**Are you looking for a public teaching job in Korea starting early next year? Send me your resume and photo (aslavinsky [at] gmail [dot] com) ASAP and I can help you secure a position with EPIK, GEPIK, or SMOE!**
This post is part of a series about teaching English in Korea. To see the rest of the posts, or find more information about teaching English in Korea, check out this page.
This is the first post in a new series about teaching English in Korea. Although the topic has been covered many times in the blogosphere I still get a lot of questions about how to get a job here and what it is like. Because of this, over the next couple of months I will be featuring posts, written by both myself and others, that will answer the most common questions about how to get a good teaching job, as well as what it is actually like to live and work in Korea.
There are two major job markets for teaching English in Korea. One is working in the public school system through a program called EPIK. The other main option, which I will talk about today, is working at a private school or hagwon.
A hagwon is a private language academy or preschool. They offer English language education to young students before they start Korean elementary school, after school classes for elementary to high school students, or instruction for adults looking to improve their language ability for work reasons or otherwise.
Starting the search for a hagwon job can be very overwhelming, especially if it is your first time working in Korea and you are unfamiliar with the system. While weeding through the job postings can be intimidating there are a few things you can do to make weeding out the good from the bad a little easier. Here are six tips that can help make your job search a little easier and hopefully land you a great job teaching in Korea.
1. Use Dave’s…with caution
Dave’s ESL Cafe is far and away the most popular website for teaching English abroad. The job posting board is a wonderful resource. Here you can browse job listings and get in contact with recruiters. I found both my jobs using Dave’s. The message boards, though, need to be taken with a proverbial grain of salt. While they can provide a lot of invaluable information about different schools and life in Korea, many of the regular posters are incredibly negative. If you take everything they say as true, you’ll probably start wondering why anyone would want to come to Korea to teach. I promise you, it’s not nearly as bad as they make it out to be.
2. Know the current job trends
Do your research. Read blogs, look at the job posts at Dave’s, or get in contact with people currently in Korea to find out what is currently the standard in terms of pay, vacation time, and teaching hours. Currently, a “good” hagwon job would be about eight hour days, teaching around 5-6 classes a day with 10 days of paid vacation, a starting salary of around 2.1 million won a month, and a month of paid severance upon completion of the contract. However, because of saturation in the job market, many hagwons are trying to take advantage of English teachers. Work days are getting longer and pay is getting lower. Say no to any workday over 8 hours. Trust me, it’s not worth the money.
3. Don’t put blind faith into a recruiter
Most hagwons do their hiring through third party recruiters. These people are paid for each job they fill so, while they may seem like they are working for you, they aren’t. If a recruiter keeps sending you jobs that don’t fulfill your wants or needs don’t me afraid to say no and to remind them of what you want. In addition, although the recruiters might not like it, don’t just work with one company. Working with a few recruiters will allow you to see the most job prospects.
4. Read the hagwon blacklist
Once you’ve received a job offer or interview take a look at the Hagwon Black List. This website takes user submissions and lists schools who fail to abide to their contracts. While things may have changed, if a hagwon is on the black list (if you’re looking at a job with a chain make sure you look for the correct campus) I would err on the side of safety and not agree to an interview.
5. Talk to a current teacher
Before you sign a contract ask for the email address of a current teacher. Send an email to this person and ask for the lowdown on the work environment, students, coworkers, and management. Also ask about the location of the school and condition of the housing if provided my your school. You might not get the entire story but you’ll be able to catch any huge red flags.
6. Don’t sign a contract until you are sure
Once you’ve completed the interview process, checked the blacklist, and talked to a current teacher you are almost done. Your prospective school will send you a contract to sign. Go over this carefully. Make sure that everything including salary, housing, vacation, flights, pension, severance, and work hours are clearly stated. You can also post your contract on Dave’s and teachers who have been in the ESL game for years can go over it for you and check for any irregularities. If you find something that you want changed DO NOT sign anything until a new copy has been sent to you. Don’t rely on them to change it after the fact. Do not sign anything until the contract fits your needs and expectations.
Another thing to remember is that the job that you end up with could be dependent on your level of education. If you have an MA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, you will have access to jobs that those with a bachelor’s degree and TESOL certification will not. As a result, those who have advanced degrees on the subject can command higher wages and apply for jobs at more prestigious institutions. Jobs within universities and corporations sometimes offer better wages, but always research each individual institution to see how they treat their employees.
There are a lot of English language hagwons in Korea. The jobs can range from absolutely horrible to fantastic. Remember to do your research, don’t rush into anything, and that there a thousand other jobs out there. If it doesn’t seem great, something better will come along soon.
Have you taught in English at a hagwon in Korea? What are your ESL job hunting tips?
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Amanda, these are GREAT tips and echo exactly what I say to anyone coming to work in Korea. The job specifications you’ve laid out (8 hours, 2.1 mil, 10 days vacation + severence) are what anyone starting out should be going for.
You’re right about getting the e-mail address of the current foreign teacher. If the recruiter is reluctant, you’ve got to think “WHY wouldn’t they want me to talk to a current teacher working at the place?” Likewise if the recruiter is uncommunicative or doesn’t listen, get a new recruiter.
Hagwon jobs are often seen as unsavoury and they can be, but if you follow the tips you’ve laid down here, you’ll minimise the chances of getting a crappy job for sure. Most of it is common sense really, but it still bears being said as some people just jump in blindly.
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I agree. A lot of it is common sense but I think people can get intimidated or nervous when looking for a job and settle for something because they don’t think they can get anything better or that something else will come along. You might not be able to negotiate with a hagwon, but you can turn them down and wait for something better. It’ll be worth it when you aren’t selling your soul for a year and hating it here
Amanda- this was great. I was watching some youtube vids about hagwons and it sort of caused a hailstorm of anxiety. I literally thought my dreams of teaching in Korea were over because the EPIK website stated that they weren’t hiring. This blog really helped though.
I’m glad I could be of help! I wouldn’t worry too much. You’ll find a job at a hagwon, and if you do enough research it could be a pretty good one
What about when recruiters deny you the NAME of a school they are offering?
All of my recruiters are withholding the names of the schools from me.
Sketchy… I bet they are recruiting for blacklisted schools.
And a couple others. Granted some havn’t offered any positions yet. But right now i’m wondering where is a good place to go? Most are giving me jobs in Suwon. There are lots of blacklisted schools in Suwon.
Many recruiters don’t give the names until you interview. If they still won’t give you the name at that point I wouldn’t bother.
Hello!! I have just read your post, I know it has some years ago but I would like to ask you some questions. I would like to teach Spanish in Korea, I speak English but I am certified as a Spanish teacher. Do you think I have opportunities? where can I find recruiters for this language?, and do you have any recommendations? I am from Guatemala in Central America!
Thank you so much is you can give me some ideas.
Hi Yessika, Unfortunately I don’t know about Spanish teaching opportunities. I’m sorry and good luck with your search!
The advice to be firm with recruiters with respect to what you’re looking for is very important. Many recruiters will pull the “bait and switch”, ie they will list a great job to get applicants, but once you inquire about that job, you will find it’s no longer available and will be bombarded with substandard offers that often ignore any guidelines you may have given. If this happens, find a new recruiter. There are so many of them and some actually do try to do their job honestly. If you’re not sure about your recruiter, just get a new one. If they’re honest, you’ll know
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Very true. I didn’t realize the full extent of this until I was looking for my second job after having lived in Korea for 10 months. I said I was looking for jobs in eastern Seoul and they would send me listings for jobs in Bundang, or for afternoon shifts when I wanted to work mornings. If they actually listened to what English teachers wanted they would probably be able to place more people!
My sister used to teach ESL in Korea too and stayed there for 4 years where her experiences were great. She now resides in Canada with her hubby whom she met while also teaching ESL in Korea, in the very school where she taught.
I agree with you in all fronts on this post.
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Glad to hear someone else had a good experience. Thanks for the comment!
This is a great post. I’m in the process of applying to teach in Korea.
I’m applying for the EPIK programme but all my documents are going to be submitted late (late April/early May) so there’s no guarantee I’ll get anything because of the first come, first serve basis. At the same time I’ve been in contact with a friend’s old boss – the head of a Hagwon who has an opening for the school in September.
I’ve been back and forth about which one to go for if I have the opportunity to choose so this information about Hagwons is really useful. Thank you.
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I’m glad you found it helpful! Hagwons aren’t all bad. If you can get a good one I think it could actually be better than a public school, minus the vacation.
Hey Amanda!
Extremely helpful post.
I really want to teach in Korea, I’m in the process of finding a job right now and I was wondering if I could get your help with something since you have a lot of experience with this.
I wanted to contact a few Hagwons directly without using recruiters. How do I go about doing that?
Hey Amanda,
This information is great! Thank you so much for sharing it. I was wondering if you knew anything about teaching abroad/job placement with a spouse in Korea? Basically, if being a married couple is ever desirable to recruiters/schools, or if it perhaps makes things more difficult? I was also wondering about your advice regarding TESOL certificates – do most of the Hagwons want you to have these prior to job seeking, and, if so, which certificate programs would you recommend? We were thinking about applying to a TESOL master’s program, but we’re pretty eager to get started and if it won’t make a huge difference, well, then…we just want to get outta here. Hah
Anyways, thanks again! Great advice.
Tara
You’re welcome. I’m glad you find it useful! From what I’ve heard being married will have no direct impact on you being hired by a public school. A lot of hagwons like it because they can save money and put two people in an apartment
Also, if it’s a larger hagwon and there are a lot of openings around the beginning of the semester, they can fill two slots. I knew a fair amount of couples teaching who had no problems finding jobs together. Most hagwons don’t really care about certificates, to be honest. They just want foreign faces. If you’re just looking to teaching in Korea I would definitely skip the Master’s program. It might get you a slight pay raise, but nothing significant enough to justify the costs. Maybe look into working on one online while you’re there if you think it might help with future job prospects, or if you want to teach university in Korea in the future. Good luck!
Thanks for this great post. I am a dark skinned South African and I have been thinking about applying for a job in Korea. I have read few articles about black people in korea and the racial issues they are facing over there. Do you have anything to say about this?
My girlfriend is also interested, but she’s very concerned about the racial discrimination we read about.
As a white person I feel unqualified to comment on this issue, but check of Sheryll of The Wanderlust Project. She is an African American woman who has been teaching in Korea for nearly two years and probably has some valuable insight into this. Also, she’s just awesome in general
Good luck!
You can also join the Facebook group, Brothas and Sistas of South Korea. https://www.facebook.com/groups/emailbssk/
We are thousands strong (hundreds active,) with files and people that are very helpful through every step of the process. I joined before I got to Korea, and I can honestly say, they’ve been so helpful, I don’t know what I would have done without them.
What recruiters would you suggest?
I’m thinking about applying directly to the public schools (EPIK and GEPIK)…am I able also to go through a recruiter for private schools at the same time? I want my best chances of getting in! But I do not want to end up having a horror story at a Hagwon!
Yeah, you can definitely apply to private schools while applying to GEPIK and EPIK. I’ve heard good things about Footprints, but I’d recommend emailing a bunch of them based on jobs you like on Dave’s. This will lessen the chances of a horror story as you’ll have more schools to choose from. Good luck!
http://jimmyesl.com/teach-english-abroad/teach-english-korea/
Nice article. I just wrote an article for my blog about teaching English in South Korea. I have been teaching English for 7 years, but not yet in South Korea. Please check out my article and blog.
Thanks,
James
Hi Amanda,
I don’t normally comment on blogs as it can come across as a bit spammy (I’m a recruiter!) Usually I just read when doing my research on what issues those thinking about teaching in Korea are having and the questions they are asking as it’s very important in my day to day role.
Firstly, I love your blog – very informative. Secondly, as I was reading through the comments I thought I’d be able to give some information from the other side of the fence so to speak. I hope I’m not crossing any lines!
– to the person asking about what it’s like for black teachers in Korea… things are definitely changing for the better which is great news! Public schools (mainly the EPIK program) are completely indifferent on the color of one’s skin… which is the way it should be across the board.
Most hagwons, however, prefer the “white, North American” stereotype as that’s what the parents want and the parents are the one paying the money. I don’t really know where that preference came from and it definitely makes our lives as recruiters much more difficult.
I know of one GREAT chain of schools in Daegu called MoonKkang who actively try to hire outwith this ridiculous stereotype as they want their students to experience and learn from a wide range of native speakers. Check out their website – they are a great place to work!
Note: Whilst Koreans have become much more accepting of black people in general, you will still receive lots of stares and occasional negative comment. Try to prepare for that as it’s a sad fact of life in Korea.
– to all applicants thinking of teaching in Korea; be FIRM with your preferences FOR SURE but the best advice I can give is to be a little flexible especially with regards to location. The market is very tight now for new teachers coming over for the first time due to the number of teachers who renew for a second year or switch schools in country which in turn means there aren’t as many jobs as there were a few years ago.
If you give your recruiter preferences like “Seoul, north of the river, right next to the subway, Itaewon but open to 1km either direction” (yes, i’ve had that!) then you’ll be very lucky to find anything.
– The “Bait & Switch” – someone mentioned it above and it’s something I despise! We don’t have hundreds of jobs (neither do most recruiters) and only keep an active list of 5 or 6 at one time. Fill them then accept more requests for teachers. I know for a fact that many recruiters advertise lists of 100 a jobs in great locations just to get applicants and then work hard to persuade the applicant to accept a job in some backwater… pathetic.
The bait and switch is very real so be sure to NEVER send any documents to a recruiter until you have signed a contract. And research recruiters on Google for reviews from other teachers before trusting them with any documents.
Anyway, sorry for intruding… I thought I could be of some help to your readers which I hope I have been. Let me know if you have any questions about the job market these days – i’d be more than willing to give you some figures and information from the “inside” if you wish.
Thanks for the info Anne!
Hi Anne, i think your information is very useful coming from the other side of the fence. I have some questions I believe you may have an answer for. From what I’ve researched it seems to be that people think Busan is the most difficult city to be placed in? Just wondering if that seems to be true from your side of things? My girlfriend and I are planning on teaching there next year, and are firm on living in Busan, we have no problem waiting until the perfect opportunity, I guess what i am asking is – would it be too difficult for my girlfriend and i to both be placed in a single apartment each working in Busan?,
I never taught in Busan, so I’m not sure. I knew a couple who taught public schools in Busan and while it wasn’t hard to get jobs, you might not be placed in the city, but anywhere in the province. You shouldn’t have a problem getting a teaching job at a private school in Busan, though.
Hi Amanda,
I’m really glad to read that someone has had a great time in S.Korea. I’m planning on moving there in September and was slowly starting to change my mind after all the negative comments and horror stories I’ve read about hagwons. I was really beginning to wonder why anyone does it! Your post has made me feel much better and I am going to continue looking for a hagwon job but will definitely be vigilant and do my research before accepting any offers.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Carolyn
I’m glad I could help Carolyn! With public school jobs being cut, hagwons are becoming more of the norm for English teachers. They aren’t all bad and definitely have some positives. Good luck with your search and enjoy Korea!
Hi Amanda–thank you for the informative post! I have a question regarding TEFL certificates. My boyfriend and I are hoping to move to Seoul or Busan in February 2015 and since we want to live together, it looks like a hagwon is our best option. Thank you for calming some of our fears–the horror stories have been getting to us.
My question is this: we both have 4 year degrees and are native English speakers, but I have a license in English Education and some teaching experience. My boyfriend majored in film/theatre and has only a little teaching experience. Should we both try for TEFL certificates? If so, which one? Do we need to have it completed before we start applying or just be in the process of completing it?
Thank you again for your help!
Hi Jessica,
You definitely don’t need a TEFL because you are a certified teacher. When I began looking for jobs 3 years ago a TEFL was definitely not needed for a hagwon job, but as the job market has become more competitive I’ve heard a TEFL certificate might give your boyfriend an advantage. Unfortunately, as I’ve never done a TEFL I don’t know which ones are best. I would google what companies offer the most reputable certificates, but I think most 100+ hour online courses would be fine for a Korean hagwon. Good luck!
Hi Amanda. I’ve thinking a lot about taking the plunge and going to teach in South Korea. Initially, I thought that the EPIK route would likely be my best option due to reading a number of horror stories about the private sector.
Recently though I’ve been coming across a lot more positive reviews and experiences of people who have taught in the private sector. I am still going to try the EPIK route as I feel that it offers a lot more security, especially seeing as this will be my first time teaching abroad. However, if it turns out that I am unable to take this route, then I will look into the Hagwon sector because I have my heart set on making this move.
One of my major reservations about this approach was the fact that from what I have read, Hagwons tend to display a distinct level of bias in regards to the nationality and sometimes age of the apllicants.
I am Irish, not American and will just have turned thirty one by the time that I am hoping to get out there. Although I am rather old in comparison to many of the bloggers I’ve been following, I’ve often been told that I look a lot younger than I actually am.
In your opinion will these two factors prove a serious hindrance if it turns out I have to try the Hagwon route if I am not accepted into the EPIK program? I understand that you’re no doubt very busy but if you can give me any sort of answer to the question, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Sorry for the delay in response! I do know a lot of hagwons do discriminate against non-North American accents. An Australian friend of mine had to go the EPIK route because of this. I don’t think age is as much of a factor, especially if you are still in your early 30s. Your best bet is to work with a lot of recruiters. You will find a job that will hire you, you just have to cast a really wide net. Good luck!
Hi Amanda!!
So I’m in Korea right now actually, visiting my boyfriend and a few co-workers who worked with me back in a Korean Restaurant in New York. I’ve been planning for a long time now to move to Korea and wanted to pursue teaching English over here. I thought I had a pretty good plan set out when I researched about the CELTA program, but later found out it has pretty much no meaning in Korea, correct?
Already I obtained my TEFL certificate, but through more research I’ve seen almost everyone say that it is impossible to get a job teaching without a bachelors degree. And getting a visa is out of the question. I have no degree period, aside from my diploma and the TEFL certificate. I’ve studied basic Korean through classes but nothing advanced enough to go about applying for jobs outside teaching English.
So, my question to you is – is it really impossible to get a job without the degree? I’m not someone who just wants to easily obtain a job and half-ass my way through it. I’ve done my best to gain knowledge and perspective on how to teach English and have even tutored many of my Korean friends back in New York just for fun. On top of that I have many friends who’ve offered me a place to live with them here. However, without the possibility of obtaining a job even those offers won’t help too much.
While I’m here in Korea, is there anything specific I should do that could benefit me in finding a future job before I go back?
Hi Ashley, Sorry for the late response. I hope you enjoyed Korea. Unfortunately, without a bachelors degree you will not qualify for the visa. This is a government rule.
Hey
I was just wondering what the qualifications required were to teach in south korea, and whether these apply to both public and private schools?
Many thanks
Ben, The qualifications needed for the visa are a passport from an English speaking country, a bachelors degree, and a clean background check. Other things, like a TESL certification, vary by school.
Hi Amanda! I love your writing! I am planning on applying to teach in Korea in a few months so I can start in August 2015! I know that public school jobs are hard to get so I am mentally preparing myself for Hagwon life. Can you tell me if Hagwons usually cover your airfare or is that just a public school perk? Also do Hagwons usually give you a curriculum to follow? And lastly during the interview process for a Hagwon do they ask you to perform a mock lesson for them or ask you to submit a lesson plan?
Thank you so much! Love your site!
Carly
Thanks Carly! Hagwons are kind of a mixed bag as a lot of them do a lot of things differently. A few years ago all hagwons offered airfare, but it seems this isn’t a for sure anymore. Personally, I would only accept a job that offered a round trip ticket because it shows they care about investing in people. The hagwon I worked for did give us a curriculum to follow. I would say this is pretty standard among the chain hagwons, but maybe not so much for smaller ones. That is something good to ask in the interview process. I don’t think hagwons usually ask for a lesson plan or mock lesson. All the interviews I had were like 10 minutes long and very informal. But, again, things seem to be tightening up as more and more people want to to teach in Korea so they may be more strict now. Good luck!
I guess this is a question of age. I’m 47.
I worked a few years ago in sk. Mostly a great 2 year experience. I really miss the country now and want to return. Previously, i received tons of job offers almost immediately, but not this time. At my age, is sk gonna be an impossibility?
Am fully qualified teacher, British, 14 year’s experience teaching mostly adults. BA hons degree in Business Administration.
One recruiter told me i was too old, and could achieve a max of 2 million krw through him.
Best wishes to all who get a job in sk. It is a truly great and dynamic adventure.
I know that it is a lot harder for just about anyone to get a job in Korea than it was a few years ago. There are so many more teachers trying to go over that competition is fierce. I would try to work at a public school (hard because a lot of the positions have been cut) or a private elementary/middle/high school (not hagwon). A lot of hagwons have discriminatory hiring practices, unfortunately. Good luck with your search!
I’d say point 5 is the best, but I would add an “s” to that. I would say talk to teachers who work there. And even better talk to a teacher who used to work there.
Hu Amanda!,
Great post! I was wondering if you have any idea if hagwons are open to hiring Filipinos? I’ve gone on to dave’s but I see that they require native speakers for the post
Thanks
Unfortunately, in order to qualify for an English teaching visa you need to be from one either the US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, Ireland, or South Africa.