You can apply as soon as you would like, even if your estimated start date is months away. This allows time to review any questions, gather all necessary documents, and make arrangements for all of your belongings.
Please understand that Korean schools do not generally plan as far in advance as we might expect. We usually start reviewing actual contracts with teachers about 2-3 months before the start date.
The busiest times of year are July, August and September, as well as February and March. This is also when the largest supply of teachers are available, so, we normally have very high demand for teachers during Nov/Dec and April as well.
The reason you can start at any time of the year, even though they follow semesters in Korea is because the majority of the jobs are at hogwans, where there is always change happening. Teachers may have had different start/finish dates, for reasons such as delayed at the beginning of a contract because of the E2 process, or because they extended for a period of time to save some extra money before going home. You will replace a current teacher, so you will start as soon as they’re finished (likely even taking over their apartment).
***Please send in application before ordering documents, so we can review everything with you, to ensure you are on the right track.
We recommend this, since it is easier, and it is returned as soon as you arrive in Korea.
Or, you can ask your university if they will print you another copy.
If this doesn’t work, you can have a color copy of your degree made, then have it notarized, and then verified at the Korean consulate. (** Some consulates are not verifying the degrees anymore. This means you need to get it apostilled. See www.apostilleinfo.com)
If you plan in advance, and are a little bit flexible, we should be able to comfortably place you in the same city. At Teach ESL Korea, I think we help a much larger percentage of couples than other companies, since my wife and I went to Korea together, so we relate to the couples we’re helping.
Some schools shy away from hiring couples/friends, for a few reasons: They don’t have a proper couple-sized apartment, they worry if a couple breaks up the school risks losing two teachers at the same time, the school might only have 1 native teacher, and some worry two people might be more demanding.
Couples who want to share an apartment:
Yes!!! If you have at least a 3 or 4 year university degree, in any major, you qualify for any E2 visa job in Korea.
***There have been some brand new jobs just opened up, called Internship jobs. They are through the Korean government, and designed specially for college grads, or even people who have completed only 2 years of their university degree. The salary is $300 less each month, and you only teach 22 classes each week!
Public school jobs – Yes, at least for the public school jobs in Gyeong-gi do province (GEPIK).
Hogwan jobs – PLEASE understand this is not a policy of Teach ESL Korea, but that of the private schools in Korea: Most schools lean very heavily toward Caucasian teachers. Some schools are more open-minded than others, but it does limit our options.
If you are older than 60 years old, it would be very challenging to find you a job in Korea.
If you are older than 40, some hogwans will be hesitant, but the public schools will not.
Your contract will require you to give 2 month’s notice.
We understand it is not for everyone, and if you really need to leave, we must very seriously ask for your consideration in this area, and let us know in advance if you think you need to break your contract. If you leave without warning, it will take at least 2 months to find a replacement, which could bankrupt a small school.
Yes!
