Korean Job Discussion Forums

[brento1138]

... to a new employer.

So, when you go back home, how are you going to convince the person interviewing that you are an great hire because you were teaching in Korea? How to positively spin this? I usually start with saying that I taught government workers and university students to let them know I was teaching more than just "A-a-a apple" to kids... Then I go into how I began (teaching kids), how I worked my way up, and throw in a funny story or two to get them laughing... Then we discuss my skills...

Patience & Stress management: Kids. Need I say more?

Management skills: Managing a room of over 35 students.

Organization skills: Organizing daily lesson plans.

Communication skills: Effectively communicating ideas and language to individuals whose first language is not English.

Presentation skills: Presenting to large groups of students and preparing / presenting "open classes" for other teachers.

Adventurous, adaptable, open to change: Lived in a foreign country for 5 years where the culture & food was very different from the west

Go ahead, think of more!

Let's not be so bleak about job prospects back home because of having lived in Korea for a few years. I think with the right interviewer, many of us will find that home welcome us with open arms. I have heard a few success stories now about former English teachers from Korea who never bothered to get more education... and are doing just fine.

I can't speak for Americans, but up north in Canada, the economy seems to be doing A-OK...

And here's one for the naysayers:

Pulse in neck: Heart still beats and I can speak my own language somewhat!

[WadRUG'naDoo]

Tell them you were climbing the highest peaks in the world to explain the time gap on your resume. Doctor up some pics with your head superimposed on someone climbing mountains.

"The hardest climb was Mt. Ding Ding Dang."

[NilesQ]

There is no such thing as wasyed experience or useless knowledge. You never know when your time in Korea will come in handy. I don't mean only in a job related way like for teachers or business with korean companies.

I returned to Canada and went back to school to learn about something I became interested in. On my coop placement, wouldn't you know, our technical director(a really high up dude in the 2 billion in annual sales company I was placed in) was Korean. He left Korea 30 years ago and hasn't been back since. He talks to me a lot about Korea and involves me in other things that he may not have had we not had the Korean connection.

In that way my time in Korea helped me a lot. I am always surprised at how impressed people are when you tell them that you went to Korea to teach. Not the job part of it, but the experience of living and working in another country.

[ciccone_youth]

Agreed.

After Korea I moved back home to Canada for a bit, and most employers seemed quite interested and it definitely was a positive experience.

(I chose, however, to go back to Asia after eight months in Canada, I missed it too much).

[Forward Observer]

Economy is pretty horrid right now. I had 8 years of experience in network admin and two years at a Korean conglomerate (manager level Kwa-jang) in product planning, and I can't even get an interview. I've been looking for two months now, and it's really bad.


I think I need a major resume overhaul. Wish it didn't cost an arm and a leg. Another thing, I'm afraid to make myself sound like a superstar, when I know that I'm not. I don't want to lie on my resume, but I've heard that everyone does it...is that really true?

[jameltoe]

its not lying as much as it is embellishing. If youre resume doesnt stand out, it goes in the trash. Simple as that. I think a little fluff is needed. A lot of people respect the fact that you were willing to live and teach in another (non english speaking) country

[DorkothyParker]

I came to Korea, discovered that I love kids, and decided I want to work in Montessori when I go back home.

I'll really need to explain why I never got within 5 feet of a child before coming and why I took no classes related to teaching. :/

[jhuntingtonus]

Public speaking (yes, that's what teaching is), preparing for and running small group sessions, leadership... Actually none of those are common skills in the American business world now!

[daojiao]

[youtuber]

Based on my experience, employers in the west don't value English teaching.

[TheUrbanMyth]

It's all about how you put in your time here. If one just goes through the motions then yes it's going to be hard to show what you have to an employer back home.

If you have constantly upgraded your qualifications and kept abreast of developments in your field then that looks very good on a resume.

Of course this assumes that one WANTS to go back home...

[The Sultan of Seoul]

[northway]

[The Sultan of Seoul]

Again, it depends on the spin and the circumstances.

25, employer could be worried you'd be off on aplane in search of adventure again after 6 months.

35, tell employer you've done all that and are ready to settle in and put down roots.

YMMV

[No_hite_pls]