Korean Job Discussion Forums

yakey · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Location: Korea

I got offered an interview at one of the top 3 universities in Korea, in Seoul.

Anyway, the line they gave me was, "We'll see you at xxxx time, and by the way, the interview committee wasn't impressed with your resume at all."

I thought it was soooooooooooooooooo unprofessional. If you have concerns, please give them to me at the interview.

I was sure it was a set-up for failure, so I didn't go. I never had a chance with that intro line. And I'm in the middle of a camp as well and wasn't about to lose that cash for the doomsday interview.

I mean, I've had some real kooks in Korea ask me some unprofessional interview info, like, "Please tell me about your romance." What does that have to do with my teaching ability? But this one really stinks.

They may be he Harvard of Korea, but they have the manners of an alley cat.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Ok, but what did they say about how your photo looks?

You're getting an interview for some reason, right?

There's also the odd chance that the guy that fed you the line, has a favorite or a friend that he's aiming to line up for this job and wants to weed out the competition. I'd believe something like that over something than 'oh, come on in to our interview, so we can waste yours, mine, and everyone elses time, just to reject you.'

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

I worked with a guy who has a PhD and he told me that while working at another uni he was asked to come in for an interview at Yonsei. So he goes, and:

A: The main person was an hour late.
B: They asked him some unrelated questions.
C: They thanked him and told him to go back to his hogwan. He reminded them that he has a PhD and was working at a uni, at which the nodded their heads.

He was not happy about how unprofessional, and rude they were.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

First, were you speaking with one of the members of the hiring committee? If so, you might have responded by asking her/him what the problems were with the resume and if s/he thought it would hurt your chances of getting a position with them.

It might have been a good idea to obtain more info on what was going on with your application as the comment about your resume seems kind of vague, doesn't it.

I know, from frist-hand experience, that some people at universities will call you in for an interview knowing they would not give you a job.

True story....

I was having a beer this past summer at an Indonesian pub and ran into a Canadian guy that was on one of the hiring panels at a university I had applied at in the summer of 2003.

Anyways, we get to talking and he tells me, in confidence, that the director new he wasn't going to hire me even before I arrived.

He told me that the guy simply had to 'go through the motions' and that he had already decided who he was going to hire.

My ears were burning.

Good luck.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

True story:

My university invited five people to the second round of interviews in November.

Only two showed up.

There were three jobs available, so we are going to be short-staffed by one person for the next year.

All you had to do was show up.

You didn't go because you needed your hundred bucks from a camp.

Enjoy your time with the kids.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:52 pm Post subject:

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Gollum · Joined: 04 Sep 2003 Location: Japan

Some Koreans have the "tear you down" mentality before offering you anything, so they can make you seem worth less.

No joke.

After a year of teaching where the school was telling us from all directions that they were very happy with all of us, and wanted us to return, the nob who negotiates with us tells us all one-by-one why they have to either cut back on our contract or not allow a pay raise. For example: Oh... you don't have a TESL degree, so we're not even sure we can hire you back, etc.

It's a negotiation tactic, sometimes.

You have to understand that seminars are now held where "tricks and tactics" for dealing with/hiring foreign teachers are taught. I was informed of this by a Korean co-worker, and have heard others mention it on this board. The more we work together to talk about it, the better we can deal with it individually.

If anyone has any additional suggestions on how to deal with this tactic, please post. The best comeback I had off-the-cuff was to remind them that it was a pain in the butt for them to hire someone they were happy with, and since they were happy with me, they'd better meet my small desires, or I'd leave.

yakey · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Location: Korea

I would've lost 2+ million by opting out of this camp. I've already received an initial payment of 1 mil. I'm really enjoying myself and being treated with a lot of respect. It's a good place to be. I think a lot about jobs is how you fit into a situation, and if it feels good and the money's all right, then no matter what others think. I've got a spot at a small college in the megapolis, and I'm happy with that too. So I'm going to opt for another year as the big fish in the small pond. And you can't beat a 10-minute ride to work, which I now have. That makes a lot of difference to me.

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

For KOTESL I was asked by my boss to talk to any foreigners who were interested in working at our university. Even though I could not hire anyone, my boss did ask me who was worth looking at.
What I'm trying to say is that if a school has nothing to hide, why not send a foreigner to these fairs to answer questions, and talk about the school; no tricks or tactics, just straight forward questions and answers.

DirtySanchez · Joined: 26 Mar 2004 Location: Neither here nor there