Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yaya]

I've been back in the US for about nine months now, and I had a plan to get into real estate appraisal in Southern California. I've blown over $20,000 in savings to resettle in the US (the costs involved in maintaining a car is just so freakin' ridiculous in the US), and the bad thing is, I think that appraisal may not be the way to go for me even though my co-workers are raking in good money in a relatively stable job.

The one good thing that came out of my move to Cali is that I'll be an in-state resident soon and can qualify for in-state tuition at the multitude of schools around here, esp. the really cheap Cal State system. I came back to the US knowing full well the implications of readjusting to life in the West, but at times, it's actually harder than you can ever hope to prepare for. What kept me going was that I knew I could go back to Korea or Asia if I had the right credentials.

Another friend went back to Ohio after several years in Asia because of his ailing mother. He had a master's in English but couldn't get a job even part-time at universities because he was competing against swarms of unemployed Ph.ds. He ended up working for some auto trade magazine as a writer before entering a Ph.d program in int'l education, and he loves it.

My advice is to go to school to learn a skill in demand. I don't know what's hot in Oz, but in the US, the health care sector continues to grow and technical schools also offer lifetime job placement services here. I have to agree with Kangnam Mafioso - going back to Korea is a stop-gap measure that will actually hurt you in the long term if your plan is NOT to make Korea home.

Another point - I left Korea even though I could've stayed because I knew I needed to beef up my job skills and credentials. Even in Korea, your job prospects after age 40 start to wane considerably since new and younger recruits from the West will compete for jobs. I have nothing against living in the now and present, but nothing lasts forever no matter how cushy your position is, and you gotta plan for it.

[kangnam mafioso]

[quote="Yaya"]The one good thing that came out of my move to Cali is that I'll be an in-state resident soon and can qualify for in-state tuition at the multitude of schools around here, esp. the really cheap Cal State system.

What kept me going was that I knew I could go back to Korea or Asia if I had the right credentials.

quote]

what are you planning to study?
what credentials? A bachelors degree?

[Yaya]

[quote="kangnam mafioso"]

[Miles]

[the wrangler]

Yes, I agree with Kangnam.

After teaching for 5 years, obviously you came back for a reason, perhaps to hang the gloves.

Going back to Korea would be a terrible mistake especially if you plan to move on with your life back home.

I always follow the "2 goal" rule. Always have 2 goals at the same time in mind.

You said you have family here. Well, utilize and stay with them to save on living costs.

Take some good time and find what it is that you want to do-something you know that you can do.

Get a job, any job. Wash dishes, pump gas, deliver the paper(I'm sure you can land that).

As long as your ultimate goal is in sight, just do something/anything. If you've saved some earnings from Korea, again, do something!


Hang in there, mate

[rush]

sometimes this board restores my faith in human nature

thanks guys

[Yaya]

[Tiger Beer]

[taobenli]

Yaya-

You said your friend was in a PhD program in international education. Where?

I'm really interested in jumping on this international education/exchange band wagon. I've had a considerable amount of experience with it already and it could be a fun career. Right now I'm in an international studies M.A. program and am thinking of going on for an Anthropology PhD. But that could change. School for International Studies in Vermont looks great but there's no way I could afford it...and I object to paying that much to do a program to get into a field where the financial rewards are not that great anyway (unlike an MBA program, for example, where the expense seems more justified).


Thanks,

taobenli

[Manner of Speaking]

I am thinking about getting out of the ESL field ('racket').

I've always been interested in the health care field, especially international health and/or public health. If anybody runs across any degrees or programs in that area that look interesting, would you please post a link here or pop me a PM? Thanks!

MOS

[Yaya]

[Reena]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you are in Vancouver right now? If so, I suggest doing something I.T. related. Some others have posted that I.T. jobs are hard to find but from my experience in the I.T. field, there are tons of jobs out there (In Canada), yes there is a lot of outsourcing but that's for call centers, tech support, etc. If you are in Vancouver, check out BCIT's Computer Systems Technology programming or the Networking programs/certificates - you will be able to find a job.

[Daechidong Waygookin]

I guess Im lucky. I would never consider going back to Canada unless I had a great job lined up for myself. Without a plan?! Why did you go back? Was it just for the sake of going back?

[SuperFly]

I know what you're going through. I think a lot of people in similar situations go through the same phases, and many give up after 3-5 months and go back overseas...I couldn't because of my application for a fiance visa. I finally found a decent gig in the mid 30's, but after about a year of that, I found my niche and went after it. Take your time, think everything through, and be patient...I can remember those first few months and all the dissapointments associated with trying to get back into the game, and I know it sucks ass...keep trying..never give up man.

[ajuma]