Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Stacy]

I am thinking of getting a Masters in either English or Marketing. Which one would be more valuable in Korea? Outside of Korea I would rather have the Marketing Masters but in Korea it seems the English Masters would be more marketable. What kind of jump in salary per month or year would a Masters make? Are there any certifications on the side that would be valuable? I am currently finishing up my TESOL certification.

Also this is sort of an off topic question but - will working an ESL job in Korea look okay in America on a resume? Don't attack this question with "how could you not know the answer to this one!" I ask because I don't want to stay here too long if it backfires a career in the United States. You understand what I am saying?

[Bibbitybop]

In Korea? English.

In the business world (not Korea, but maybe after Korea if you don't want to teach): Marketing

In Korea, a Masters in English will net you 2,000-5,000 US more at public schools. Hogwans are negotiable but probably around the same. The biggest difference a Masters in English will get you is good university jobs in Korea. There is more money and waaaaaay more vacation.

[bassexpander]

An MA is not needed to get a university job here in Korea.

Why? Because most of these jobs are becoming unigwon jobs. Fewer and fewer positions requiring MA's are available each year, from what I'm seeing. An MA can get you a "leg up" on the better jobs, but sadly, there are few positions in Korea where MA's are compensated fairly for thier degree.

The MA's at my uni make a whopping 100,000 more per month. I make more than the incoming MA's because I've been here 3 years (I have a BA).

I've thought about getting an MA, and still might, because it's always good to continue your education if you can afford it (and if it's worthwhile). I don't want to bother with any MA unless it will be useful for me in the USA. The value of having one just isn't that important for me at this time, because of the low compensation. Generally, at max, the best of the best uni jobs here are going to offer me a base about 500,000 per month higher than what I'm making now, working about the same hours. We're talking about many 1 or 2 unis in the entire country who have the pick of dozens of highly-qualified applicants with loads of experience. I would have to "get lucky" and probably know the right person to get one of those jobs (and they're disappearing fast).

Also, at my unigwon, I have another 6 hours of OT and combined with my base, make slightly greater than those jobs do anyway.

Oddly, this all now depends on my wife, as she just accepted a new job as a manager for a large international corporation, so she more than doubles my salary before bonus anyway. Say hello to Mr. Mom!

[Bibbitybop]

I was referring to good uni jobs, not unigwons. But you are correct, BE.

[bassexpander]

The "good" uni jobs are so few and far between now... sad, isn't it? It's like we have very little to even shoot for anymore.

Some of the unigwon jobs aren't bad though. Experiences may vary, but oddly, smaller unis (like mine) may offer a fair mid-level deal for unigwon jobs.

I'm always paying attention to the job, however, and finding that they are inserting little phrases in the contract every year that could suddenly turn this job into a very poor one at their discretion.

When it becomes such, I will walk -- maybe go back to public school teaching.

[PRagic]

I'd take the marketing degree any day, unless you plan on pursuing teaching ESL back in your home country.

Any Master's degree will help you to get better university jobs here. If you have your MA, don't apply to schools that hire BAs if you can avoid it. No brainer. As BassExpan explained, those programs don't put any emphasis on level of education. Ask around, and you'll hear that those programs also tend to walk all over their teachers.

True, some of the more selective places favour those with A.L., TESOL, or Lit degrees, but there are more and more opportunities for non-traditional ESL instructors here. Many business departments, for example, want to pick up someone to teach their business English-related requirements, and many UNIGWONS (some pay better than departmental jobs) offer a variety of content classes.

The other upside is that you never know when an opportunity in business will come up. Odds are it won't, but who knows?

As for how ESL looks on a resume, that depends on 1) where you work, and 2) how you word it. Hakwon jobs? If you're young enough and just do a year or two, I'd put it on there. If you worked for a while, then boogied off to Asia, then want to go back, I'd be careful. If you plan on staying in education, then P.S. or university jobs definitely look better.

Whatever degree you decide to shoot for, good luck. The best thing to do is to get started ASAP. Many just talk it to death. Get started and you'll see just how fast it goes by.

[bassexpander]

[kiwiana]

Stacy,

Several of my friends have MBAs (or similar) and have very nice university jobs as visiting professors. They are on E1 visas and teach in university departments related to their specific area of expertise. Such jobs can be considered top tier university positions as they more often than not provide the full 5 months paid vacation and a competitive salary. Something to consider.

It is true that it is not necessary to have a master's degree to land a university job. However, it is difficult to secure a 'good' university job (i.e., competitive salary, 5 months paid vacation, and low working hours) without a master's degree, especially in major cities.

As for your question about whether to go for an MBA (or related degree) or a Masters in English Lit, I would say go for the MBA as it would likely be better for your short and long term financial future (I assume this is important to you). In addition to helping you secure the E1 type jobs (as above) an MBA is often a good thing to have going for E2 university positions in Korea. Korean universities often require teachers to teach business/marketing related courses in addition to conversational/ grammar classes etc. Having an MBA, in addition to TESOL certification, would make you a competitive potential employee for many good uni jobs here.

I have just competed an MEd. I did this extramurally via thesis through a well respected university back home. Coupled with my EFL experience this enables me to secure good university jobs in Korea for the next few years and give me some credentials to choose jobs back in the West (i.e., teaching, administration, training, or PHd).

If you want to secure a good uni job over here (whether E1 or E2 status), and at the same time maximize your employment options for an eventual return home, I�d go for the MBA. I know that some might say that working over here will mean nothing to employers back home. However, if you were to complete a master degree at the same time it would at least show your potential future employer back home that you have discipline and a certain degree of drive to improve yourself.

Stacy, I agree with Pragic's post, it's a good one. Especially the point about getting started ASAP. Don't procrastinate.

Best of luck

[KoreanAmbition]

I'm bias towards an MBA but I won't just say it's better. As said above, it depends what you want to do.

However, there has been something lacking from this thread so far, and that is tuition costs. I find it interesting that no one has mentioned the large difference in captial investment required between the 2 options.

Most MBA's take 2 years, and most likely cost a great deal more than the other choice. I am not sure what an MED costs, but it should pale in comparison to what they'll charge you for an MBA.

Also, and I'm not being rude by saying this, but an MBA is not just some easy degree. I know people that have done an MED and based on their comments, the MED is not that hard a degree. Now, while the material for an MBA is not all rocket science, however for the most part, a 2-year MBA should be rather rigorous at least in the demands of time. You will be bombarded with constant work and it doesn't stop.

A part-time MBA should take you 5 years I would guess. However, you can do 3 courses a term (with 1 or 2 in the summers) and thus it would take 3 years basically.

Working while you do an MBA part-time in 3 years?? If you do an MBA in 3 years and work at the same time, then prepare to take a year off just to rest your brain and your nerves. If you aren't physically and mentally exhausted, then your MBA probably wasn't very credible and might not be worth too much back home anyways.

I think the MED will provide a great deal more opportunity to the university profession in Korea but the MBA can be marketed in a way that the MED can't. If you market yourself properly, you should be able to find some interesting jobs (as others have said) since the laws of supply and demand are on your side with far fewer MBA's being available for schools to choose from.

Anyways, in the end, the cost of an MBA combined with your career path should make it rather easy choice. If you plan to stay in education, then do the MED. If not, do the MBA. Finally, check the MBA tuition costs; even decent schools are really expensive nowadays.

Good luck though. I loved my MBA and feel it helped me get my job and believe it will help me in the long run. However, I don't think it's for everyone and I can see many reasons why an MED would provide excellent ammunition for someone's career given their interests.

[Stacy]

[Whistleblower]

[BS.Dos.]

I'm with Bill when it comes to marketing.

[Stacy]

Bill Hicks is funny but this video of his isn't. He's no George Carlin but at least he tries.

[BS.Dos.]

You should take marketing. Not that I think highly of people involved in marketing, but you're obviously a natural given that you just sold me (Carlin) something I didn't know I wanted.

[Stacy]

Why is everyone on this site so unhappy and bitter?