Korean Job Discussion Forums

ohahakehte · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: The State of Denial

meaning: someone asks me to apply for a teaching position and i respond by sending in my resume and photo as well as a basic list of things im looking for like minimum salary, airfare, class size, accomodation, etc.

is it good or bad to do that in the eyes of the potential employer?

Skarp · Joined: 22 Aug 2003

I've been doing teh same...

Recruiters don't seem to read them. But I had a response to a reply I made directly to a school.

I dunno - I guess the argument runs this way. It sounds like you're demanding a lot and might scare them off - but if your demands are reasonable then you actually want to scare off any who won't meet those demands.

Of course - ask me again in 2 months and I'll tell you how this worked in practice.

Skapr

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:11 pm Post subject:

Airfare and minimum salary, yes.

Class size, no.

Apartment conditions, maybe.

TIP: Don't make statements. Ask questions. If they don't know what you want, you're more likely to get the info you want about the positions you are offered.

Of course, making demands of recruiters is a better idea than doing so to a school director. The recruiter just wants to place you somewhere with minimum hassle. I told my recruiter that I am easygoing and flexible about many things, but that my salary expectations and location preference were non-negotiable. I got what I needed in these regards. Certainly not everything I wanted when other factors are considered.

Figure out what're your needs and what're your wants, and express them to the right people, if necessary.

ohahakehte · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: The State of Denial

white tiger · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

i would have to say it is fair to lay out your demands to your recruiter; ask as many questions as you have!!! i also provided my recruiters with what i was looking for; unfortunately, because they are being paid by the schools, not by you, it is in their best interests to send you contracts that may not be quite what you're looking for.
i could be wrong, but most teachers, if given the opportunity, are looking for just about the same thing. but, there's positions that need to be filled which aren't quite perfect. i know from my experience, that the longer i waited for that perfect contract, the more my standards began to drop.

you have the advantage while searching for a position. once you're there and under their wing, your bargaining power is gone.