University jobs in Korea are among the country’s most competitive. Busan offers a lifestyle that is virtually unique in Korea – the beach, the big city, and milder winters than average. Living in Busan is considered by many expats to be more enjoyable than anywhere else in Korea. University employment offers long summer vacations, short work weeks and students that are motivated to study. It is not easy to find. Having said that, finding university jobs in Busan is not as difficult as you might imagine. You need to know a little about Busan, so checking out this site will be helpful.
Universities in Busan
University jobs in Busan can be found at the twenty-some universities in the city. All of those have English departments. These English departments have lecturers teaching ESL/EFL as well as English literature to students studying English majors. They are well staffed by expat teachers. For example, Silla University has over 30 foreign professors. Dongseo University has 55.
Getting a university job in Busan is about who you know
When university jobs change hands they tend to do so at the end of each semester. August and February are your prime picking times for university jobs in Busan. But don’t rely on searching the job portals waiting for a vacancy to be advertised. Most university jobs in Busan get filled before ever being advertised. The university will usually spread word about a position coming up among its foreign staff. Friends in the staff’s network tend to get those jobs before they are advertised.
Network to find a university job in Busan
Remember, in all job markets, only about 30% of all hires come through advertising. All other hires are found through word of mouth. With Korea being the group culture that it is, prized university jobs in Busan are almost always filled by applicants who know someone in the department. So how do you get to know someone in the department? Network.
Make friends in Busan
Busan has a number of groups and clubs where you can meet new people. You can join the local chapter of KOTESOL, where English teachers go to improve their skills and meet like-minded people. You can always work on your speechmaking skills at Toastmasters, join the adventure group Loveable Busan, and do some volunteering with Busan Volunteer. There are numerous sporting and outdoor groups to join. Don’t be shy. If you are living in Busan and want a university job, you need to network and be patient.
Search the internet to find a university job in Busan
Searching the Internet still has its place to find university jobs in Busan. You just might get lucky. Sometimes, finding the right job means being at the right place at the right time. Do your due diligence and search all the major portals for job vacancies. Bear in mind that universities that do advertise positions do so early – often up to five months before the start date.
Qualifications for getting a university job in Busan
Probably the most important thing you can do is get yourself as qualified as possible. It is often said that being employed by a university in Korea requires a Masters degree. This is almost true of Seoul and Busan. Almost. There are still plenty of university teachers working in the cities without Masters degrees. Many simply have a BA, a CELTA or TEFL/TESOL certificate and a few years of experience. The more qualified you are, the better your chances of being competitive for university jobs in Busan. TESOL Alliance offers on-site courses in Busan and all over Korea.
University jobs near Busan
If you really want to work at a university, but can’t find a university job in Busan, look to places like Gimhae, Jinju, Inje or Kaya. These are smaller towns not far from Busan. They offer many of the same pleasant living conditions and are only a bus trip away. Gimhae, in fact, is actually connected by subway to Busan.
Article Source: This article was originally published on ExpatSeek.com