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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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ShaneM
Joined: 03 Feb 2005
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 Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:16 am Post subject: Going this summer - a few unanswered questions |
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My girlfriend and I are planning on going to Korea sometime this summer to teach. I've done an extensive amount of research, mostly on this forum, and I've read pretty much every FAQ. However, I still have a couple questions that either weren't addressed, or I haven't found satisfactory answers to. Any help is appreciated.
Background: I've been to Seoul once before for a few weeks. I have 3 adopted siblings from Seoul and have decent knowledge of the culture but absolutely no language skills. I have 2 Bachelors and 1 Masters, all in Engineering. My girlfriend has a BS in PoliSci. I have a friend that lives in Seoul.
1) We are planning on going in mid-late August. From what I've looked at this seems like an OK time to go for public school jobs. I know school starts in September and March. I'm not showing up a little too late, am I?
2) I still can't decide if I want to try to get a job ahead of time or not. I have money saved up, so thats not an issue, and I have friends in Seoul too. But I'd like to not pay for my VISA run. I was hoping that given my decent educational experience and the fact that I've TA'd in college for 2 years, I could get a decent public school or university job before heading out there. Is this possible?
3) I've noticed most people buy round-trip tickets to Korea. Why not one-way? Is this because they only reimburse you for the ticket as purchased on your way over? (i.e., Free ride home)
I think thats it, for now. Thanks again.  |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 8:02 am Post subject: Re: Going this summer - a few unanswered questions |
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| ShaneM wrote: |
1) We are planning on going in mid-late August. From what I've looked at this seems like an OK time to go for public school jobs. I know school starts in September and March. I'm not showing up a little too late, am I?
Late August might be a little late. Early-to-mid might be okay. I recommend you get some inquiries out before that time though as a lot of people might be vying for the better positions at both public schools and unis.
2) I still can't decide if I want to try to get a job ahead of time or not. I have money saved up, so thats not an issue, and I have friends in Seoul too. But I'd like to not pay for my VISA run. I was hoping that given my decent educational experience and the fact that I've TA'd in college for 2 years, I could get a decent public school or university job before heading out there. Is this possible?
It's your choice whether or not you want to get the visa processing done back home. When I first came, I did the processing back home because it seemed a little more secure. I also, thankfully, lucked out on the housing...although it was shared, I had three great roommates(in the beginning) and we had a large older-style home...I've heard lots of horror stories though...searching for the job in-country will help you avoid some difficulties. Most places should at least pay for your flight to Japan for a visa-run. Some may even pay for the hotel and other expenses. Anyway, yes it's possible to get the job beforehand. However, a lot of unis may require an in-person interview and having ltd in-country experience may work against you. Your master's and teaching experience will be benefits, but no guarantee.
3) I've noticed most people buy round-trip tickets to Korea. Why not one-way? Is this because they only reimburse you for the ticket as purchased on your way over? (i.e., Free ride home)
At least from Canada, most times a return-ticket is cheaper than two one-ways...that's probably why many people buy the return ones. The only problem with those is that you have to deal with the problem of the dates and airline regulations. Most unis will not provide you with airfare, so you can make your own choice as to whether you'd like the return or one-way. There will be ltd questions at the airport wrt to a one-way ticket if you already have your visa in your passport. There could be more if you don't have your visa before coming. Most of the public school contracts I've seen state that airfare will be reimbursed upon arrival. When I first came here, I had the ticket sent to me from Korea to Canada and I had no trouble(it was a one-way ticket and I had my visa processed in Montreal before coming). Anyway, this is just my personal recommendation: if I were you, I would purchase the one-way ticket and have the visa in my passport before leaving. The public schools will reimburse you and pay for your one-way ticket back home. If you go with a uni, you can get your own return tickets here if you decide on staying for more than a year...I've found them to be a bit cheaper than purchasing them in Canada. |
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ShaneM
Joined: 03 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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OK, thanks 
Followup:
4) On my resume, is there a point to mentioning my experience with being in korea or having korean-american siblings?
5) I still haven't decided if I want to get my own apartment or take the one provided for me. I know that my g/f and I will be living separately. I have ample funds for key money, but probably not enough to not pay monthly rent (20-30K). Any advice on this?
6) On the resume, do they care about GRE scores or being published? |
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peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
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| Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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| ShaneM wrote: |
OK, thanks
Followup:
4) On my resume, is there a point to mentioning my experience with being in korea or having korean-american siblings?
Don't put it in a resume, mention it in the cover letter or during the interview instead
5) I still haven't decided if I want to get my own apartment or take the one provided for me. I know that my g/f and I will be living separately. I have ample funds for key money, but probably not enough to not pay monthly rent (20-30K). Any advice on this?
IF you get public school jobs in the same area, the schools might let you share an apartment. I'd probably go with the school provided place, since very few realtors speak English. If you do decide to go the other route, you can certainly afford to pay rent from your monthly pay.
6) On the resume, do they care about GRE scores or being published? |
Not a bit. |
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ShaneM
Joined: 03 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks peppermint.
I'm open to any other suggestions or advice. I'm in the process of getting my rec letters in order, with my resume and cover letter already complete. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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Mid to late August is definitely too late for a public school job. If that is the route you want to go, start applying in May/June. If you are hired, you will have your plane ticket paid for. (If you come without a job, you will have your visa trip ticket paid for to Japan.)
Should you decide to get your own place, rather than take school provided housing, the school will give you a rent subsidy. The most common number I've seen is W300,000/month.
If you and your girlfriend are working at different schools, both will offer housing. You could choose the best one, live together and one of you take the housing subsidy. It would be very difficult to arrange for two schools to cooperate in providing joint housing.
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| 6) On the resume, do they care about GRE scores or being published? |
It doesn't hurt to include them, but I think you have the wrong impression about what Koreans are looking for when they hire. The criteria: native-speaker; young; preferably good-looking. I'm not being cynical. The ESL industry here is not professional in the western sense of the term. [/quote] |
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ShaneM
Joined: 03 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject: |
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| How am I supposed to find plane tickets round trip for a year if every website I go to only allows you to look as far as March, at the latest? Thats rather confusing... |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
1) We are planning on going in mid-late August. From what I've looked at this seems like an OK time to go for public school jobs. I know school starts in September and March. I'm not showing up a little too late, am I?
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Yes.
| Quote: |
2) I still can't decide if I want to try to get a job ahead of time or not. I have money saved up, so thats not an issue, and I have friends in Seoul too. But I'd like to not pay for my VISA run. I was hoping that given my decent educational experience and the fact that I've TA'd in college for 2 years, I could get a decent public school or university job before heading out there. Is this possible?
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Yes.
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| 3) I've noticed most people buy round-trip tickets to Korea. Why not one-way? Is this because they only reimburse you for the ticket as purchased on your way over? (i.e., Free ride home) |
I think it also has to do with immigration.
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| How am I supposed to find plane tickets round trip for a year if every website I go to only allows you to look as far as March, at the latest? Thats rather confusing... |
A travel agent will know.
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4) On my resume, is there a point to mentioning my experience with being in korea or having korean-american siblings?
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It couldn't hurt; it may impress some people that you know and like Korea.
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| 6) On the resume, do they care about GRE scores or being published? |
Probably not, although at one interview the interviewer seemed very impressed by my GPAs and scholarships. Being published may help at a uni job. |
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thursdays child
Joined: 21 Sep 2005
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| Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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| How am I supposed to find plane tickets round trip for a year if every website I go to only allows you to look as far as March, at the latest? Thats rather confusing... |
Unless you have a work visa already you need a return ticket to even get on the plane to come to Korea.
Just get a ticket that is valid for 3 months or so. You'll find it can be extended later or in most cases the ticket is thrown out and the school reimburses you the money anyhow. |
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