This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29929333
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
'Irish alcoholism nature' reason for job rejection for Irish teacher in South Korea | 'Irish alcoholism nature' reason for job rejection for Irish teacher in South Korea |
(35 minutes later) | |
A teacher from the Republic of Ireland has been turned down for a job in South Korea due to the "alcoholism nature" of Irish people. | |
Katie Mulrennan, from County Kerry, had applied for a teaching job in Seoul. | Katie Mulrennan, from County Kerry, had applied for a teaching job in Seoul. |
She was told by an agency that their client did not hire Irish people due to their perceived drinking habits. | She was told by an agency that their client did not hire Irish people due to their perceived drinking habits. |
The 26-year-old told the BBC that she could not believe the email was real at first. | The 26-year-old told the BBC that she could not believe the email was real at first. |
"Usually when you apply for a job and they don't want you, they don't send a reply," she said. | "Usually when you apply for a job and they don't want you, they don't send a reply," she said. |
"Or they tell you they would prefer someone from North America, because some schools prefer the accent. | "Or they tell you they would prefer someone from North America, because some schools prefer the accent. |
"But this reply was a first. When I got the email, it was so abrupt and short. I actually laughed when I read it initially. | "But this reply was a first. When I got the email, it was so abrupt and short. I actually laughed when I read it initially. |
"But then I wanted to write back a really angry response. | "But then I wanted to write back a really angry response. |
"In the end I took a deep breath and sent back a reply, that was a little bit sarcastic as I couldn't believe the email I had received. But I haven't heard anything back since." | "In the end I took a deep breath and sent back a reply, that was a little bit sarcastic as I couldn't believe the email I had received. But I haven't heard anything back since." |
'Your kind' | 'Your kind' |
The teacher had emailed the application when a job was advertised on listings website Craigslist in September. | The teacher had emailed the application when a job was advertised on listings website Craigslist in September. |
She told the agency that she had been teaching English for over three years, in Barcelona, Oxford and Abu Dhabi as well as South Korea. | She told the agency that she had been teaching English for over three years, in Barcelona, Oxford and Abu Dhabi as well as South Korea. |
Last week, she received a reply that said: "I am sorry to inform you that my client does not hire Irish people due to the alcoholism nature of your kind". | Last week, she received a reply that said: "I am sorry to inform you that my client does not hire Irish people due to the alcoholism nature of your kind". |
Ms Mulrennan said she did not know who the recruiter was as their details were not listed on the site. | Ms Mulrennan said she did not know who the recruiter was as their details were not listed on the site. |
However she has reported the advertisement to Craigslist. | However she has reported the advertisement to Craigslist. |
"It was disappointing because these employers did not even get to see me," she said. "They never spoke to me and didn't get a chance to hear what I sounded like." | "It was disappointing because these employers did not even get to see me," she said. "They never spoke to me and didn't get a chance to hear what I sounded like." |
The English teacher has since found a job and said that she can laugh about what happened. | The English teacher has since found a job and said that she can laugh about what happened. |
"I was annoyed about it. But I can also see it was a little bit hilarious as well. A friend saw it and encouraged me to post it online as it might go viral. | "I was annoyed about it. But I can also see it was a little bit hilarious as well. A friend saw it and encouraged me to post it online as it might go viral. |
"I thought: 'Really? It's just another silly thing poking fun at Irish people'. But then I put it online and people started getting in touch. | "I thought: 'Really? It's just another silly thing poking fun at Irish people'. But then I put it online and people started getting in touch. |
"I still love the country and being in Seoul." | "I still love the country and being in Seoul." |
Previous version
1
Next version