Korean Job Discussion Forums

[flicknut]

I am hoping to land a public school position that starts in March. Right now I am playing a few recruiters in case one doesn't come through for me. My preferred recruiter has promised me a public school position in Anyang, but she told me to wait until after the holidays for more positions to open up. I have already sent her all of my documents, including a notarized copy of my degree, medical evaluation, two reference letters, etc. She has not given me a contract to sign.

I am somewhat concerned about having to wait. Just in case, I have "accepted" two other public school positions in Incheon and Busan, but now these recruiters are turning up the heat on my documents.

The Busan recruiter wants me to fax a signed copy of the contract before beginning the Visa process. So far, I have only sent her email attachments of my resume, photo, degree, and CELTA. The Incheon recruiter has set a January 19th deadline for all of my documents, including the contract.

If I sign a contract, can I later switch positions if my preferred location pans out? Thank you for your help.

[poet13]

I am normally pro teacher in most cases, but your post reads like you're trying to have your cake and eat it too. Nothing wrong with that, if you had kept all your original documents. Without having a contract yet, I suppose you can ask/demand that the recruiter return your documents.
Maybe you could just tell the recruiter who has your documents about the other position and ask him or her to place you there instead? I don't know exactly how the recruiter thing works, but when I was going about getting my job here in EPIK, I knew about the position and they were offering a direct-hire, but since my recruiter had been incredibly helpful to me, I told her about it, and she placed me, thereby getting the fee I thought she deserved for all the time she had already taken with me.
How's that sound?

[wylies99]

OP- you can do anything you choose until you get the E-2 Visa.


Ah, but if someone is honest with you, and is looking out for your best interests, you may want to be straight with them, and stick with them. In Korea, you won't find too many people who will do that for you- if any.

I've been in Korea for almost a year and, so far, I've found two honest people in this industry. That's two more than many ever meet.

[flicknut]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[wylies99]

[flicknut]

[trinity24651]

[wylies99]

Flicknut- stick with your original plan. You have to feel comfortable with your employment situation because that's all any of us really has in Korea.

[fiveeagles]

[flicknut]

Thanks for all of your input. I just signed a contract with my preferred recruiter in Gunpo instead of Anyang. I never signed the Busan contract.

Here's the rub... The contract I signed stated that I was a Level 3 at 2.0 million won per month. I have my CELTA, so I was supposed to start as a Level 2. I politely asked my recruiter about changing the contract, but she just ignored me and said we need to get the Visa process rolling.

I didn't care if they called me a Level 99 as long as I was paid the correct amount, and since I thought Level 2's were paid 2.0 mil won anyway, I just ate my pride for the moment and signed as a Level 3 at 2.0 mil won.

Murphy's law... the very next day after signing the Gunpo contract I was offered a public school position in Ilsan as a Level 2. They told me that Level 2's are now paid 2.1 million won per month instead of 2.0.

I'm a little bit sore about the whole thing, and I was wondering if I could take the Ilsan position. The Gunpo school district plans to start the Visa process on Monday. Thanks a lot for your feedback.

[Satin]

Depends on where you would rather be. If you don't want the first position, email the recruiter immediately. Tell her/him you are accepting a different position that pays 2.1. Ask them to return your documents also.

I did this. It took the recruiter over a month to return the documents (good reason not to send an original diploma).