I've been looking for a new job for almost 5 weeks now. Turned in about 16 applications, been offered 7 interviews, and have interviewed for 4 positions.
The first interview I destroyed. Not in a good way. I had taught all morning, traveled for almost 2 hours to get there, had to wait for an hour after I got there, and I got nervous. I don't usually get very nervous during interviews but I babbled, forgot was I was talking about, and blanked completely on a question. They asked me how I would write a syllabus for a class on classroom management and I couldn't think of a thing to say. I think I squeaked, 'Discipline?', after a minute of stuttering. I excel at classroom management. I have opinions about classroom management. They actually called my current employer for a reference but emailed last week to let me know they had offered the job to someone else. Not surprised. I would have too.
Of the other 3 interviews, 2 have offered me the position, and the third informed me I am one of the top 2 candidates and they are hoping to hire us both. The latter is my number one candidate. I should hear something by today or early next week. All three are completely acceptable positions. All pay more than I am making now, have at least as much or more vacation, and the hours are the same or less than my current contract.
The positions
#1 top choice- in Cheongju. 1.5 hour south of Seoul. Conversational English instructor. Best pay, lowest hours (12 per week), 4 months vacation. I really enjoyed my interview, the staff were all very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. They showed me the apartments, which are being renovated, and it's slightly bigger than my current apt but a better space. On the edge of campus foreign teacher building. The program is structured and organized, plus there is overtime available after my first semester.
#2 choice- in Daegu. Conversational English instructor. 3rd best pay of the three, 18 teaching hours, 4 months vacation. People who work at this uni never leave. Apparently the conditions are excellent. But, they offered me the position 3 weeks ago but will not confirm until February 15. They called me on Wednesday to tell me my paperwork is 100% approved and then called me today to ask if I could get a reference letter from a volunteer org from 12 years ago! Ridiculous. And, when they apologized for the system being so convoluted, they added, 'We know- it really doesn't give much time to find an apt!'. The paperwork, that they have already sent me twice, informed me that housing was provided.
Here's the thing about getting an apt in Korea- either you have a huge deposit, 'key money', or you pretty much pay the rent up front for the entire year. Sometimes both. Luckily, Daegu is much less expensive than Seoul, but we're still talking about an average of $6,000 to move in. And I have to pay a leasing agent to help me find a place. And, since they won't confirm until the 15th, I would have less than 2 weeks to find a place and move.
#3 choice- actually becoming my #2 choice due to absurdity of the current #2 - in Ulsan. 20 minutes to Daegu, 15 minutes to Busan, and 2 hours to Seoul on KTX, the high speed train. English writing instructor. 2nd best pay, hours and vacation apparently have some flexibility but are listed as 18 teaching hours and 6-8 weeks vacation.
This job is interesting. The university is new and the programs are still being developed. My title is 'Non-credit writing instructor' and from what I understand is it's kind of a stand alone position in the department and I would be working directly with only one supervisor. Korean, got his Masters at Madison, loves Ann Arbor. I would probably only be teaching one or two actually classes. The rest of my time would be spent as a writing tutor, proofreading (for faculty and students), and running the dictation program. I don't know what that is but it sounds like something that put all those applied phonetics classes to good use. I haven't seen the apartment but I'm told it's an Offictel about 5 to 10 minutes off campus.
Soooo, we shall see. I really want #1. I also want the decision to be made so that I can finish planning my move and get on an airplane and go sit on a beach somewhere and/or visit an old friend in Hong Kong. Or both. I'm still under contract at my current job until the 28th, so except for having to move, I'm free until the 29th.
The first interview I destroyed. Not in a good way. I had taught all morning, traveled for almost 2 hours to get there, had to wait for an hour after I got there, and I got nervous. I don't usually get very nervous during interviews but I babbled, forgot was I was talking about, and blanked completely on a question. They asked me how I would write a syllabus for a class on classroom management and I couldn't think of a thing to say. I think I squeaked, 'Discipline?', after a minute of stuttering. I excel at classroom management. I have opinions about classroom management. They actually called my current employer for a reference but emailed last week to let me know they had offered the job to someone else. Not surprised. I would have too.
Of the other 3 interviews, 2 have offered me the position, and the third informed me I am one of the top 2 candidates and they are hoping to hire us both. The latter is my number one candidate. I should hear something by today or early next week. All three are completely acceptable positions. All pay more than I am making now, have at least as much or more vacation, and the hours are the same or less than my current contract.
The positions
#1 top choice- in Cheongju. 1.5 hour south of Seoul. Conversational English instructor. Best pay, lowest hours (12 per week), 4 months vacation. I really enjoyed my interview, the staff were all very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. They showed me the apartments, which are being renovated, and it's slightly bigger than my current apt but a better space. On the edge of campus foreign teacher building. The program is structured and organized, plus there is overtime available after my first semester.
#2 choice- in Daegu. Conversational English instructor. 3rd best pay of the three, 18 teaching hours, 4 months vacation. People who work at this uni never leave. Apparently the conditions are excellent. But, they offered me the position 3 weeks ago but will not confirm until February 15. They called me on Wednesday to tell me my paperwork is 100% approved and then called me today to ask if I could get a reference letter from a volunteer org from 12 years ago! Ridiculous. And, when they apologized for the system being so convoluted, they added, 'We know- it really doesn't give much time to find an apt!'. The paperwork, that they have already sent me twice, informed me that housing was provided.
Here's the thing about getting an apt in Korea- either you have a huge deposit, 'key money', or you pretty much pay the rent up front for the entire year. Sometimes both. Luckily, Daegu is much less expensive than Seoul, but we're still talking about an average of $6,000 to move in. And I have to pay a leasing agent to help me find a place. And, since they won't confirm until the 15th, I would have less than 2 weeks to find a place and move.
#3 choice- actually becoming my #2 choice due to absurdity of the current #2 - in Ulsan. 20 minutes to Daegu, 15 minutes to Busan, and 2 hours to Seoul on KTX, the high speed train. English writing instructor. 2nd best pay, hours and vacation apparently have some flexibility but are listed as 18 teaching hours and 6-8 weeks vacation.
This job is interesting. The university is new and the programs are still being developed. My title is 'Non-credit writing instructor' and from what I understand is it's kind of a stand alone position in the department and I would be working directly with only one supervisor. Korean, got his Masters at Madison, loves Ann Arbor. I would probably only be teaching one or two actually classes. The rest of my time would be spent as a writing tutor, proofreading (for faculty and students), and running the dictation program. I don't know what that is but it sounds like something that put all those applied phonetics classes to good use. I haven't seen the apartment but I'm told it's an Offictel about 5 to 10 minutes off campus.
Soooo, we shall see. I really want #1. I also want the decision to be made so that I can finish planning my move and get on an airplane and go sit on a beach somewhere and/or visit an old friend in Hong Kong. Or both. I'm still under contract at my current job until the 28th, so except for having to move, I'm free until the 29th.
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