KMK: Interview – ESL Recruiter

ESL RECRUITER: From the Other Side of the Looking Glass

So, with all the recent questions I’ve finally been answering from you my dear readers, I thought I’d go the extra mile and hunt down a recruiter to hear some of their thoughts. It’s always good to know what the guy on the other side of the desk, computer, phone is thinking so here is my chit chat with Recruiter X.

KMK: What makes your job satisfying?

RX: I guess the most satisfying thing-well, can I give you two? There’s really two. First is when we are able to place a candidate at a job. Second is when we hear about how that person is enjoying their job.

KMK: How did you end up as a recruiter?

RX: So, I kind of fell into it. Cliché, I know but the company I work for now recruited me as a teacher. A former employee of theirs recommended me. It was part time at first. They liked my work and asked me to do it full time.

KMK: What’s the biggest hurdle in dealing with prospective teachers?

RX: The biggest? There’s so many! I guess the biggest would be trying to convey to candidates that even though there are a lot of jobs and opportunity in Korea that, just like any other recruiter, we can’t guarantee every single person a job; mostly because it’s not up to us. The employers make that decision.

KMK: How long have you been a recruiter?

RX: A little over a year, but officially full time only a few months.

KMK: Are there schools you won’t work with? Why?

RX: There are schools we have ceased to do business with, but, I mean, usually there are a lot reasons for that. A major point is quality of the work environment for the teacher. If every teacher we send there wants to quit then, in most cases, it’s a clear indication that the school has a problem. Those are the schools we don’t want to send teachers to or work with.

KMK: Do you follow up with your teachers?

RX: Absolutely, the particular company I work for organizes events to give teachers opportunity to explore and meet other recruits.

KMK: How many schools do you work with?

RX: It’s hard to say exactly offhand but it’s in the hundreds.

KMK: What’s the strangest request you’ve gotten from a candidate?

RX: Can you email me your picture? I’m a Christian so does the Apostille apply to me?

KMK: No!

RX: Yes!

KMK: Well, one apostille did betray Jesus so Christians shouldn’t get a pass anyway. On that note what’s the strangest request you’ve gotten?

RX: A person who had just graduated from college with no BA in education or anything related to teaching and no informal teaching experience asked for 3,000 US a month. So really its more unrealistic and ultra specific than strange. But…

KMK: What?

RX: Not to bitch about candidates, but I do have a couple pet peeves. Like candidates who assume they are guaranteed a job. Where in the world are you guaranteed a job? And candidates who ask me questions, but don’t give me the opportunity to answer them.

KMK: So do you have any advice for potential teachers out there?

RX: Market yourself. There’s only so much we can do. We can’t advocate for you if you don’t give us something to work with. Be personable. Be flexible. More benefits will be available to you sometimes if you’re more flexible. Be enthusiastic and open minded. It’s ok to have priorities and preferences, but you have to be a little realistic as well.

KMK: Final thoughts?

RX: Don’t hate the recruiter, hate the game.

KMK: That’s a good note to end on. Thanks for the interview!