Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ajuma]

I'm helping out doing some resume reading and interviewing for a postion at my uni and have I got stories to tell!! (If this is you, you've really got to think about your "style"!)

Candidate #1: Calls 20 minutes before scheduled interview and says that he couldn't get a train ticket. Checked the BAROTA website...plenty available!

Candidate #2: 5 page resume! Hey...we've gotten a couple of hundred. If you can't sell yourself in one page, forget it! We're not hiring brain surgeons here! If you're that wordy on your resume, how will you be in class??

Candidates # 3 and 4: Laverne and Shirley. One email, two resumes and the photo taken in a bar or restaurant! Come on kids...let's be professional here!!

I know that a lot of people interested in coming to Korea read this site. Some suggestions: In your resume, include DOB, gender (yeah, I KNOW that's illegal in the States.... ), email address, and phone numbers... daytime, evening, early morning number...remember, this is a different time zone!

Give your educational backround: school name, degree and in what subject.

Only list experience that is relevant to teaching. Camp counselor, volunteer work with kids, working with foreign students at your uni...any of these show that you have some teaching skills. We don't care that you made it to "assistant manager" at McDonalds!

Send a PROFESSIONAL picture! One of you with your friends in a bar with a circle around you is NOT professional. Head and shoulders shot wearing something that you'd wear to a fine restaurant. (I was going to say "to a job interview" but !!!!)

When you have your interview: If you change your mind and aren't going to come to the interview, CALL!!! Say "I changed my mind!" Don't waste our time! Sure...things come up...buses are late...you could get lost...and WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN, but a quick phone call is all it takes to let us know the situation. We'll be happy to postpone, reschedule, wait for you, or cross you off the list, but please BE PROFESSIONAL!!

[Homer]

Excellent post Ajuma!

Made me laugh as I has to do a few interviews for my schools over the years.

You get all sorts for sure...my examples:

Case #1: Guy comes to the interview for a high end High School position wearing jeans and a Bon Jovi t-shirt. Also had a 5 O'clock shadow.

The interview was given by me and a Korean who was the assistant to the school principal. The guy comes in, ignores the Korean guy and says to me: hey man...when does this gig start I got privates today.


Case#2: Girl comes to her interview (same school as above) 2 hours late because she slept in (she was honest enough to say it at least!).

Case #3: We receive a resume (well presented, one page and professional looking) along with a Cover Letter starting with the header: Dear Employer! Then as we read on the guys goes on to say: As I am better than 90% of the teachers here, I would be an asset to your school.

That one was priceless...


Then there are those who worked for schools in Korea before and refuse to give an references while stating they had rave reviews while working at said schools...


I will say that Ajuma's advice above is dead on!

[voth]

Some funny stories. I would love to hear more, nothing better on a Friday. What is your best interview experience, what is your worst?

Homer: Did the guy eventually act proper and say hello to your Korean associate?

Ajuma: Have you (or Homer) ever ran across a resume that did not include any sort of teaching experience?

How would someone fresh out of school who has only had work in the tech sector pan out in your (or again Homer's) best estimate?

Off topic: Do Koreans in general have a problem with people who have a beard versus someone who is clean shaven?

[JongnoGuru]

"Freakiest Job Applicant Contest" thread!

[Cheonmunka]

I wouldn't have a clue what Barota is, so I'm not surprised a noob would know. Did you say to him, "Hey, check the Barota web site.'
Let me guess that candidate thought, "What's she talking about?"

[merrilee]

It's always nice when applicants include a photo with their application documents. However, one guy who applied to my university included a picture of himself with a goofy expression on his face, holding up a large fish he'd seemingly just caught. I can't even begin to explain how ridiculous it was.

He may be reading this now. If so, what were you thinking?

Seriously.

Note to applicants: It's good to stand out, but a photo that makes you look foolish is not the most prudent way to accomplish that.

[voth]

[laogaiguk]

[Homer]

[ajuma]

[Dawn]

I'm at a hagwon that has fairly stringent hiring guidelines and that offers above-average salaries in return. Any job ad we run lists minimun qualifications along with the salary range. But how many applicants actually have the required qualifications? Maybe 10 percent.

My boss quipped one day that she was overwhelmed at the sheer number of would-be teachers who lack basic reading comprehension skills.

[ajuma]

Dawn is SO right there! Our ad clearly says to include "phone and e-mail contact information in body of e-mail". About 90% of the applicants don't do this!!

Most schools/unis are looking for "low-maintenance" people...people who can "go with the flow" and are able to deal with things themselves. Of course we know that applicants have a lot of questions about the job and the conditions, but when you're talking with people who have 5-10 years in the same place, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THEM!!! We don't want problems or hassles with new teachers, so we give them as much information possible. We've had several emails asking questions...which is fine...but when the email comes across as "I'll ask the question, but I won't believe your answer", you're probably off the "to be called" list.

[Homer]

This is getting more and more interesting...

I agree about the lack of reading comprehension that some teachers display when applying for jobs.

Questions from applicants are normal and even a good sign. There comes a point however where asking too many dumb questions will simply eliminate you from consideration.

The school I worked for 2002-2005 had very specific requirements for teachers but they paid a higher wage and offered better conditions. They looked mostly for experienced teachers and would not really consider a fresh grad. They also looked for people with solid references, i.e. not just teachers with time in country who skipped from hakwon to hakwon without having any good references.

Well, we had a teacher apply to that school who had been in Korea 4 years. In his application he mentionned he had worked for 8 schools in that time. I called him to do a fact check and invite him for an interview as his academic credentials warranted that call. I asked him about what references he would provide and he gave an excuse for each school...that director was mental, the other school bad mouthed me because I would not re-sign...on and on.

I thought one or two such cases are possible as there are bad schools out there but 8 in two years! Then he laid the nuke down when he said we could call his dentist in Inchon who would "vouch" for him as a good person. As he had listed his previous employers with full contact information, we called to check up on his employment history and found out he had been fired 3 times, pulled a runner twice and quit 3 more times for various personal reasons....suffice it to say he was not considered for an interview.

[IwalkAlone]

I agree with your thinking, to an extent, Homer. It isn't that easy for a good teacher to get a good recommendation at times. Sure, some teachers have decent employers, however in my case, I will not be getting one. I completed my contract, but in doing so, I raised issues concerning tax, vacation, and health insurance. My school grew and most students wanted me to re-sign. The director is sour towards me because I fought for my minimum rights as an employee; however, I never let the tension spill into my classes and taint my ability to teach. If I were to leave contact info on my resume for this school, he would cause me to lose any chance I had at being hired by you.

I wish future employers would disregard the opinions of directors, since the percentage of corrupt ones is so astronomically high. Instead, how about doing background checks using other teachers. I would be glad to give future employers the email and phone numbers of co-workers. You could easily call the school and verify them as legit references.

Granted, I have never been fired or have pulled any runners in my ESL career. I realize some people were bad teachers and do deserve bad recommendations, but where does that leave the teachers such as me?

[Homer]

Iwalkalone,

Your situation does not compare to the one I mentionned!

What happens to you is understandable and explained like you did would not be a strike against you in an interview.

The guy I mentionned however had a pattern and that is a different story.