I am glad to hear that you thought my posting was interesting. It is quiet O.K. to post. Good luck,

Posted by Better Resource on December 02, 1996 at 10:49:24:

Subject: How to Screen Agencies.

WARNINGS TO ALL THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE
INTERESTED IN TEFL POSITIONS IN KOREA.

My name is Tommy Lee, president of Better Resource.
I've heard numerous complaints about fraudulent employment agencies from instr uctors
who are already placed in Korea and from candidates who are interested in TEFL
positions in Korea. As you are aware of that there are roughly 40 different so called
employment agencies including Better Resource. I am sure that there are ma ny reputable
agencies operating legitimately. However, due to the fraudulent acts committed by the
few agencies many agencies operating legitimately are faced with many difficulties in
recruitment. My whole intention is to rule out those fraudule nt agencies and to help those
candidates who are considering TEFL position in Korea in selecting reputable and
legitimate agency. Therefore, I am listing few tips in selecting agencies.

1. REQUEST A COPY OF BUSINESS LICENSE.
Many agencies are n ot fully registered with the city/county that they are located at.
Also check to make sure that their business license is issued under "employment
agency", not "fish market", or "travel agency". If they are not licensed under
"employment agency" , they cannot operate their business as an employment
agency.

2. HOME BUSINESS
In order to cut the cost of running a business, many agencies operate in their own
home and run employment agency as a part-time. Although there is nothing
wrong with cutting the cost, home business and part-time business lacks
efficiency. This means that you'll never know when you will be able to obtain the
position. One way to find out whether your agency is a home business is to check
their mailing add ress. If their address starts with P.O. Box or have no suite
numbers, most likely it is a home business and part-time. If you are in doubt just
ask.

3. RESUME BROKERS
This also relates home business. There are many agencies who do not have any< br>direct contacts with schools in Korea. They only sell your resume and other
documents to agencies in Korea for few hundred dollars. One danger in going
through resume brokers is that they will forget your name as soon as they've been
paid. The y will never know where you are placed in Korea and will never be able
to assist you when any difficulties arise. Please remember you are a human-being,
not just a piece of paper.

4. OFFICES IN U.S.A./CANADA AND KOREA
If at all possible, t ry to go through an agency that has an office in the States and in
Korea under the same name. I say this because once you arrive in Korea and
starts to have any difficulties with the school or with the director, branch office in
Korea will be abl e to assist you in resolving the problem as amicably as possible.
And even before you are placed in Korea, you can safely assume that the position
will be offered to you as quickly as possible since these agencies have direct
contacts with schoo ls and directors.

5. AGENCIES BASED ONLY IN KOREA
Those agencies based only in Korea do not have personal contacts with their
candidates. Due to the distance restraints, these agencies rarely conduct
interviews and you will be able to meet them in person only after you arrive in
Korea. Also remember that these agencies usually are bias toward instructors. In
most cases a person who is running this agency is a native Korean who has limited
knowledge of American/Canadian cultures. Theref ore, you can reasonably expect
them to take school's side if problems arise.

6. NO REFERENCES
Never go through agencies who are unable to provide you with the references.
You must ask to speak to any instructor who are currently teaching at th at
particular school or someone who had gone through the similar program.

6. FEE BASED
Never go through agencies that require you to pay any money upfront. As you
know, most of the agencies are paid by the schools although those fees could vary .
The only expenses that you can expect to incur are the following: visa fee($20),
telex fee($12-20), and any freight fee if any shipping is involved.

I hope this clarifies the misunderstandings of the agencies and helps candidates to locate
t he most suited agency. If anyone has any comments or questions please email to
better@wcis.com or fax (213) 738-0852.

Best Luck.

Tommy Lee
President

: Subject: How to Screen Agencies.

: My name is Tommy Lee, president of Better Resource. : I've heard numerous complaints about fraudulent employment agencies from instructors : who are already placed in Korea and from candidates who are interested in TEFL : positions in Korea. As you are aware of that there are roughly 40 different so called : employment agencies including Better Resource. I am sure that there are many reputable : agencies operating legitimately. However, due to the fraudulent acts committed by the : few agencies many agencies operating legitimately are faced with many difficulties in : recruitment. My whole intention is to rule out those fraudulent agencies and to help those : candidates who are considering TEFL position in Korea in selecting reputable and : legitimate agency. Therefore, I am listing few tips in selecting agencies.

: 1. REQUEST A COPY OF BUSINESS LICENSE. : Many agencies are not fully registered with the city/county that they are located at. : Also check to make sure that their business license is issued under "employment : agency", not "fish market", or "travel agency". If they are not licensed under : "employment agency", they cannot operate their business as an employment : agency.

: 2. HOME BUSINESS : In order to cut the cost of running a business, many agencies operate in their own : home and run employment agency as a part-time. Although there is nothing : wrong with cutting the cost, home business and part-time business lacks : efficiency. This means that you'll never know when you will be able to obtain the : position. One way to find out whether your agency is a home business is to check : their mailing address. If their address starts with P.O. Box or have no suite : numbers, most likely it is a home business and part-time. If you are in doubt just : ask.

: 3. RESUME BROKERS : This also relates home business. There are many agencies who do not have any : direct contacts with schools in Korea. They only sell your resume and other : documents to agencies in Korea for few hundred dollars. One danger in going : through resume brokers is that they will forget your name as soon as they've been : paid. They will never know where you are placed in Korea and will never be able : to assist you when any difficulties arise. Please remember you are a human-being, : not just a piece of paper.

: : 4. OFFICES IN U.S.A./CANADA AND KOREA : If at all possible, try to go through an agency that has an office in the States and in : Korea under the same name. I say this because once you arrive in Korea and : starts to have any difficulties with the school or with the director, branch office in : Korea will be able to assist you in resolving the problem as amicably as possible. : And even before you are placed in Korea, you can safely assume that the position : will be offered to you as quickly as possible since these agencies have direct : contacts with schools and directors.

: 5. AGENCIES BASED ONLY IN KOREA : Those agencies based only in Korea do not have personal contacts with their : candidates. Due to the distance restraints, these agencies rarely conduct : interviews and you will be able to meet them in person only after you arrive in : Korea. Also remember that these agencies usually are bias toward instructors. In : most cases a person who is running this agency is a native Korean who has limited : knowledge of American/Canadian cultures. Therefore, you can reasonably expect : them to take school's side if problems arise.

: 6. NO REFERENCES : Never go through agencies who are unable to provide you with the references. : You must ask to speak to any instructor who are currently teaching at that : particular school or someone who had gone through the similar program.

: 6. FEE BASED : Never go through agencies that require you to pay any money upfront. As you : know, most of the agencies are paid by the schools although those fees could vary. : The only expenses that you can expect to incur are the following: visa fee($20), : telex fee($12-20), and any freight fee if any shipping is involved.

: I hope this clarifies the misunderstandings of the agencies and helps candidates to locate : the most suited agency. If anyone has any comments or questions please email to : better@wcis.com or fax (213) 738-0852.

: Best Luck.

: Tommy L