Korean Job Discussion Forums

[austrian123]

So, I've been teaching TOEFL full time for about 4 months now.
I'm getting paid 2.5 million a month, teaching 15 classes a week.
However, I'm sick of dealing with middle school aged students and I'm sick of the extra work such as editing and grading tests that I have to do every weekend. So I plan on quitting my job after having worked 1 year at my hagwon and I plan on taking off to Europe for about 2-3 months before I come back to Korea.

Needless to say, being an ESL teacher isn't exactly my dream job.
So my question to you gyopos out there...is there life beyond teaching esl? I'm hoping that when I return, I can find work in a foreign multinational company. Is this realistic? If so, what is the best approach to finding work at a multinational company in Seoul? Are there recruiters or websites that I should be working with or checking into?


Before you answer, consider the following:

I am a male gyopo in his late 30's, but I look very young.
I have over 10 years of North American work experience at the corporate level.
My Korean is limited at best, but I can speak basic Korean.


Having said this, I do have a concern about quitting my current job. In the event that I can't land a job at a multinational company,
I'm worried about the prospect of not being able to find an esl job right away or finding one that pays me equal to what I'm making now. It wasn't difficult finding work in Korea as I was able to land my current job within 3 weeks of searching. But since most schools prefer younger caucasions as opposed to older gyopos, it is a cause for concern.

I just need to be able to work for 5 more years....so it too big of a risk to quit my job now for the short term pleasure of traveling to Europe?
Is it feasible to work at a multinational company?

[NohopeSeriously]

I'm also a Gyopo with a weak Korean communication ability. I had quit my GEPIK position around late January of this year. Now I'm learning Russian right now, the other big European language in Seoul.

I don't have any helpful advice to you, other than you're not alone.

[robinsoncrusoe]

take it or leave it, but here's my advice:

don't quit anything until you've set up the next step.

as for working for MNCs, the application process is pretty much the same as it would be in the west: apply -> interview -> results.

Having only TOEFL experience doesn't qualify you for too much. Becoming more bilingual will be a huge plus. But the absolute best thing you can possibly do in your position is pull any and all connections you have to get a job at an MNC.

a female gyopo friend of mine successfully transitioned into a non-teaching job and is at a big korean company now. she is bilingual and ivy-educated, but most importantly, had fantastic connections from her days as an english teacher.

[madoka]

I don't know why you need gyopo-specific advice. I think a lot of NETs go through what you are thinking about.

[austrian123]

[ajosshi]

[World Traveler]

[djmarcus]

Hey, finding a job at a foreign company is possible but like other posters have said, it's who you know that will get you the best job. What kind of experience did you have in North America? If you have an MBA or a Masters in something, that will definitely set you apart from the rest.

[wishfullthinkng]

madoka gives great advice. i see people asking about this on the boards from time to time and it's a good question.

it's not the lifestyle for everyone, but people who want to get ahead in big cities like this have to hustle 24/7. if you're at home in the evenings watching tv or sitting back relaxing, you are doing it wrong. again, nothing wrong with it but it's not going to get you anything but a few spare tires around the gut. as a new yorker i'm used to busting my rear non-stop and am somewhat shocked when people complain about not wanting to teach and wanting another job but do nothing about it.

i spend every day making a connection of some sort or strengthening existing ones and it has worked well for me. i am a gyopo with limited korean and i work in a corporate job which i absolutely love.



if you want to get ahead these are my personal tips:

1. get professional looking business cards made. are you a teacher? good, now you're a educational consultant. a waegookin once handed me a business card that looked like a rhinoceros had designed it. nice gesture but not going to cut it.

2. look the part. hit gmarket and get yourself some nice clothing. think you can't afford it? getting a nice outfit will cost you less than a nite of drinking at the local waegookin pub and you'll remember doing it too.

3. stop drinking at the local waegookin pub. branch out. hit a nice club/restaurant/bar that most foreigners don't go to. talk to people and pass out those business cards. many professional koreans LOVE talking to native english speakers and trading cards. in fact, from my experience most will initiate conversation once they hear you speaking english. don't get me wrong, i'm not hating on teachers because some of my friends are, but sitting around in your comfort zone lamenting with other waegookin teachers all the time is not going to get you anywhere. don't be afraid to talk to anyone, anytime.

3. make more korean friends. waegookin tend to have very similar outlooks on life, most of which are very very incorrect and naive here in korea. the irony is that most waegookin think koreans are naive, which in certain situations they most certainly are. however, it's most certainly a two way street and foreigners need to recognize it. denial is a cruel mistress. getting a korean friend will open doors that are normally inaccesible to normal waegookin. also, many koreans have extensive social networks and tend to keep in touch with people they once had a taco with that one time at that one place. use that to your leverage.

4. stop being frugal. if you're a penny pincher you won't be winning over many people. money speaks and if you aren't willing to buy a dinner or two for people then you won't ever get a dinner purchased for you.

5. facebook can be a great asset and its usefulness is not limited to pictures of your cat or what you ate that day.


go forth and prosper. and remember, if you are sitting down you're not going anywhere.


edit: err sorry, wrong shout out...

[edwardcatflap]

[jizza]

What I don't understand is how OP has 10 years of experience in the US at the corporate level but is working 2.5 million won / month TOEFL job in his late 30's.

I'm not one to judge but man, what happened? Let's hear the full story.

[austrian123]

[minos]

myjobs.co.kr

It's a site for companies seeking Koreans who speak excellent English....it's all in English.

If your korean is horrible, I don't think your gonna be hired anywhere....plenty of qualified gyopos can speak korean just fine.

[jizza]