Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cubanlord]

Do most people go through recruiters? Share you experience.

[Qinella]

This time, I used a recruiter to match me up with someone, then went to look at the hagwon in person and meet the director.

[xCustomx]

paid for my own planet ticket here, looked for a job in person....found one in 2.5 weeks.....much better than finding a school from outside the country in my opinion

[harryh]

I bought my own ticket, and came over!

It's much better to see the school and meet the guv'nor, before making a decision.

[just because]

Connections with friends I have here

[semphoon]

To you guys who flew here without a job, where did you stay while looking for a job? Friends? Hotel?

I was a noobie and used a recruiter - it turned out to be a great job so I was lucky.

[spliff]

Been at the same school for the last three times w/ a year break at Thai schools between, but won't be teaching in Thai again as I don't like Bangers and the schools up where I live all pay crap! Origianally got my K-job through a friend at the Seoul Education Science Research/Ministry of Education next to the big tower in Hannam dong...I taught the ministers privately and they hooked my up..paid well too!

[Zyzyfer]

I stand in front of Burger King with a picket sign and a guitar and sing! Somebody's bound to notice me.

[cubanlord]

[Tiger Beer]

First time I signed a conract sight-unseen.. was in a wasteland of the most undesireable parts of Busan with a triple split-shift schedule and minimum several months working weekends on top of that (not in the contract).

Since that time.. I always fly back into Korea and stay with friends. I look online and go to recruiters. But I'm very specific with what I want.

Once I have a small handful of places of options.. I go to each one and look at their school, the apartment available, the location, etc..

I try to make as many options/opportunies available.. and whichever seems to weigh out as the most desireable/interesting according to what I want.. I take that one.

[SirFink]

I was just patient and kept checking the job ads here at Dave's. 95% are recruiters but there are schools that recruit directly and public school jobs to be had. Just be patient and take everything a recruiter or hagwon tells you with a grain of salt, i.e. if they say "apartment is five minutes from school!" that means 10-15 minutes. If they say "apartment have everything you need!" that means a hot plate and a hard mattress. Ask to speak with other foreign teachers at the school; ask for digital pics of the apartment and school to be emailed to you. If they refuse just scratch them off your list. There are so many jobs here you can afford to be picky.

If you're like me and too chicken to fly over on your own just wait for a decent gig to be offered. It's a risk but in my case it worked out just fine. Though I didn't end up using them, both Canadian Connections and Footprints seemed fairly honest. I think both really hold your hand through the whole process.

[Homer]

Contacts and friends.

I usually go for jobs that are not advertised as I get the information from friends and contacts....