Korean Job Discussion Forums

alabamaman · Joined: 25 Apr 2006

Edited

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

good advise. go for the uni jobs first. Make sure they provide housing though. No recruiters, better contracts, easier working conditions. Speak directly to the schools.

Angelus · Joined: 10 Feb 2006

ask them to send you a sample contract and also ask for the contact numbers of at least 2 other foreign teachers working there.

Tarheel13 · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Location: North Carolina

Thanks for the advice. So, I guess the best action would be to wander over and start knocking on a few doors, spiffed in a suit, with c/v, resume, papers in hand? No?

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

You should send applications from your home country to all universities.
If you come over here and start knocking on doors, the unis will just send you away. They have set interview periods throughout the year.
You would also have to think about accomodations. Being here is an advantage, but you need a roof over your head too.
Google "universities in Korea" or simply wait for them all to start advertising on the job board here. Hiring periods are around August/September and February/March.
Make sure you make it clear that you are prepared to pay for your own flight to Korea, make sure you make it clear that you will be in Korea for a face to face interview and make sure you prepare in advance for accomodations.
If you get an interview you will probably be with up to 30 other hopefuls.
In the interview, my experience has told me that they do not really care about how wonderful your resume is, or how great a teacher you are, they just want to know if you will get along with the other (foreign and Korean) staff.
So big smiles, be happy and seem flexible and open to ideas.
Many Universities require you to have a Masters, but this does not guarrantee you a job. However, SOME will take teachers who have a few years experience in Korea over you sometimes. But the MBA does help.
Good luck with the 30 inactive students in each class ignoring you over sending text messages to each other in Korean!

Zark · Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:22 pm Post subject:

Don't wait for the universities to advertise - especially on this site - they will sometimes get 100+ letters of interest. My experience is that most schools HATE interviewing. Get your resume in there BEFORE they advertise and increase you possibilities significantly.

Don't count on an MBA and Cert doing it for you - but you probably will land a good uni job if you show up and pass the resume around. Korea (and most of Asia) is very personal-contact oriented.

Since the better schools will start to advertise in October/November for a March start - send your resume and show up BEFORE that. They also advertise ( a bit less often) in April/May for a September start - so get with it right now!

I know a good university that will be looking for March next year - PM me if I can help.