Korean Job Discussion Forums

creeper1 · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

"A jobless scientist with a doctorate in physics has applied for a street sweeper's job, reflecting the severe economic slump and rising unemployment, officials said."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Korean_scientist_seeks_sweepers_job/rssarticleshow/3958313.cms

I do note that the starting salary of $25,000 isn't too bad considering a sweeper would be classed as a lowly job.

Anyway this just goes to show just how freaking competitive it is to get a job here. I mean a PhD in Physics! I know in the UK he would have a teaching job waiting for him if he done a PGCE. That's at the very least.

It just so happens that racism increases in hard economic times. I know at home people grumble about Poles taking this or that job. (And a lot of them are lowly paid) That kind of thing is only going to increase as times get way harder.

I imagine Koreans are going to get more jealous of us and our easy (relatively) well paid jobs which seem to be recession proof.

Hope I can ride this current storm.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

A Streetsweeper is earning 2.7mill a month.
Sure he doesn't have an lodging provided, but he's still making more than a fair portion of the ESL population.

That's right, streetsweeprs earn 2.7mill and most ESL gigs earn in the 2.1-2.5 bracket. Why would anyone be jealous of us?

Paji eh Wong · Joined: 03 Jun 2003

This is Korea. Just because he has a PhD in physics doesn't mean he's qualified to do scientific research. Maybe he went through nine years of school to escape from real life.

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

I saw the news about this.
And that's just entry level.
Streetsweeper or garbage collector or what not; they are government jobs, and government jobs in Korea are easy street (once you clean it.)

sojourner1 · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject:

Why are teachers under paid in most countries?

Ukon · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

You'd be susprised how many PHDs can't get jobs...there is a glut of them in certain fields so competition can be fierce. On one hand, your vastly overqualified for many normal jobs and you've spent your 20's with little professional work experience.

Some fields have way too many PHDs and not enough department positions for them in college....

Thewhiteyalbum · Joined: 13 Nov 2008