Korean Job Discussion Forums

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

What does it mean when recruiters who already have your resume post jobs for which you're well-qualified ? Is it normal to have to keep sending them your resume again and again?

Do employers or recruiters even read emails and resumes? I'm frequently asked for information I've already sent. I say I'm in Seoul and they write back, "When can you come to Korea?" I say I have in hand all the documents necessary for a visa run - I even list them - and they send me back a list of all the documents needed for a visa run and ask how soon I can get them. I say I have three years of experience and they ask, "Do you have any experience?" What's going on?

daz1979 · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Location: Gangwon-Do

joeyjoejoe · Joined: 24 Sep 2006

recruiters are worthless swine, who are generally bad at what they do, so to get a good position from them you have to do as much of the work for them as possible. ie. resending everything for every position you may be interested in.

it sucks, but what are you going to do? if you don't put up with their idiocy you don't get a job.

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

So I should keep resending? I thought that would just cause the salary offers to drop lower (not that I'm getting any at the moment, anyway).

sock · Joined: 07 Oct 2006

ha ha ha ha ha

I think you should keep sending them emails (with or without your resume, your call) responding to their "questions" with inane questions of your own.

Something like:
"Do you have any positions available for an ESL teacher in Africa?"
"Are you located in Korea, or on the moon?"
"Would this position be a teaching position?"
"Do you have any jobs in NORTH Korea?"
"So do you have any jobs for Korean teachers, or can I only apply to be a foreign teacher?"
"How about lawyer positions--do you have any positions to be a 'lawyer' even though my degree is in accounting and I don't speak any Korean?"
"I'd like to be a seeing eye person for a blind dog. Any available jobs?"

At least if they're being ridiculous, you might as well be too, and have fun with it. Jeez, you'd think with the "shortages" of teachers, and all that they have to do in order to collect the bounty on our heads, well, you'd think they could put a little effort into their jobs.

sock · Joined: 07 Oct 2006

Seriously, though, if you see that they have posted a job that you are interested in, call them up or email and ask specific questions about that job only. Don't be afraid to go after something if it looks appealing. Remember, the recruiters really don't work for you. YOU work for you. The recruiters work for the schools, or for whomever pays their salary.

Could mean lots of things: maybe they're stupid or incompetent, maybe they're lazy, forgetful, or scatterbrained. Maybe they're just "busy" and have 10,000 things on their mind, maybe they have you confused with someone else, maybe they're just not bothering to take the time to READ and COMPREHEND.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

It can be difficult for some recruiters to keep track because they spend a lot of time on westerners who turn out to be useless-eg don't know how to take the bus,have nothing resembling interview clothes,all manner of things.

Exasperation makes them lose track of stuff perhaps.

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

insert sleazy, self absorbed, recruiting services advertisement here.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Jeeeeez, don't know why they don't jump at the chance to snap up such a beautiful creatue as yourself... Very Happy

crazy_arcade · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

A common tactic of recruiters is to advertise juicy jobs that they don't actually have. Once they've got teachers in contact with them....they then offer the jobs they do have.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

^ You forgot to mention that they really want DUMB applicants (the employers want them as well) that are willing to sign anything. If you ask to many pertinent questions, that has alarm bells ringing in their heads.

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

If that's true, it would explain why I don't get many callbacks. It does seem to be a disadvantage to have some experience and not be a naive kid right out of college.

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

While some recruiters/schools can be all the things the above posters mentioned, it's probably true that they often purchase advertising in blocks, and thus the same ads get re-run several times. I wouldn't take this as a snub towards yourself.

Calling directly a couple of days after sending your resume can be a good tactic.

IamBabo · Joined: 16 Jun 2005

well, i have been experiencing the exact same thing as you. i was sent one contract and pointed out some things that were questionable and now i don't get anymore emails/calls about jobs, nice huh?

babo

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

Store their numbers on your phone and keep in constant contact with them. Note the competition number and the ad date and ask them about it. If you are going to do anything through a recruiter, you have to be in touch with them everyday.