Korean Job Discussion Forums

[denz]

[background]
as some of you know, i've been looking for work for a few weeks now. trying desperately to avoid kindy type schools or massive split shifts. basically need cash after my massive e5/e7 visa failure. <sob> but would also love a position that allows me some free time to study korean. (apparently it helps with the parents)
[/background]

[rant]
my gripe? there are several schools/positions that have been recommended to me. perfect positions for me (and likewise for the school), but these schools refuse to interview me on the grounds that i am an australian.
[/rant]

[baffled]
i just find it very difficult to fathom that some punk canadian/american on a 6 month jaunt from thailand to boost his funds and get some poontang is somehow more palatable than me.
[/baffled]

[disclaimer]
not to suggest that even a modicum of north americans are like this, but in the grand scheme of things, i.e: denz versus joe "koh samui/nana plaza" quarterback. denz loses. truly baffling.
[/disclaimer]

so screw you guys, i'm going home.

denz

[crazylemongirl]

Denz,
Sorry to hear that your leaving. The whole american bias when schools are hiring sucks big time.

All the best for the future,
CLG

[denz]

who said i am leaving? love it. i'll stick around. still baffled though.

home is where your heart is. which only sucks if you are the tinman.

rock and or roll

denz

[crazylemongirl]

This

[Michelle]

Hi,

Being an Australian myself I feel too that it is a shocking and sad state of affairs.

I also think you had a run of bad luck (poor thing) as I haven't had much trouble finding jobs.

D'oh, D'oh. I can see how this would sour you on staying in Korea.

I hope you found somewhere in the end.

Cheers Mate,

[chi-chi]

I don't get it either.
Many Koreans hate Americans-seriously-but there is a preference for hiring Americans?
(Btw this is not anti-American, as I am one myself.) But I get what you're saying. South Africans have it even worse-I've met plenty in Taiwan, but none in Korea, although their country's official language is English.
Anyway it's just more Korea schizo-type logic. Hope you find a good job, man.

[denz]

[itaewonguy]

dude just do what I do!
say you are canadian!!
you think the korean WONJUNGNIM can tell the difference?

if someone says you sound like Aussie or kiwi.. just ohh really wow ok!
then say are you from Pusan? she/he will say NO!!
ohh you sound like country style sorry!

works for me!!
that shuts them up everytime!!

just like when koreans assume I am American because I am white!!
Hello are you American??
noo sorry I am not!!!

Are you japanese???
NO!! IM KOREAN!!! ohh ok I thought you were Japanese...

hahaahaaha..
anyway dude those are come backs if you need them and you cant be stuffed dealing with any BS!!

but if you want to work some part times , privates, just say you're canadian!!! you'll be right!!!
THEY HAVE NO CLUE!!!
trust me!! 6 years ago one of my first part time jobs at ummmmm
DING DING DANG in pusan I think, the boss had graduated from Queensland UNI, I told him I am Australian also I lived 8 years in sydney
I was fired the next day, my recruiter told me, did you tell the WONGJUNG you are AUSSIE?? im like yeah so?
she said if you want to work in Korea please dont say that!!
say you are canadian or American ok!!!
im like ok!! ever since im canadian, hahahhaa I thought the capital was toronto until 3 years ago, I went three years thinking the capital was toronto, until someone told me it was ottawa!! hahaaaa
still im all sweet one!!
because these koreans first thing they ask!! WHERE ARE YOU FROM??
once I say canada!! they move to the next question!!
then its how long you been here!!
then its are you free these days!!
then its can I meet you!!

if you say im KIWI or AUSSIE on question 1, you're over!!
chances are pretty slim, not impossible of course, but slim,..

so there you go!!! white lie never killed anyone!!
I dont lose sleep over it!!
and who loses anyway!! what little MR KIM'S kid because an aussie or kiwi teaches him to speak, write English!!

when are these koreans gonna wake up and realise that their kids ARE NOT GOING TO SPEAK LIKE US!!!! doesnt matter if an American teaches him a few hours a week or a kiwi, the kid will never speak like a native!
BECAUSE HE ISNT ONE!!!!
unless he moves Abroad and lives their half his life!!!
they just dont understand this!!!
I tell them so a TEXAN with a real cowboy accent is better than an Australian or New Zealander???
I have heard some Americans I cant even understand!!!

[Nabi]

itaewonguy, how do you explain the Aussie/Kiwi etc. passport to a potential employer?

[gang ah jee]

I've had to take so many 'accent tests' just to get interviews.

it was so annoying at my current school - right before I started classes my boss told me 'oh, sorry, but I told them you're Canadian.' I've had to spend an entire year pretending to be a street-sleeping canuck. The accent I don't mind so much, and it's quite fun making up trash about Canada off the top of my head for the students. But still. I feel like I'm betraying my homeland.

Contract finishes in a couple of days. I'm getting ready to reveal my true origins. will be going in for my last day in gumboots, stubbies and a black singlet.

[GirlFromMars]

i'm an aussie in portugal and people all assume you are english, ie from england, and the employers prefer a british accent... it's very difficult for americans to get jobs here

so again, it all depends on where you are and what they want

i can and have taught american english and grammar but am refusing to do the american accent thing in seoul, i have missed out on one job already for this but there are plenty of others

[itaewonguy]

[Blue Flower]

Wow - I didn't realise the bias was that strong. My kids love the fact that I am a kiwi. absolutely love it. I guess because they feel safe when they go off on all their anti-american rants, but still, they got extremely excited when I told them that I was from New Zealand. It makes me laugh when i hear my kiwi accent being parroted back to me from my korean kids. Though it does help that the previous foreign teacher was a kiwi as well.

Good luck Denz - hope you find something decent.

edited to add: I always get asked: you american - I say no, you canada - no, you england - no, where from - new zealand, america? - i then walk away from the retard. But yesterday, i got my first: Russian? - i laughed and said, No!. Was from a taxi driver, when i was in another taxi, he pulled up alongside. weirdoes!!

[crazylemongirl]

just aquire an american accent like I did... although I feel horrible everytime I speak... sound like a foreigner

CLG

[morrison]

i have to agree with itaewon guy about being "born in australia but moved to ......"

I just landed myself a job even after they told me they only hire canadians. I spoke to him for a few minutes putting on my most non-australian accent and managed to convince him that i speak with a 'neutral accent' and that i get told by asians all the time that i'm easy to understand.

worked for me. just cross your accent between aussie, kiwi, sa, english and canadian and you should be fine.

cheers and beers