Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mamaille]

I've been looking to come to South Korea for about a month but I can't seem to find the right position in the right location (central Seoul) with a good contract. All the contracts that I get are pretty similar but based on the response I get from posting them, they're horrible. I need some suggestions on how to get the best deal.


Also, what's are the good locations to be in?

Thanks.

[Grotto]

Its like panning for gold....you have to get alot of dross out of the way before you see a flake of gold!

[ontheway]

Keep looking. Use a recruiter. Don't give up.

Don't expect any contract to satisfy all the reviewers here on Dave's. Take their advice and criticism with a large grain of salt. Use your common sense about reasonable demands and excessive expectations.

[ScottyG]

Dude.....THE only way to get a good job in Seoul exactly where you want it is to make yourself that much more marketable. The only way to do that is to get yourself on a plane and BE HERE. That puts you in the driver's seat. If you have good negotiation skills and don't mind doing teaching demonstations, you can get much more than what is on offer on the job board. You can also demand that your airfare is re-imbursed.

All you have to do is live in a hostel for a while (a few of them in central seoul at about 15,000 per night), get a pre-paid cheap handphone from Itaewon for the purpose of being in contact, and post your resume on a few sites, and network with a few recruiters.

Sure, this is not the easiest way to get a job, but it is the best way and totally worth it. In Japan, almost no one finds there jobs over the internet before they enter the country unless they are working at one of the big chains. All in all, someday, I hope Korea's job market get's to the point where they aren't finding teachers who aren't already here. It would mean that job market was more competitive. The best jobs almost never end up advertised.

[jinju]

Why central Seoul? Central Seoul is about 20 minutes by subway from pretty much anywhere in the city. Also, there is really no such thing as central Seoul. Any number of locations could act as "central Seoul" in thet they have all the ammenities of "central Seoul". Just come to Korea and start looking.

[some waygug-in]

If you do come here, be sure you have enough money to live for a month or two. It really helps to be able to turn down some of the crappy offers you will receive.
Not that there aren't good ones, it's just better to give yourself some leeway so you can choose a job that will be right for you.

The last thing you want is to get here with little or no cash and HAVE TO take the first offer that comes along because you are desparate.

[Hotpants]

I would also agree that you shouldn't limit yourself to central Seoul. I live in 'central Seoul,' and I can tell you that the schools around me are the YBM head school, the Pagoda head school and so on - ie. the large hagwon chains which don't offer the best all round contracts. This part of Seoul is not really a residential area, so there are not so many public schools/colleges in the immediate vicinity. Your choice there is limited.

I also agree about 'panning for gold dust.' My approach would be to scour all the job boards each day, identify the jobs which sound more preferable to you, and apply for them. Just as with everyone else, you may not be able to hit upon that ideal job the first time around. It's sometimes a matter of trial and error.

[sadsac]

Seoul, second most expensive city to live in. Seoul is a hole. Look for something outside of the big, dirty city.

[jinju]

[jellobean]

Take the idea of "central Seoul" lightly... You probably don't want to actually live in the Jongno area (although there are some who do)... What you want is to be no more than about 20min from areas like Jongno, Sinchon, Itaewon... The actual neighborhood you live in is less important unless you are the type that needs a bunch of foreigners around all the time... My bf and I live in a less affluent neighborhood that is still within 20 min of everywhere but is much cheaper and also friendlier.... We work w/in 30 mins of where we live and that works for us...

I would have to agree that for the best jobs you need to be in Seoul with no pressure to take a job immediately... That's how we both did it when we started teaching (seperately, we didn't know each other at the time)...

[sadsac]

Jinju, I do not denigrate or pass judgement on those who live there. All power to you. Just that Seoul is another big, smelly, litter ridden metropolis with an excellent system of public transport.

[cubanlord]

In regards to a good contract:

Check out the sticky that Grotto and Alabamaman have up top. It's extremely informative. Also, going in with your own contract (as long as it's fair to both parties) isn't a bad idea either.

[Big Mac]

I don't know if you should just base it all on the contract. Yes, get rid of the really crappy contracts because it's a good indication of the quality of the job.

Some of them are just absolutely ridiculous. For example, I was throwing out any contract that didn't mention pension or medical insurance because it is an indication that they will not follow the law. I was also wary of any jobs that paid too much because it was an indication that they were having trouble finding teachers.

But if it looks somewhat good, talk to the school's director and ask lots of questions. Talk to teachers at the school. Sometimes they'll be able to clear up your concerns. If they can't, move on.

I just signed a contract that looked somewhat good but wasn't completely perfect. I even realized later that I had seen the same contract several weeks earlier on here and ripped it apart myself. But after talking to the director and the teachers at the school I was satisfied. The good outweighed the bad.

I don't think I've ever seen a contract posted on here where everyone agreed that there was nothing wrong with it.

I guess the moral of the story is that you can't always judge a book by its cover. You have to do a bit more research than just looking at the contract.

[ella]

[jinju]