Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Sultan of Seoul]

So you mean the kids of the rich are pushing the kids of the poor out of the job market... the rich get rich and the poor get shafted?

[Yaya]

I'd say liberal arts majors have a tougher time getting jobs in a tough job market, but don't forget that everyone with a job didn't major in something technical like business or engineering.

Connections, luck and timing can all determine one's fate and such.

[Steelrails]

This is completely ridiculous, but I can't help but think of Schindler's List when people are asked "What skills do you have" and the history teacher naively goes on about how knows history and that that's an important skill.

That's kinda what's happening now. People went with their heart and said "money doesn't matter". Then real life hit and all those naive sensibilities are running up against reality.

Oh well, there's always hope and time to change.

[jfromtheway]

I think I read through most of this thread previously. The "be happy you're in Korea and have a job," idea, is mostly hogwash to me. I don't think anyone mentioned the geographic reality of the matter, and that has a lot to do with this. Location, connections, personality, etc., are the most important factors if you desire long term, professional sustainability. Biased Canadians who inherently deceive themselves to avoid the reality of their own lost cause, will hark on and on. But that is of no matter. The issue concerns you as an individual: your abilities, social skills, and the degree to which you are willing to assert yourself. Zero people that I know are out of work. A friend of mine is in medical school, two others are lawyers, my best friend who studied computer science hates his job and wants to move to Asia and do what I'm doing, and the dozen or so others who have BAs in the "arts" also have decent jobs and are doing well for themselves. No one I know is unemployed, underemployed, maybe. But this "crisis" revolves around the issues I mentioned above. I think there are a lot of people in Korea and elsewhere who don't go home because they're simply afraid to go home. They then display a negative image on a message board like this, and scare others into thinking that the reality is worse than it is. 99% of the people who will read this are white guys with college degrees. I wouldn't worry about it too much. You will do well for yourself if you're willing to take on the challenge. Something which I feel many of the members of this board will avoid at all costs. If you're happy here, fine, good for you, I'm happy for you, sincerely. But I've met a lot of lost souls here, and some of them should get out and pursue something that won't pin the nails down. The political issues on the matter are very worthy of discussion, and I'm not disregarding them, but the results are geographic and personalized in nature. Where's the market and who are you?

[Yaya]

I don't disagree that there are lost souls (or Seouls) in Korea but well, I'd say people can get lost back home, too, though getting lost is easier in Thailand or some other Southeast Asian country.

[slothrop]

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[sallymonster]

Job search advice for those of us planning to go home soon (or already returned and facing unemployment):

http://career-services.monster.com/yahooarticle/ten-jobsearch-mistakes-of-new-college-grads#WT.mc_n=yta_fpt_article_new_grad_job_search_mistakes

[Captain Corea]