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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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daedalusfinch
Joined: 27 Feb 2009
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 Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:47 am Post subject: Help finding a non-teaching job |
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Long time reader, first time poster.
My girlfriend recently moved to Seoul to teach English, and I am looking to follow her soon. The problem is, teaching just isn't going to pay the bills with the tanking won (I'll have about 800/month in obligations in the United States). I have a bachelor's degree in English (minor in political science and german).
I'm currently a copy editor/page designer (I fix grammatical errors, do layout/make custom art for pages, and write headlines) for a newspaper of a good-sized city, and I have two years of experience in this field. I'd like to continue doing this, preferably for one of the English-language newspapers in Seoul, but I'm also interested in graphic design, marketing, advertising, and PR.
The problem is, it seems the only job listings I can find in Seoul are for teaching positions. What should I do? Should I cold-email the newspapers with my resume/cover letter/portfolio? Should I find a headhunter? Is there another route I should take?
Any advice you guys could give would be wonderful. Thanks in advance.
P.S. -- What's the attitude toward facial hair in the business culture? I have a well-maintained beard and mustache. Should I shave it for my resume picture? |
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pidgin
Joined: 31 Jul 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:00 am Post subject: Re: Help finding a non-teaching job |
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| daedalusfinch wrote: |
| Should I cold-email the newspapers with my resume/cover letter/portfolio? |
Why not?
| daedalusfinch wrote: |
| Should I find a headhunter? |
Perhaps yes, but research each one very well first.
| daedalusfinch wrote: |
| Is there another route I should take? |
Other than hit the ground running and network, network, network, you might consider biting the bullet and trying to find some corporate lessons (through an institute) to increase your networking chances. Consider it a stepping stone 
| daedalusfinch wrote: |
| What's the attitude toward facial hair in the business culture? I have a well-maintained beard and mustache. Should I shave it for my resume picture? |
It's generally not great, though some have gotten jobs with it. You might shave it for the photo to up your chances,....get your job and then grow it back. |
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browneyedgirl
Joined: 17 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:44 am Post subject: |
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Even with your experience getting an editing job at a paper won't be easy. When they hire someone, they give preference to F-2/F-4 visa visa holders. Those are jobs everyone wants, and people tend to hold onto them.
If you wanted to be a freelance writer, you'll have better luck (there are two places looking for those right now).
The PR and advertising jobs are there too, but they want people who speak Korean and sometimes other languages like Japanese (just heard about an agency looking for that) with two years or more as a media planner. It is much harder to get into if you don't have contacts and don't speak Korean. Plus, advertising and PR companies here will expect you to work all day and will fire you if you make a mistake (I'm not kidding. I know people who work in advertising). |
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