Korean Job Discussion Forums

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

I am a British national and new to the whole TEFL game. I'm trying to make sure that i don't end up in a nightmare job situation, so does anyone know of a decent UK based recruiter?

Cohiba · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

If you don't want to get burned, then don't use a recruiter.
There has never been a greater hive of scum and villainy
than the recruiter clique.

Things to consider:

1/ Come here on a tourist visa and visit prospective schools.
Talk to curent teachers. See your apartment.

2/ Post here for Brits(or anyone else) who works at a school
who needs a new teacher.

3/ Become a plumber, better money and hours.

hellsbells · Joined: 24 Aug 2005

Before I came here, I considered using Huntesl, a British company, that seem very reputable. Google for their website. The man who interviewed me, who I think owns the company, was very informative and helpful - he'd lived here so he knew his stuff.

But he did say it would be quite hard for me to get a job in central Seoul and he was talking lots about other cities. I knew I wanted to be in a big city and was 90 percent sure it had to be Seoul.

You also have to hand over your entire job search to them. They want all your documents and they do the looking on your behalf.

So, after talking to them, I carried on looking and got myself a job at YBM by applying directly to them. And now I live and work in central Seoul - perfect.

So, they weren't right for me - but they might be good for you.

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

Go with Work 'n' Play, they advertise a load of jobs on here and tbh I've never come across a person who has had any problems with them. Its 5months in and i still get the occasional email from my recruiter seeing if there is anything I have problems with which I think is impressive. Seoul is relatively difficult to get into without an American accent unless you are here already, but plenty of nearby towns allow very doable commutes into Seoul so its not the end of the world.

thursdays child · Joined: 21 Sep 2005

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teachmeenglish · Joined: 14 Dec 2004

If you are in the UK the best recruiter is BA, as in British Airways. Fly over and find your own position. I second the scum comments above...

hypnotist · Joined: 04 Dec 2004 Location: I wish I were a sock

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

BA do fly to Seoul - just not directly.. they do code share with Cathay Pacific or JAL.

plato's republic · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Location: Ancient Greece

I was also looking for a British based recruiting company earlier this year before I came to Korea and I contacted HuntESL. They then sent my details to a Korean recruiting company called EnglishWork who promised to call me but never did. Needless to say, I looked elsewhere and found my present job through a Korean recruiter based in Seoul.
Moral of the story:All recruiters are basically the same. They all make the same promises but often fail to deliver the goods either because they can't or don't care.

ejmlab · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Location: Pohang

Check out http://www.flying-cows.com/

I worked with the woman who started this company and she is honest, caring and reliable. I'm sure she'd be able to help you out.

Cheers

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

I used footprints in Canada. They've got Hakwon and public school things available; not sure about other kinds of jobs (adult, university). So perhaps there are recruiter opportunities abroad that will take Brits, as was the case with me and several people from the Republic of Ireland that I know?

I would also treat the people who say you should fly over to Seoul and look for a job with caution. It's a nonsense IMO for people who've been here a while to say that to someone who doesn't know Seoul. Any new city, or metropolis, is a giant dog's breakfast when you first arrive and it's difficult enough finding somewhere appropriate to sleep for a few weeks or ordering lunch, let alone enquire about jobs. You'll also have to do a visa run and find your embassy in a Japanese city, having made your own way there from a Japanese airport. If you've got the balls, do it, but don't feel bad if that sounds unrealistic. I wonder how many people who say "come over on a tourist visa and look for a job" actually did that themselves....

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

Some interesting replies there. I have decided to go with a company called Longbridge Pacific. Anyone heard of them?