Korean Job Discussion Forums

[britjamie]

I need some experience for this one. Here goes:

I was planning to arrive waaay earlier than this and had a couple of interviews which went quite well. In the end I didn't take off for a number of reasons. For the past month I've been trying to arrange a short term contract, as I have to return in August, and I've come close, but in the end it floats into the hands of someone who can stay for longer - and rightly so.

So to my question. Knowing the lay of the land, would it be inadvisable to turn up unannounced and scout out a post which runs to August - considering the time It'll take to get a visa and all? Is there a chance or should I, gulp, plan for a brit summer and try again some other time??

Thanks for your help

[jazblanc77]

Why not get hired from your home country and get the airfare out of the deal?

[badfish]

yea out of yer mind you cant find a short term contract there so you want to spend your own money on airfare to come here and look for a short term contract which judging by your experience is near impossible to find?

[jazblanc77]

After rereading your post, I'd have to agree with the above poster. You won't get the airfare paid for, wherever you are hired from. I also don't think that you will have any more success finding a job once in Korea than online from your home country, especially since you are green.

I'm guessing you are a student since term ends in April and recommences in September (fitting with your availability). If this is a correct assumption, you aren't even qualified to work here since a post-secondary degree is required to work here legally. In fact, they wouldn't even issue a visa for that time frame. That being said, assuming you actually found a school willing to work you under the table as an illegal worker, any school that would do that shouldn't be trusted anyways.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[britjamie]

I have a degree. The thing just sits there daring me to get an office job but I want to take it for a spin around South Korea first. I'd also love to get the teaching experience, but I have to return to take a postgrad course in September....Zzzzzzzzz......

So lads, am I stuck? I did get a couple of sniffs from various recruiters but by the time they received my CV they found a a couple of teachers with more time.

I really regret not having sorted this out earlier, but I get the impresion that I might get lucky if I'm actually in town the next time I'm contacted by an interested recruiter - that way I can jump into the classroom before someone beats me to it. But I also feel that the voices of experience think otherwise. Considering the situation I'm in, it might be better for me to look for a Summer camp position instead. I'm wondering if it might be possible to arrange consecutive positions or something.

I really appreciate all your help with this.

[venus]

[ilovebdt]

If you really want to do it.
Why not postpone your postgrad course for a year?
When you come back you should have a bit more money in your pocket to help you through your postgrad course!

ilovebdt

[Boodleheimer]

[britjamie]

Thanks for all your advice thus far.

I've posted on the general forum but I thought you guys might be able to help me out again and comment on the following two emails I received from 'Jenny'. I've sinced emailed her back asking about the little deails, things like the salary and, well, the name of the place...

I was about ready to take your advice on this and chalk it up to experience and plan in advance for next year, but might this be a realistic and 'not too risky' alternative. I guess that you guys know how the authorities and employers work over there much better than I. Is this position 'ok-ish' to pursue considering the psychology of the country and the profession?

Email 1: The Offer

hi Jamie

I'm looking for a new teacher for my academy.
if you can start now or soon, you may work several months here..

I will give you more information of my academy.
location : Jungran-gu, Seoul, R.O. Korea.
Working hour 2:30-8;00 or 9:00(sometimes) Monday to Friday
age : kids (7-14)
if you want, accomodation wil be offered. Kids are lovely, teachers are friendly.. you can start to work ASAP..
please give me your imformation more ..such as CV with a picture, when you are available to work..
If you are interested in this position, give me a mail... ask me more detail things..


Thanks,,

Jenny


Email 2: The Details

Dear.. Jamie
Thanks for respond..
you may stay here with tourist visa for 3months..
it might be illegal for working. but it is ok up to 3 months, Also usually, someone who came here without working visa could be got working visa by this school within 3months.
if you want accomodation, as I mentioned, it will be offered. it's nice, comfortable, and close to the shcool.
The principal is interesteded in your resume, but we need a teachers asap..
so pls let me know, when you can come to korea exactly. (This is my question)
Also, you may stay our accomodation right then..
if you come here early, like this weekend, that will be wonderful. Anyway let me know when you gona come here.
please let me tell you one more things, if you come here and start to work asap, you may have choice to stay or just temporary,such as one or two weeks.
one more thing, now we have 2 foreign teachers who are from America,
if you have more questions, i will be happy with that.

Thank you all. Hope things are going well for you.

[shifter2009]

[quote="venusteach a bunch of obnoxious (you can have no idea until you've been here) Korean brats ( the girls are usually angels but the boys... oh lord the boys...) [/quote]

I'd just like to say from expierence they are equally obnoxious. Rest of the post is pretty spot on.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Don't do that. They'll cheat you blind.

[Khyron]

[plokiju]

Some countries have a working holiday agreement with South Korea. No one comes over on those kind of visas though. You'd almost certainly have to pay your own airfare but you'd own your visa and could work anywhere for however long or short you'd want. You can work at a hagwon but the requirements are the same for an E-2 visa. I know Canada has a working holiday agreement and Australia likely does.

Americans don't but they only get 30 day tourist visas so I take it you aren't from there. Not sure about anywhere else. Might be worth looking in to though especially if you're only looking for something short-term. You could always accept a job and then just resign formally or pull a runner(I wouldn't advise the runner though).

The 3 month teaching stint could work out but if it doesn't you will have just ended up working for your accommodation which believe me won't be as nice as they describe. They could just be honest but desperate people though. Probably can't find anyone to agree to their contract or have just had a teacher run. Doesn't reflect well on them in either case.

[Mr. BlackCat]

Hello jamie the brit,

I actually think you'd be able to get a position here if you came on your own. There's no way they'll re-imburse you for the airfare but a visa-run, yes and maybe a one-way ticket home. MAYBE. Everyone is despsrate over here. But, given your short amount of time, you can't be too picky when you get here. Or wait too long to do the visa run. It'll take another month off your plans to get over here, get a job and do a visa run.

However, you have to consider paying for a place to stay when you first get here, airfare and everyday costs till you land that job.

I know that previous poster meant it in a non-offensive way, but I don't think you're an idiot. This opportunity probably didn't come into your radar till recently and now you're trying to work it in. But don't BE an idiot. Think it through. Working illegally will put you in a precarious position. Many of us who work legally get screwed over quite a bit, so imagine working on a tourist visa.

Like another poster, I'd suggest maybe taking a year off and coming here to save money. Its a great bank account padder! And its not all that bad.

Good luck!