Korean Job Discussion Forums

[emichelle18]

I have a question regarding sending my resume to my recruiter to apply for SMOE or GEPIK.

I have a few items on my resume that make it known that I am Jewish. The items are leadership and education fellowships through the Foundation for Jewish Camp, which provide experience related to teaching. I like to think that employers will not discriminate based on religion; however, I know this is not always the case. I am proud and open about my religion in most instances, however I really don�t want it to negatively affect my chances of being hired in Korea.

Do you think I should leave these experiences off of my resume, or hope that anyone who wants to hire me has an open mind?

[Steve Schertzer]

Being Jewish myself and having spent years in Korea, most Koreans wouldn't know a Jew from a Buddhist. So go ahead, leave your info in. Now, if you were applying for a teaching position in Saudi Arabia and had in your resume,

"Assisted in the construction of housing for Jewish settlers in the West Bank."

Now that could be a problem.

[Unposter]

My sense of things is that Koreans are very well aware of Jews and generally respect them for thier desire for education and their success. My sense of it is Koreans see it as a group thing rather than an individual thing.

I don't see it as a problem unless you are applying specifically for a Christian school and there are a lot of them out here in Korea.

I wouldn't worry too much.

[air76]

I am not Jewish....but I agree with Steve.

Maybe 1 in 100 Koreans would pick up on that in your resume....and that dude would undoubtedly not care.

You'd be lucky if the recruiters even read that far down on your resume anyhow...for your first job in Korea they generally are just looking for someone with a face and a passport. If you really want to downplay certain aspects of your life experience simply enlarge the photo portion of your application. So unless you've had your face surgically removed, you're good to go!

[PaperTiger]

Unless you think that is somehow relevant to your job or your performance, don't include that or any other personal information. A fair number of people here belong to strange Christian cults (Moonies, Jyeong Myeong Seok, and others) and there is also a significant anti-Semite presence here.

It's a private matter, keep it that way.

[seonsengnimble]

They'll probably just think you worked at a zoo.

[lifeinkorea]

I am atheist and they look at me in shock, "Oh, you must believe in God. Please go to church and read the bible". So, you're at least one god ahead of me (Unless you are an atheist Jew).

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

90% of recruiters and schools only read the Personal Details section of your resume, then look for your degree on there, and quickly flick through the rest if at all.

Big smiley photo (ideally with Asian children) is what you want.

[oskinny1]

I have heard Koreans pride themselves as being the same as Jewish folk in regards to raising their ilk (education education education!!!). That can be a bonus.