Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dmk1967]

I posted this over in the 'newbies' section where it was recommended I post it here, so apologies for the cross posting...

As you may recall, I had posted my story under "never taught children, should I be afraid"...I had a few Skype interviews and email exchanges with a few Korean recruiters; only one has now contacted me with a potential job; I first spoke to him yesterday, he's already set up the call with the school for tomorrow. During our call yesterday he kept stressing the urgency of finding something fast for the February hiring period.

Here's what's bugging me...I actually got called for a job interview here for a job in my old field (graphic design). Interview today went spectacularly (90 min with one guy), but I've had these in the past where I was certain I got the job and end up getting the rejection letter a week later...but of course I keep asking what if this is finally the real thing? I'm so tired of being jerked around, and sure enough he said he "might wanna have you come back and meet with the team" (to which I thought oh fer cryin' out loud, here we go with the 'lead by committee'...someone won't like my hair or my shoes, and I'll be rejected...be a man and hire me without the damned committee's approval!!!). And, of course, if that happens it won't be until after next week because they've got some big meeting taking up the week...*ugh*

I realize I'm probably being silly here, I know this design job will probably fall through like all the others...I lost my home waiting for that to stop happening...but I really need to play this through, just for peace of mind, ya know? So...what if I manage to make a good impression on the phone tomorrow (is it strange that it's not via Skype but by regular phone?)...what sort of timeline would I be dealing with here in a best case scenario? How long does it take from first interview to "they wanna hire you" to "here's the contract"...?

thx all!

[Troglodyte]

If the job in Korea doesn't start until February then I would guess that you won't be heading over for another couple of weeks. They won't bring you over more than a few days (1 week at most) before your start date. It will probably take at least a week for you to get a visa issuance number. If your employer is really on the ball and doesn't procrastinate, here's the timeline you'll be looking at.
1-2 days for them to email you the contract (obviously it's instant but you can gain a day by saying that you didn't check your email right away);
2-3 days for you to send your paperwork there by courier;
3-5 days for the government to process it (employer will email you the VIN for you to go to the embassy with);
Few days for the embassy to process the visa (depends on the consulate/embassy that you go to).
That assumes that they offer you the job right away. It might take them an extra 1-3 days to decide.

If I were you, I'd just accept the job in Korea and wait to see what happens with the graphic design job (but obviously don't tell the recruiter or the school that you're considering other options). If you get the design job, then just tell the school in Korea that you've changed your mind. They'll be annoyed (to put it lightly) but it's totally legal for you to do it. Koreans do it all the time as well. If you don't get the graphic design job, you'll be off to Korea in a few weeks and no one is the wiser.

[dmk1967]

[pmwhittier]

[dmk1967]