Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Glorf]

I'm a college senior scheduled to graduate with a B.A. in History (minoring in Political Science) early this May, and I plan to take a year off teaching in Korea before I go back to school and finish up. I'm hoping to get some advice about the situation there.

From browsing these boards and remembering the advice of an ESOL Professor at my college (they did away with the department in an attempt at making this an all-white, all-athlete school, but that's another story), that I'll have to just keep in mind that my purpose there is to make some rich guy richer and enjoy immersion in another culture while I'm not at work. That's perfectly fine by me, since I'm burned out at the moment and have been dying to experience Korea for a couple of years (growing up lower middle class tends to hold me back sometimes, but I think I'm happier for having learned to appreciate things). First off, I guess there's my big concern.

Having grown up in Nashville, Tennessee, I have a little bit of a Southern accent. After spending the past two summers with a sibling in Philadelphia, it's not nearly as bad as it was, but is still there. I've heard that can make it more difficult to find a job, and I'm curious how much of an issue that will be.

Since I know race and gender can also play an important role, I'm assuming I should also point out that I'm a Caucasian male. I'm hoping that my gender won't play too much of a negative role after what's recently happened. Beyond that, I'm curious exactly what I should expect in terms of working conditions, hours, wages, etc. It seems that airfare is typically covered by employers, so I'm not going to worry too much about that, but I have no certain idea what to expect in terms of wages and working hours. I've seen one or two threads here about unknowing Americans getting screwed over and not realizing this until they've signed contracts and been working a little while, so I just thought I'd ask everyone here what to expect, and what types of wages and hours I should aim for.

I'm also curious what people here who have worked in Korea think of the virtues of working for hagwons (sp?), and whether or not it would be wise to use a recruiter.

Lastly, I'm hoping to get a job in or near Seoul (as if noone ever wants that) and was wondering about the likelihood of that. I've heard it's hard if you're starting off, but one of my Korean friends (I have several that have come to the US as exchange students over the years) recommended looking into work in a nearby place she said would either be spelled as Bun-Dang or Pun-Dang in English, and thought I'd at least inquire here. Regardless of whether or not I get any advice, I appreciate people who have been there a while at least looking over this.

[Derrek]

Bundang.

Yes, I live and work here. It's south of Seoul, and is one of the richer suburb areas around. Nice place to live, but little nightlife (people take a 30 to 40 minute bus or subway ride to Kangnam for that).

I've been working here at a girls' high school for over a year now. It's a good place to look for work, and you'll find a lot of opportunities here. Just stay away from CIE, which I only read bad things about. Possibly also POLY, because I also hear bad things. You can look here on Dave's or on www.worknplay.co.kr for jobs.

Don't worry about the Southern accent. I have heard of several guy working here with that.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I agree that your accent will not be a problem, for two reasons. Koreans often do prefer a North American accent, but several years ago started hiring people from any native English speaking country. Secondly, most Koreans can't detect an accent. There are some non-native speakers with passports from English speaking countries who have found work and the Koreans seem to be none the wiser.

Your gender is also not a problem. Some places specifically want young blond women and most would like to have them, but there aren't enough to go around, so nearly everywhere settles for males.

Most people find work in hakwons/hogwans/hogwons (no one really knows how to spell it--the prefered spelling seems to be hog+won because the boss hogs all the won).

Some basic hakwon info:

*most work 120 hours a month (about 6 hours a day)

* some hakwons have block shifts, meaning all 6 hours are in one block, 2pm to 8 pm, for example. Those would almost all be jobs teaching kids.

* some hakwons have split shifts, meaning you teach a couple of classes early in the morning, go home and return in mid-to late afternoon and teach again. These are often a mix, adults early in the morning, kids in the afternoon and adults again at night.

* the going rate for hakwon work is around 1.9 million won. (With the conversion rate being near W1,000 to $1, that's a bit under $2,000 a month.

* all hakwons offer free housing. It is possible to demand that it be private housing. The apts are tiny, usually. Think your bedroom at home or a dorm room.

* You would be responsible for your utilities and phone, food. Throw in entertainment and you should still expect to save about 50% of your salary.

* Expect to pay 1/2 of your health insurance cost (about W35,000/month)

* Recruiters are a mixed bag. All of them make their money by making a placement, any placement, anywhere. If the employer is good, the job is good. The recruiters really have no influence. Some try to work with reputable schools, but other recruiters don't care.

* The screwing you hear about is real. If you lose in the crap shoot and get a hakwon owner from hades, it is fairly difficult to quit. You are kind of trapped for the duration of the contract. Keep in mind that you are also living in a apt paid for by someone else. If you leave the job or get fired, you also have to leave the apt immediately.

* Probably the safest hakwon jobs are with the big chains, like Pagoda. I'm not saying they are a workers paradise.

* Most people agree that your best bet in finding a good job is to come to Korea on your own dime and search once you arrive. This is the best way, if it is financially feasible for you.

* There are other job opportunities. There will be some public school jobs (middle school and high school) and university jobs starting in late August. Not many, but some. The school year here begins in March, but some teachers bail at the end of the semester. You might want to consider those jobs.

* Seoul will be no problem. It's the most popular destination for foreign teachers, but the demand is greater than the supply. If you buy a ticket on the subway and just ride around and around all day, sooner or later someone will offer you a job.

* Advantages of hakwon jobs: small classes of often highly unmotivated kids; small classes of highly motivated adults. Disadvantage: a certain percentage of unscrupulous owners.
Public school jobs: large classes of highly unmotivated kids. No worry about being paid.

That's all I can think of. Good luck.

[JacktheCat]

[Southern Drawl]

I've been here for a few years and I haven't had any problems comin from the south.

Just take a look at my name!!!

[ptewkesb]

Hey, Rocky Top, I am *so* glad you asked about the Southern accent. I've been wondering the same thing and worrying that my own accent (which is pretty hard to hide for too long) would affect the job hunt in Korea. It sure has in the U. S.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Probably the only people who will make fun of you are Americans from teh North and Canadians.

[LOGON17]

I ma from South Carolina and I have had no problems here. Being a white male does not hurt either. It is more about how you relate to students and how effective you are as a teacher. Do not let the superficial stop you. If you feel you have the skill and the ability to teach, then come on over. The worst that could happne is that you would have to go back home.

[Tiger Beer]

[Emu Bitter]

I've been in Korea for 5 years, with an Aussie accent, no problem with students. My wife's from Louisiana, also no probs.
In my time here, I'm come across all sorts of accents, you've got nothing to worry about there mate.

[Glorf]

Thanks everyone. I would've replied a while back, but last week was one of those times that senioritis was taking full effect (as if it's really going to let up at this point). After living on campus for four years (aka too dependent on government financial aid to move into an off-campus apartment) I seriously doubt that type of housing will bother me. Right now it feels more like home than home does.

I really appreciate the advice on some of the hogwans, and I'm curious if I might be better off just applying directly to hogwans. I'm noticing that nearly all of the jobs posted here are from recruiters, and I'd rather avoid that if I can. In other news, I found out the other day that an old roommate (Korean, and more like a brother than anything else) is working in Bundang, and since everyone here seems to think it's a solid place, that's where I'm going to try to land work. Are there any hogwans that people here would recommend applying directly to? Since I'm new to this, I don't really know the names of any other than Pagoda and Like School ( a friend of mine's girl has family that run some for that one). Thanks again for all of the input from everyone.