Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sublimeshawn]

Hello All! Im here reading some of these posts and resumes from teachers and I seem to see a lot of Good looking and Handsome teacher posts. Now Im not chopped liver and I like to think Im fairly good looking besides being quite the large guy 6'3 285. How much do looks play into Koreas mind set and asia in general. I know that in The States its more under the table and eveything being equal the better looking person will get the job, in Korea it seems that despite if your a a little more qualified and not quite as good looking as a competitior for the position, if your the better looking candidate your more apt to get the job. Am I right or wrong in that assumption. So sufficed to say I put in my resume title that Im good looking too!(not false advertising either, lol) Im thinking that maybe they place a bigger importance on looks because of the fact that most owners dont get a chance to meet you and get to know you, until your already there and Looks besides docking your picture cant be faked! Let me know if personality can trump looks, if so how do you relay that being 5000 miles away, ie.. well put together resume, clever e-mails, impressive phone voice. Well Ill let you ffolks dish out some comments for me.

[Seth Gecko]

Looks are really important here. You can land a sweet job if you're good looking. You'll definitely get a better job quicker! A young, good-looking girl can pretty much write her own ticket at a hogwan. My ex K-girlfriend was doing some recruiting for awhile, and the hogwans would often ask for scanned photos of the applicants sans resumes! Hahahaha! Can you believe it?
Btw, I'm uglier than homemade sin, so I was lucky to have my friends (who arrived six months before me) vouch for me before I arrived here. I've proven myself since, though. But then I f'ed it up and it all came crashing down... but that's another story!

[VanIslander]

In the hogwan industry, good looks can makes a difference, all other things being nearly equal. Parents often make the final decision whether to enrol their children in your academy based on their first impression of the foreign teacher, which can sometimes amount to a glance and a nod.

But what are good looks? In Korea the standard is different. If you walk around with blue eyes and a big smile then you'll have older married women, a.k.a. ajummas, approaching you with comments of "you Handsome" even if you're a giant bear of a guy like me.

It's my impression that you can trump any good looks if you seem kinder, more considerate and accommodating than the next joe with a chip on his shoulder or head held defiantly high.

Good luck. And remember: with a 285 lbs. body you WILL be called a pig many times. Don't fret: I've been told that pigs actually are a symbol of good luck here. Nevertheless, I recommend that you refer to yourself as a bear, since by their creation story, Korea was borne of a bear. Your students will get past your looks before long.

[Arthur Fonzerelli]

good looks and a youth are the recipes for success in korean esl...

age and experience aren't good for your job prospect....

amazing, but true...

[chronicpride]

An example: I sent 2 resumes to an English faculty director at a university, one time. The first guy was a 38 yr old American and IN Korea. Had an MA in English, TESOL, and over 10 yrs ESL experience. Even had experience with creating and drafting ESL literature. The other guy was a 24 yr old Kiwi, living in New Zealand. BA in Anthropology. No experience. But was more handsome than the other. They took the 24 yr old, because 'the other guy didn't look right.'

[sublimeshawn]

So I assume pretty much the opposite of Korean people, blond hair, blue eyes, tall. do the best, how bout red hair, brown eyes, and tall lol.. Hey Chronic are you african american? how hard was it for you if so? I can just imagine how people that will gawk at me Im 6'3 285 big somebitch! probably be called pig and all that jazz![/quote]

[chronicpride]

[jajdude]

A few years back some guy with another website on EFL in Asia mentioned sending out fake resumes. The younger and more attractive applicants got more offers, even when their education and experience wasn't half as good as the less attractive, older, or perhaps black people.
So around here, I guess looks count. Hey, I heard "Baywatch" had about a billion viewers worldwide, no English skills necessary to enjoy looking!

[The Man known as The Man]

[kiwioutofthenest]

When i was applying for the job i have now the recruiter asked for another photo as i had sent the typical deer in the headlights id pic, it wasn't until i sent a photo of myself stradling a fence with waist lenght blonde hair blowing in the wind that i got the job....i also said that i worked in America....ommited that i actually worked for an American owned cruise ship that spent most of it's time in the mediterranean but ocassionally in NYC.
The photo was a good four years old, when i arrived i had dreadlocks so i guess i got the job under false pretenses. no matter im here now.
Incidently the first comment i got from the bosses sister was "you have such beautiful round eye lids"

[Squid]

I could'nt resist a good-natured laugh at your post here Shawn... I think though, that all you'll have to worry about, at 6'3, 285lb with a bloodnut, is the fear and awe you'll inspire into the "Wongjangnim"- or hagwon boss.
Colleagues too!

I pity you if you've got a job with kids, after their initial mock shyness they'll be all over you like a rash- probably giving you a few rashes too.

The obsession here with youth and beauty is as familiar to those of us with our eyes open as the often chronically superficial and looks obsessed society of Western culture. That said, like anywhere, if you retain a sense of humor and keep an easy smile about you doors will open.

Best of luck to you

Squid, for once not inclined to sarcasm.