Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ABC KID]

What do you think is the IDEAL age to come and live and work in South Korea? Please explain your answers...

[tzechuk]

I don't think fresh out of college is a very good option, to be honest.

First, you don't have the maturity required to come here - yeah, I know folks out of college think they are old and mature blah blah blah, I've been there, I've done that and I know that aint so. Korea is such a different place from the West, that fresh graduates often find it such a shock that they become really depressed about things. For the record, I came to Korea when I was 22, fresh out of graduate school. So when I say I've been there, done that and didn't get a t-shirt, I mean precisely that.

Second of all, I think you lose some marketability back home if your first job isn't in your home country, and not relevant to what you are educated to do. Quite a number of people I know tell me they have a tough time finding jobs back home because they have no experience whatsoever in their homeland. Mostly this is because their degree subject is different from their actual job experience (e.g. a computer science graduate with job experience only in English teaching).

I opted between 25-29. I think that's the best age because you will have experienced working at home, gained a few years of work experience that is really needed in terms of polishing your people skills.

But this is just my opinion

[Bryan]

[tzechuk]

[Funky Chunk]

I have to agree with tzechuk. I came a week after my 22nd birthday and right out of college. As an education major, I was prepared for the job and enjoyed teaching. But as a person I wasn't ready for life on the other side of the world. I was a bit on the timid side and allowed my overly negative Canadian co-workers to taint my impression of the country without being bold enough to go out and explore on my own. Now at 27 I'm back again and better equipped to make the most of my stay here.

Now of course my experience won't hold true for all, but it does seem that the few extra years wouldn't hurt most others as well.

[Hanson]

Fresh out of university, for sure.

1) You can get more money than back home.

2) Although you have no "experience", you will undoubtedly gain some by coming to Korea.

3) It's a real test of character, especially for someone with limited exposure to other countries/cultures.

4) It's the best time for what Koreans want - young, handsome/pretty whitie. Remember, you are their cheapest (monetarily) option. Older, more experienced people cost more.

5) You can pay off student loans much faster than back home (related to #1).

6) You can live rent-free at a time in your life when rent is expensive (also related to #1)

I'm sure I'm forgetting other advantages...

[IncognitoHFX]

[tzechuk]

[MarionG]

I came at 61, great decision...

[IncognitoHFX]

[Vlad Spinner]

If you're about 12 years old, you'll be at roughly the same level of mental and emotional development as most of your Korean peers.

Sad but true.

Korea--the country which refuses to grow up.

[Otherside]

I came pretty fresh out of university. That being said, I lived and worked abroad for a year between High School and University, so I am probably a bit more experienced than many recent-grads.

I think to come to Korea soon after University is probably the best option. It would be much harder, I feel, to come to Korea and leave everything behind after you have spent a few years establishing yourself in your home country (career etc). That being said, I am fortunate in the fact that my degree is in English, so a year (or two) teaching in Korea would be quite a boon to my resume, that and teaching in Korea is quite exotic for South Africans, (unlike in Canada where everyone seems to know someone who has taught in korea from what I've heard).

As another poster mentioned, a younger teacher is often more hireable than an older teacher which could also potentially open some extra doors if one plans on spending more time in Korea.

Finally, I've discussed this point with other recent grads in Korea and a point often raised when asked whether they will stay on for another year or two is: "It's ok for a 24-25 year old to go back home and get an entry-level job and work themself up, but as you get older it becomes much harder to start at the bottom". This is something I'm also worried about, but I guess I'll cross that bridge when the time comes.

[esetters21]

[esetters21]

[Hanson]