Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Alias77]

I've not heard anything from my recruiter for 2 weeks, sans two auto-mail messages. I think they gave up on me when I cited multiple sources with grievances against the last job offer (chain school) they sent me - I turned it down in a respectable business fashion, asking to be informed of other opportunities.

I'm now looking at the job listings here on Dave's to circulate my own resume. If there's a dozen + new job listings on here per day, I'd say that my recruiter has access to something and has left me hanging or forgotten me.

Could someone approximate what kind of competition I might be facing per each job listing here? Will I be competing with a dozen potential applicants, or do these listings get flooded with hundreds of applicants?

[VanIslander]

use four or five recruiters

and never send anything to them until you've decided on a specific job

[jen_the_great]

I can't answer your quesiton, but I can relate. I was offered a job at a chain school and I just turned it down. I talked to current teachers who had glowing reviews of the school, but after getting opinions on my contract by a member of this forum and a friend already in Korea, I was told to walk away. Why should we be putting ourselves in a situation that we're not comfortable with. I thought I turned down the position very tactfully, citing that it's not the right fit for me, some of my friends had advised me against it because of long hours with Kindergarden children, and it would look bad for both me and the recruiter to sign a contract and end up dropping out. She told me that Koreans had stronger work ethic than in North America and she didn't know if she could find me a position since I wasn't satisfied with a standard contract at a reputable school. She pretty much implied that I was lazy and that if I had such good friends checking over my contracts, maybe they could find me a job.

I don't want to worry about rocking the boat when I'm playing with a year of my life. Does anyone know a better recruiter I could try?

[PRagic]

For university positions, you'll be competiting with roughly 100 other applicants. The upside is that most of the CVs are just thrown out as the applicants are unqualified or don't have enough experience.

For institute jobs, you probably won't be competing with too many people at all, unless it is a single school and it only hiring one person. There are so many institutes that you should be able to pick and choose.

Take your time. You'd be surprised how far a good looking CV will get you, or, in contrast, how fast you'll be passed over if your CV looks bad.

[Alias77]

[serenitee]

If the recruiter gets frustrated with a person who simply has done their homework and knows what they want, then I say 'good riddance.'

As I've read many veterans say on here and have taken to heart as a newb- use the recruiter to get introduced to the school, then do your research and take it from there. Normally if I show interest, then I can get the recruiter to tell me the name of the school.

Then they all say that it is one of the best schools in South Korea with an outstanding reputation.... when ofcourse I will see it listed on every blacklist.

GOOD LUCK, by the way! I'm in the same boat and although I'm getting many offers, I have yet to accept... I'm really waiting for one that I feel really suits me. Heck it's a major decision to pick up and go live on another continent for a year. My friends and boyfriend think I'm crazy! So, I'm being very cautious and not rushing the process at all until I feel comfortable with a particular school.

[Alias77]

[serenitee]

[Alias77]

[serenitee]

I just had one tonight for Ulsan, but I don't think it begins until the end of October. If you're interested in that city, pm me your email and I will forward you the info.

[Hotpants]

There used to be a hits counter for each of the job ads on Daves - wonder why they took it off? It seemed that a recruiter or regular hogwan would get about 30-50 hits minimal and that a university would get a few hundred hits minimal. From that, you have to imagine that not everyone will apply for the job after reading the ad. So go and take a guesstimate from there.

Let's face it. There seems to be more jobs than teachers available to take them up, so it's a surefire bet you can find something here right now. As for the 'good' jobs, the competition will depend on what you've got to back up your resume - an MA, 5+yrs teaching experience...? If you are completely fresh to teaching, you probably have to start out at the bottom like the majority of us here. It's not always a bad thing though, because any experience will stand you in good stead for the future should you decide to stay in teaching long term.

(My link below has a list of job sites available, although Dave's is probably the best for current listings)

[ttompatz]

[Alias77]

[HydePark]