Recruitment Procedures for Korea

To give you an idea of what happens here are the steps needed when applying to work in Korea.

1.Provide us with a copy of your resume, photo and application form, preferably electronically via email. We will contact you when we receive these.

2.Wait until you receive notification that a language school is interested in you. This can take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks.

3.The school will most likely want to have a phone interview with you. Either the director or a teacher at the school will conduct the interview. This is simply to test that your pronunciation is clear and concise. In most cases, this is a formality.

4.Once you are selected by the school, a contract and brief description of the school will be emailed to you.

5.Print the contract, sign it and courier it (using Australia Post Express Courier International consignment) back to the school in Korea along with:

     (a) a photocopy of your passport,
     (b) original degree document,
     (c) academic transcripts
     (d) 3 passport photos.
     (e) your resume
     (f) signed contract

6.Upon receiving the above documents, the school will apply on your behalf to the Korean Immigration Office for what is called a “Visa Issuance Certificate”. This takes about a week to ten days to obtain.

7.The school will then courier the Visa Issuance Certificate directly to the Korean embassy in Canberra. This document authorises the embassy to stamp your passport with an E2 work visa.

8.In the meantime, you can fill out your Visa Application Form and mail it, along with your passport and a postal money order for $80AUD to the Korean Embassy in Canberra. If you live in NSW, you should post your visa application to the Korean Consulate in Sydney. Please remember to always use  Express Post for security.

9.A week later, your passport will be returned to you.

10.A couple of days after receiving your passport back from the embassy, you will be on a plane to Korea where you will be met at the airport by either the school director or his agent.

What To Bring To Korea

This may seem cliche', but the first thing you should plan to bring is an open mind and a good attitude. This will ensure that your Korean experience is the best that it can be.

Money
When you arrive you will probably be atleast three weeks away from your first paycheck so you should take with you a minimum of AUD$600 to cover your first month's expenses.

Clothing
Men who are shorter than 5.10 feet (180 cm) and who weigh about 165 lbs (90 kg) or less will find everything they need here and so should only pack the necessities. If you are above these numbers, you should plan on bringing what you'll need for a year. Korean people are generally smaller than westerners, and this is particularly true for females. There is a definitely lack of clothing for women of bigger-than-average proportions. For your comfort, bringing enough underwear is particularly important. Footwear in bigger sizes is hard to find. No matter your size I would recommend taking an extra pair of footwear.

In your work place, you generally won't be allowed to wear sneakers, sandals, jeans, shorts or tank-tops. Keep this in mind when packing your bags. It is better to be dressed more formally at the start to create a good impression.

Personal Products
Koreans generally don't use deodorant, so it is  hard to find. Bring a year's supply! (I hear that the Body Shop stocks deodorant, but it is likely to be expensive.)

Females who use tampons and are particular about a certain brand may want to bring a year's supply. Tampons are readily available at pharmacies but the brands are limited.

Shaving products are available but only in a limited variety. Your electric shaver should work in Korea. (Many models have an automatic switch to go from different types of electricity.)

Sheets
Koreans generally don't use Western-style sheets. If you require them for your comfort, you'll have to bring your own.

Vitamins and Medicine
You should take along any prescription medicine you will need.

Photos
People will be interested in where you lived and your family so Koreans will want to see members of your family and friends.

Electrical Equipment
South Korea has the same voltage and current as in Australia (220-240 V), so you can take along anything electrical, like shavers, CD players, lap-tops, etc,. You will however need to visit a Tandy or Dick Smith shop to buy adapters. Ask for "two round pin" adapters suitable for Korea.