Korean Job Discussion Forums

[FredDaSked]

1. I'd see some freakin' baggers in the big grocery stores.

This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Having to do all the packing myself really slows down the checkout process for everyone, since I'm not good at it and the bags are the plastic fight-with kind. I'm not encouraged to stay and shop for tons of things because of this. And, since there seems to be just one business model followed wherever I want to take myself, it's easy to anticipate that this is a country-wide phenomenon.

Also, while I'm at it, they might invest in some service-with-a-smile training consultants for the cashiers (and one sample lady in the bakery section of the E-mart where I go). As it is, the position of store personnel doesn't seem to be promoting itself to job seekers, especially to those with that precious training in the English language. Nobody where I shop speaks a word beyond 'bag peelyohasayo?' (Now, that's just a comment, not a judgement).

2. There would be such a thing in my public school as a janitorial department.

There are a lot of dirty floors that have been for a long time. There's a sink in the boys' bathroom that's been half-filled with black water for at least two weeks. It's supposed to be my duty to sweep and mop my classroom floor every Friday at the end of the day. Not a problem, but things like these contribute to inefficiency, and, at least in my case, I can't give the floor the stripping and waxing it cries out for.

3. Construction sites would employ more than just a handful of workers to put up the buildings underway on every spare empty lot. Minor buildings such as the villas on my street don't have to take the months they take. The process seems efficient, but the field is ripe for more labor.

4. Trash collection might be more diligent than it is, with a more centralized system in place. I haven't seen anything that even looks like a local, regional or national system of truck-based collection. Instead, the system seems beholden to private firms or even simply enterprising individuals that come around sporadically, and I see a lot of bags just hanging around the lampposts waiting to get picked up.

These couple things are just examples of where work--and a larger customer base, in some cases; a more satisfied clientele in others (such as public schools)--could be created. I'm sure there are more.

On the other hand, they've got a lot of dancing traffic directors here. That's gotta be worth something.

[litebear]

Mate, never, and I mean ever, visit or live in Scotland. You would have a heart attack if your pet peves include poor customer service and ineffcient working practices.

[redaxe]

[cdninkorea]

If restaurants and ddeokbboki (sp?) make money for the entrepreneurs, all the power to them I say!

As for supermarket grocery baggers, go to a high end supermarket if that's what you want. Hyundai Dept. Store has a cashier and a bagger at every register who'll smile while putting everything in the bag and even tie the little flaps together at the top of the bag. Now that's service!

[ekul]

[seoulsucker]

[quote="ekul"]

[GoldMember]

In my area there is a great system for creating jobs. Build poor quality, shabby sidewalks. Three years later rip them up as they are falling apart and build new poor quality, shabby sidewalks. Three years later...

[bassexpander]

Only problem is that many of those jobs pay less than most Koreans will expect. They'd rather not work. Same in other countries.

[sqrlnutz123]

I would suggest buying one of those reusable bags that has a flat base. They are very easy to bag. Also as a former cashier, I am in full support of not being forced to smile or bagging people's groceries.

[SHANE02]

Department stores that charge 200 bucks for a pair of jeans, then make you buy a bag to carry them in.

[scotty12347]

[sqrlnutz123]

[scotty12347]

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

[Julius]

Korea has no problem creating millions of unecessary jobs to keep the people happy.

Largest sector of this is the bloated construction industry- a hangover from the Park Chung Hee era that is politically powerful and determined to keep themselves in work by various political means.

30 years ago they were essential to the country's growth. Now they're excess baggage engaging in massive and environmentally destructive make-work projects. When you see every stream and river concrete paved along its banks, public schools erected and then torn down again months later for lack of students, etc then you can appreciate what a needless waste of government money is going on.