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brento1138
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
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 Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 1:22 pm Post subject: Trouble finding good jobs |
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Most of the jobs I've been looking at seem either a bit sketchy in how many hours they say you work... or they have odd contracts, low pay, nothing much better than what I did my first year. I am a Canadian with a year and a half teaching experience, and I'm a bit dissapointed with the job offers here... I'm just wondering, where are all the good jobs? Aren't I supposed to get more than 2.0 million? All the job offers are worded nicely: "Pay from 1.8-2.7" so many teachers might think, wow, I can make 2.7... but then you read "based on qualifications." And then you realise after the telephone interview, oh, you only get paid 2.0 in the end, even with a year and a half of experience, and having a Canadian accent etc. I figure 2.0 is a bit low these days for a second-timer, isn't it??
The ESL cafe job database isn't looking too good these days, as is the worknplay website. My recruiters have only sent me contracts no better than the first contract I did in Korea. Maybe I'm just venting here, but seriously, it seems like most employers are looking for a bright-eyed teacher with no experience who they can pay 1.8 to or something. Cheap***es! |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know what you were expecting, but I doubt very much you will find it.
Despite all the talk of teacher shortages etc. schools are still the slimey cheapskates they always were.
I've never heard of anyone getting more money because of experience, unless it was a case of continuing working for a particular school.
The "good jobs" won't just fall into your lap. You have to do a lot of networking and making contacts to find them.
As someone who has been here 4 years and is still trying to find that elusive 'good job' all I can say is keep looking.
Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear.
good luck. |
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red dog
Joined: 31 Oct 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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I had a really good job in Korea, but stupidly decided to move on before I was ready -- mostly just out of boredom and the idea that I could do something more rewarding somewhere else. That idea turned out to be wrong.
Most of the offerings on the job board are really appalling compared to what I gave up. You know, I actually helped my old company replace me -- with a super-qualified person who probably isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
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Merlyn
Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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| It depends where you want to work too. If you don't mind going outside of Seoul there are a lot of good jobs. If you're looking for a University position, try outside of Seoul first. They're much easier to get, build up some experience and then come back. A year and half of experience won't get you all that much. |
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Corporal
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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| some waygug-in wrote: |
I've never heard of anyone getting more money because of experience, unless it was a case of continuing working for a particular school.
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eh? I've asked for more (and gotten more) every year because of experience, and I've never stayed with the same school, either. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| OK, I stand corrected. |
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princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
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| Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:38 am Post subject: |
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| some waygug-in wrote: |
I don't know what you were expecting, but I doubt very much you will find it.
Despite all the talk of teacher shortages etc. schools are still the slimey cheapskates they always were.
I've never heard of anyone getting more money because of experience, unless it was a case of continuing working for a particular school.
The "good jobs" won't just fall into your lap. You have to do a lot of networking and making contacts to find them.
As someone who has been here 4 years and is still trying to find that elusive 'good job' all I can say is keep looking.
Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear.
good luck. |
I have to say I agree with you. Maybe some people's cases are different. I, too, have four years experience. I've been sitting at my parents' house for 4 months now and STILL no decent job offers. I've turned down three, and just got turned down for another one 2 weks ago. When I check these job boards, sometimes I go 2 weeks without finding anything I even WANT to apply for. I've applied for some schools that I never hear anything from, only to see them back on here hiring at least once a month. Smething's obviously wrong with these places. I guess I've been dodging bullets where they are concerned. I'm thinking I just may have to come on over to Seoul and look for jobs first-hand. I just don't want to use my savings to fly back and pay for a room, and then start a new job having to build my savings all over again. But, maybe I will have to do so.  |
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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| Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:02 am Post subject: |
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If you are a sincere, qualified teacher, you should easily get 2.1 or 2.2 million and a dozen offers per week. Perhaps you're not applying to enough schools. Did you post your own resume on Dave's? Are you using recruiters? Is there something wrong with your resume or picture? Are you on some teacher blacklist maitained by the recruiters?
Having been on both sides of this job search and hiring game, I can tell you that more than half of all the job applicants' postings on Dave's have looney language and demands in their postings that scream: "Don't hire me! I'm a whiney, defective, self-centered human time bomb that will destroy your school on a whim." Of course I'm grateful for their honesty. It saved me a lot of time in looking for teachers and it saved the school from potential disasters down the road.
Many posters come here for contract review by their peers. Maybe you should ask for some help regarding your marketing and presentation of yourself. How do you really come across to the employers that are looking for teachers?
Since I don't personally know brento or princess or anyone else looking on here, I can't tell from your posting here if there is a problem or what it is. It would be a shame if a truly qualified teacher couldn't find a decent job due to some poor marketing. |
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tomwaits
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Location: PC Bong
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| Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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And where are you looking--Just Seoul?
Most teachers---for obvious reasons - want to be in city-center Seoul.
On the other hand I'm not really sure what people mwean by "the good jobs." It is what it is---hagwans are all pretty similar and the pay is pretty standard. Teaching adults usually means split-shifts and so on.
I suppose Unis would be answer. |
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princess
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: soul of Asia
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| Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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| ontheway wrote: |
If you are a sincere, qualified teacher, you should easily get 2.1 or 2.2 million and a dozen offers per week. Perhaps you're not applying to enough schools. Did you post your own resume on Dave's? Are you using recruiters? Is there something wrong with your resume or picture? Are you on some teacher blacklist maitained by the recruiters?
Having been on both sides of this job search and hiring game, I can tell you that more than half of all the job applicants' postings on Dave's have looney language and demands in their postings that scream: "Don't hire me! I'm a whiney, defective, self-centered human time bomb that will destroy your school on a whim." Of course I'm grateful for their honesty. It saved me a lot of time in looking for teachers and it saved the school from potential disasters down the road.
Many posters come here for contract review by their peers. Maybe you should ask for some help regarding your marketing and presentation of yourself. How do you really come across to the employers that are looking for teachers?
Since I don't personally know brento or princess or anyone else looking on here, I can't tell from your posting here if there is a problem or what it is. It would be a shame if a truly qualified teacher couldn't find a decent job due to some poor marketing. |
Yes, my problem is I DON'T get 12 offers per week, because like I said before, I sometimes go 2 weeks or longer without applying for any schools. Why? Most jobs listed on here are NOT in Seoul. I will only go to Seoul because I hate small towns. I NEVER use recruiters because they can't be trusted. Finally, I won't post my resume on here, because I don't want my phone ringing off the hook with recruiters and low-end schools. The few schools I do see in Seoul on here are schools I've seen on blacklists or schools I've heard bad things about. After 4 years in Korea, I have heard of the bad schools to avoid. I also see schools in Seoul on here advertising ALL the time, so something has to be wrong with them. |
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xox
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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| recruiters have blacklists?! does all recruiters share this information? |
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Francis-Pax
Joined: 20 Nov 2005
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: Trouble finding good jobs |
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| brento1138 wrote: |
Most of the jobs I've been looking at seem either a bit sketchy in how many hours they say you work... or they have odd contracts, low pay, nothing much better than what I did my first year. I am a Canadian with a year and a half teaching experience, and I'm a bit dissapointed with the job offers here... I'm just wondering, where are all the good jobs? Aren't I supposed to get more than 2.0 million? All the job offers are worded nicely: "Pay from 1.8-2.7" so many teachers might think, wow, I can make 2.7... but then you read "based on qualifications." And then you realise after the telephone interview, oh, you only get paid 2.0 in the end, even with a year and a half of experience, and having a Canadian accent etc. I figure 2.0 is a bit low these days for a second-timer, isn't it??
The ESL cafe job database isn't looking too good these days, as is the worknplay website. My recruiters have only sent me contracts no better than the first contract I did in Korea. Maybe I'm just venting here, but seriously, it seems like most employers are looking for a bright-eyed teacher with no experience who they can pay 1.8 to or something. Cheap***es! |
There are excellent EFL jobs in Korea if you have the right experience and education. Don't expect it in a hogwon.
The problem is that a lot of teacher in Korea don't invest the time or money into their development. And you know what? That's not bad because it makes it much easier for me. Get some serious TESOL qualifications and you can get jobs that pay 3mil per month with 3-4 months paid vacation. Those jobs don't go to people with only a BA. You need to invest in the TESOL profession. |
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ella
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| If I had the money to pay for a TEFL course, I wouldn't need to go to Korea. |
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xox
Joined: 11 Jun 2006
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| I invested in a TESL course. but now it feels like its done nothing for me =( |
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