Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ella]

For interviews do you dress like a Korean woman with full-on hair, makeup, and jewelry, so you look like you're expecting (and are worthy of) a good salary, or did you tone it down so as to appear as someone who would not upset/challenge/whatever the kibun of the other teachers/employees?

[rockstarsmooth]

i'm not a korean woman, so i don't dress like one, i would look ridiculous. i do dress professionally and stylishly, based on my and western standards. i don't wear makeup anyways, maybe a bit of lip gloss, and that doesn't change for a job interview. short hair, thus no hair accessories; i wear my wedding ring and a necklace, that's it for other accessories. i look good when i interview, and my cv does too; i like to think that that my getting hired isn't dependent on how much like a korean woman i look! though if that was the case, i wouldn't be employed now...
at work i regularly get comments on my style, that i dress professionally and that i have an eye for fashion. i don't think the expectation is there for me to dress in korean style. i am after all, a western white woman. one can present well without following korean fashion dictates.
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[grainger]

I wouldn't try to dress like a Korean woman because your not; and if you try too hard it'll just look ridiculous. If your employer is a man I'd say go ahead and wear a suit. You shouldn't run the risk of out dressing him because I've never known a male owner who went to work in anything other than a suit. If the owner is a woman you might want to dress in a more professional casual kind of way, but then again, if you wear a suit they'll at least have that instant impression of serious and professional.

Overall, I'd say just be neat, professional, and yourself. If you're never going to wear that suit to school don't wear it to the interview. I suppose if I were interviewing I'd want the impression of someone who can look professional while working around children all day. But then I teach kindergarten.

Good Luck.

[bellum99]

Depends on the woman. If the woman is thin and great looking..then dress to show the assets. If the woman is huge...then dress to hide the assets. Basically it depends on the job...Kindergarten is casual...adults are business (dress better than your students).

[jennateacher]

I have suits, but they are back home in Seattle. For my uni interview last month I wore a long light grey skirt, striped blouse under a black sweater and black boots. I go for high end office casual. When in the class I dress the same. Also I dress more conservative here. When working with curious high school boys, and male K teachers, it makes my life easier. Save sexy for the weekend.

[periwinkle]

[jaderedux]

I have your basic interview suit. Skirt, jacket white blouse. Conservative gold chain. I do a french manicure and carry thin briefcase. Blue stadium pumps. I look like your basic female corp. exec.

I keep this together in my closet for when the need arises. I DO NOT dress like a korean since I would look completely stupid. Just dress nicely. Be polite and don't act cocky but be confident.

Jade

[princess]

But, if you are petite and cute, you can dress in cute Korean style clothes. Because, you will fit into the clothes here.

[ella]

I should have been more specific. I didn't mean dressing in Korean-style clothing, I meant the Korean style of being more made-up than most of us (I'm guessing) typically do on a daily basis. In my experiences in other Asian countries I've found presenting a familiar image can really make a difference in how you get along (or don't) in that country, which is why I was asking. I'm more concerned about walking the fine line between looking like a professional and stern negotiator, and someone who a potential employer thinks won't fit in at the school/business.

[jennateacher]

I would not say koreans are more made up in reference to make up. The teachers I work with wear very little make up. They do like cute glitter accessories though. Their jeans sparkle, their shoes sparkle, even thier personalities.

[princess]

[OiGirl]

I dress in an EXTREMELY conservative manner, so the Koreans always think I'm weird anyway. For an interview situation, I'd break out the polyester/moleskin rather than my usual cotton/wool/linen/silk. That's about all.

[jaderedux]