |
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| Redstanggt01 wrote: |
| Hokie21 wrote: |
Bummer but at the end of the day teaching at a hagwon isn't the worst thing in the world (as long as you find a good one.)
If you can't find a public and you have your heart set on Korea then try to find a decent hagwon to teach at, get a years worth of experience and re-apply for public schools.
Trust me, there are some decent hagwon's out there where you do actually teach day in and day out and you're not required to dress up and act like a circus monkey on a daily basis.
From the sounds of it your lack of classroom experience is what's holding you back the most. |
I know what you mean, and I feel like having little/no experience in regards to teaching is holding me back as well. Its laughable when these public school positions advertise as no experience necessary, yet ask about it repeatedly in interviews and you end up not getting accepted because other applicants ahead of you have that experience. It's especially a struggle in Japan because a lot of teachers working in that country do have experience, and that's what you're going up against.
Also in the interview, I only had one day to prepare, even though my recruiter told me that EPIK usually gives you a week or more to get ready for the interview. I had to fake sick at work just to be able to do so. Not something I would ever do under normal circumstances, but in that situation I didn't have a choice. |
When the economy is struggling in western countries you see an influx of people returning to Korea/Japan etc to teach. These are the people you're competing against for these jobs. So maybe it's not "required" to have previous teaching experience but if you're competing against other candidates with experience you're at a bit of a disadvantage. Keep trying though you'll find something.
And like I said, there are a lot of decent hagwons out there, people come online to complain about things, they rarely come online to give praise, hence the in-proportionate amount of disdain for hagwons. |
Also take into account there are some people who are working in hagwons that have never worked a real full-time job before in their lives.. |
Agreed but the same goes for public school teachers as well in Korea. When I went over to Korea back in 2011 I had just left the pharmaceutical industry, absolutely hated it. So while I was only in my late 20's I was still one of the older teachers at the school and one of the few with real job experience. A bunch of the other teachers were fresh out of college. |
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