Job Search Tips and Hints

“Find out how to maximize your chances of getting the best teaching position with Teach ESL Korea”

The best tip I can give to new applicants is for them to remain open-minded on where to work, since this mindset is the best way to approach this likely unknown country, and job market. Finding the most reliable school, with a good network of current foreign teachers is the most important thing, unless you know someone in Korea you want to be close to.

Once you are ready to begin the search for teaching position in Korea, there are other things to consider such as:

What age group do I want to teach?
What am I looking for in a school or city?
What is the most important thing to me?

If you’re like most applicants, chances are that you are not familiar with the country of South Korea. For example, many applicants list Seoul as their most desirable location; however they have limited knowledge on the city, but it’s the only Korean city they’ve ever heard of.

Here are a few tips and hints for narrowing your options without limiting yourself in the search:

Decide if you would rather teach in a large city or a small city. The more flexible you can be, the more options you will have. A city such as Seoul may offer a larger foreigner community but lack in the cultural aspects. Smaller cities can be easier to get around, be less expensive to live in and offer a cozy community of foreigners.
Decide if money is more important to you than the overall experience in your city or school. Often teachers let money influence their decision when the school they would really like to teach at offers a 100,000 W less pay in a month. They pass by great jobs thinking there is something better out there, not realizing that those jobs are often a lure or are for teachers with experience and excellent resumes.
Make sure to follow your instincts. If you don’t think the school will work for you, you should not force it. Chances are that this is not a good match and it is important to the school as well that their teacher arrives happy and excited to be there.

Tips for the Interview:

Make sure you are prepared for the interview and are near the phone at the right time. Schools will set an approximate time to call you and will expect you to be available and ready.
Speak clearly and slowly as in most cases English is the second language for the interviewer. In many cases it will be a current English teacher who conducts the interview. This is a great time to have some questions ready that are directly related to teaching. School directors take it as a great indication when a teacher is asking questions and seems genuinely interested in the school.
The most important thing you will be judged on is the sound of your voice, clarity, and understandability. Keep your tone upbeat and professional and the school will be impressed.