So what exactly is the application process like? How long does it take? What are some things I should know prior to applying? I will share my personal experience applying through Gone2Korea and getting a job at a hagwon with Avalon English. Keep in mind there are many ways to go about this!
Step 1: Gone2Korea
In all honesty, I applied to multiple recruiter sites and Gone2Korea was the one that responded the fastest and continued to keep in touch! First, you apply through Gone2Korea and if they like your application they put you into contact with a recruiter who will scout out positions for you. They will keep in mind your personal preferences, such as location and children’s ages. My recruiter also conducted a mock interview with me where I was able to practice for my later interviews with schools. I found this to simplify the process for me, especially since I was not familiar with teaching outside of the Epic Program.
Step 2: Avalon English
Within a couple of months I was put into contact with Avalon English, an after-school academy (hagwon) that has locations all across Korea. I was then interviewed by Avalon and accepted for a September start. Avalon is a fairly small academy, with around 400-500 teachers total in a year, where children attend in the afternoon to expand on their English. This means that the work hours are later in the day from 1:30pm-9:30pm. So if you don’t like staying up late I would not recommend it!
Step 3: So MUCH PAPERWORK
The most difficult part of the process? The PAPERWORK! I would be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get started on acquiring documents for the Work Visa. Some of the documents you will need Passport, Health Forms, Notarized Diploma, and Background Check. Keep in mind that anything that needs to be apostilled or notarized will take double the time since you need to send it to the correct official. Also keep your documents in perfect condition, since the Korean consulate is particular about that! While your Gone2Korea recruiter will help you through this process, it is also useful to reference the Korean embassy in your area. They will likely have very clear guidelines on Visa requirements and necessary documents.
Timeline:
This is my personal timeline! I know people who have started the process with much less time and managed to make it work.
- February 2021: I applied Gone2Korea and got into contact with recruiter
- April 10th : Online Interview with Gone2Korea recruiter (more of a Q/A)
- April 20th: Recruiter connected me to Avalon and I applied
- April 21st : Video Introduction video submitted to Avalon
- April 22nd: Offered Position from Avalon
- May-June: Spent acquiring documents
- August: Received visa (very quick turnaround)
- August 10th: departed
Things to keep in Mind
While the process has gone smoothly for me there are many points where difficulty with documents could make it difficult to get a visa in time. I would recommend keeping track of all the documents and making sure they are done perfectly the first time! If I had messed up a part of the visa application I may not have received my visa in time for my August departure.
Also, I have heard that some schools/companies are a lot more volatile and prone to canceling contracts last minute. If your goal is stability I would therefore recommend EPIK since it is well established and government-run. Hagwons are a better option if you don’t have the time to apply for EPIK and want something less competitive.
Hello! I am a expat from the US living in South Korea to teach for a year. While I have traveled quite a bit in the past this will be the first time I live abroad for a an extended amount of time so I decided to document it! Through my blog I hope to share my personal experiences as well as helpful tips/information. I hope to cover topics such as Hiking, Food, and what it is like to live in Korea during Covid-19!