Korean Job Discussion Forums

Boba75 · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

Hey everyone, I'm a newbie looking to teach in Korea. I'm being pursued by We Can Fly(dir. MR. Park) in Chang won and by Kate from ETEC agency for several positions, primarily one in Pusan at the Briton Junior English Institute. Has anyone worked for either or know of them? Can anyone lead me in the right direction. Also, they both have said that the my original university diploma has to be sent in order for employment? I really don't feel comfortable sending it. I've never heard of anything like this before? Is this standard?
I am a NJ certified teacher(5years exp. in Bilingual/ESL), and I have a TESOL/ESL certification. Does this matter in salary requirements? (both are offering 2million won, yet say "negotiable").

Thanks for your time and help. Boba

jinks · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Location: Formerly: Lower North Island

Rather_Dashing · Joined: 07 Sep 2004

Jinks is giving good advice. Send notarized copies...

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Yes, do *not* send them your original, and if they insist, it's probably a sign that you should find a different employer. If you do, be sure you can get a replacement from your uni without too much trouble.

pdxsteve · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Bundang

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

FYI- Requests to send your original are their way of ensuring some collateral with overseas applicants. Every recruiter has probably received the 11th hour email from a teacher, right before their documents go to Immigration (or sometimes even after), and the teacher backs out on them for another late-breaking deal. They are banking on that having the original degree sitting in their hands could influence and play out in their favor, if/when the teacher suddenly begins mulling a late counter offer from another recruiter/school. Nothing is more worse to a recruiter than having to go back to a school at the 11th hour, 12th hour, or especially the 13th hour, with their tail hanging between their legs and having to say 'uhh..you remember that teacher that I introduced...?' From a recruiter and school's perspective, a teacher is never 100% until they see them walking into the arrivals concourse at the airport.

Sending notarized degrees helps you from a leverage POV, plus the whole safe-keeping element of it.

desultude · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:04 am Post subject:

For a price, you can generally get as many "originals" as you need from your school where you were graduated.

I just got several the first time. If a school is real serious, I send one. What am I out? I don't remember how much it cost, but it was way less than $20.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Some people attended Univs that only make degrees 2 times a year.... make sure you can get copies quickly, and do it before coming here. Always have an extra or two on hand.

I was in a bind once because my degree was "lost" by the recruiter.... bull. They stole it and hoped to use it as collateral, or gave it to my school as such. I know for a fact that some schools hold on to your degree and lie, because they know you need a degree to get a new job.

It's a dirty tactic, but one you can avoid by having an extra copy ready.

guangho · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 8:13 am Post subject:

Just a note about notarized copies- you can only get them if you go to the Korean consulate IN THE REGION YOU GRADUATED FROM. I graduated from a school in Tennessee and was told by the K Embassy in New York that they will not notarize my degree- only the Atlanta office will. I sent in my degree and just got it back yesterday- a month after I came here and 2 months after mailing it, because I pestered them about it long enough.

teachmeenglish · Joined: 14 Dec 2004

Just a note about getting it done in the area you graduated from, I graduated from UBC (Vancouver Canada) and just got 6 copies done at the Korean embasy in Beijing, PRC so I dont know what BS the New york branch was giving. But to confirm what others others have said NEVER NEVER send your original degree NEVER.

textin · Joined: 12 May 2004

It is a common form of security for Korean employers to ask for original documents, eg) passports and degrees but you are not required to send originals by law. Certified copies will do.

If you get the sense that you are being manipulated...then yes, look for someone else as they will be dishonest from the start to finish.

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:36 am Post subject:

Don't send your original diploma. My director is a nice guy but he "lost" mine, which is very typical I've heard.

Sure enough, when I recently contacted my university to get a new degree parchment, I was told many grads have had similar problems with "lost" degrees in Korea.

Send a notorized copy, and only give your degree with a receipt given in person.