Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bouvguy]

I have been reading all of the great advice everyone has here on Dave's, but I must still be doing something wrong. I would really like to go to Korea to teach and I have been applying for many jobs. Okay, so I have been applying for a lot of university jobs, which seem to be difficult to get, and even EPIk, which I haven't heard from in awhile. I tried a couple of recruiters and got the old bait and switch on the jobs offered. I am trying to avoid hagwons if at all possible because of the number of hours teaching and not much vacation time. Here are my credentials:

B.B.A. - Marketing/Management.
Juris Doctorate - law degree equivalent to a PhD.
TESOL Certification.
Taught one year in China at a university.
White American (don't hold that against me, but most foreign schools seem to look for us white folks)

I'm not sure what other info you guys might want, just ask. I have only gotten one offer in the 7 months I have been applying for jobs, and it was from one of those crappy university jobs that I thought better of after I got the offer.

My usual plan is to find job listings. Apply to the ones I think I will like: good pay, good vacation, etc (I know everyone else is applying too). In my cover letter I talk about my qualifications and how much I want to go to Korea and what a great country it is, blah, blah, blah. Send them all the voluminous information they ask for. Send a follow up email/letter. I usually don't hear anything, but I have actually gotten a few rejection letters. Of course they don't say why they rejected me. My fianc�e is also going with me if we ever get jobs, so we have been applying for couple positions as well.

So, what am I doing wrong and what do I need to do better? I'd love to join you guys over there! Thanks.

[ttompatz]

[Scouse Mouse]

Apply to GEPIK directly here: http://cge.ken.go.kr/foreign/application.php

Alternatively, use a decent recruiter. I used Korvia and they were awesome.

[Bouvguy]

Thanks for the advice. I haven't given up hope, but I guess I can quit applying for the university jobs. Maybe next year after I'm in country for a year.

[Bouvguy]

Looks like GEPIK is out. I applied and they replied that there were no more openings. Strange that I have still seen recruits advertising for GEPIK positions.

[oldfatfarang]

How good is your photo? It's been said before, numerous times, that most Korean employers place greater significance on an applicant's photo, than on their qualifications.

Can you post your photo here. You'd have to expect a bit of sarcasm but we can give you some advice about it.

You sound WAY OVER QUALIFIED for most teaching positions in Korea. The schools may simply be petrified of you.

[Fredbob]

one thing not mentioned so far, the last minute factor, I had a similiar experience almost two years ago, I figured I would start applying 6 months earlier, thinking it would help me land a good job. Not many hits, although I too am overqualified, white etc... As soon as I wrote, available in less than one month, offers came rolling in.

Even "good" jobs here often hire at the last minute.
Peace

[waynehead]

I agree, koreans love to wait to the last minute. Look for jobs posted on daves that say something like "start immediately" and I guarantee you'll have more luck.

You might not find a uni job that way, but you could get your foot in the door at a hagwon and start looking around once you're settled here.

[makemischief]

A big university in Daegu is still hiring. It's definitely not gold, but it is a good/so-so starter (better than a hagwon at least).

Send me a PM if you want the contact info.

[Bouvguy]

Okay, here is the pic I have been sending with my resume. I think it looks professional. It was taken in the summer, so I have a lot more freckles than normal. I have been looking for the last minute jobs now and trying to mention that I am available within two weeks. I'd like to give my current employer two weeks notice before I quit, but I guess I could be ready to leave within a week. I wondered about being over qualified. Most uni jobs require at least a masters these days, so I thought the PhD would be beneficial. They may wonder why I have a BBA and a PhD but no masters. The law degree takes three years going full time to earn, so it takes longer than a masters to earn. I've thought about going back to school to earn a masters, maybe in education or tefl, but then the date of the masters would be after the PhD! Should I dumb down my resume? Another concern may be the color of my fiancees hair. I've heard that Koreans are superstitious about red hair. She is Irish, so her hair is very red. Even so, I don't think she's a witch! Could that be detrimental to her getting a job? I appreciate all the input, so keep it coming!

[img]http://thumbs.villagephotos.com/index.asp?id_=20988859[/img]

[Bouvguy]

Well, obviously my pic didn't come up for some reason. Info on that would help too. I read a sticky about it, but didn't seem to work. I guess you can copy and paste to get there.

[Bouvguy]

Sorry for the multiple posts, but I got the pic figured out.

[koon_taung_daeng]

the problem is your tie, korean HATE blue ties

[Bouvguy]

Okay, new tie. What color do Koreans like? Red?

[icicle]