Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Modernist]

MigukCowboy, all I can say is, sounds like you picked the wrong fields to me. I said TECHNICAL skills. Journalism? Really? How did you honestly believe you could make a living doing that? The odds have been strongly against people there for about 10 years now at least. Too many good writers out there who think they're exceptional writers. Delusion all around.

As to the issue about people being screwed over by corporations and so on, yeah. I get that. I read Paul Krugman too. But if the choice is between getting out ahead of that BS, having skillsets that are in front of the wave and which can't be subsumed by outsourcing or automation [technical positions requiring in-person judgement and analysis], on the one hand, and running off to metaphorically wipe spoiled kids' chins in Korea like a little white servant on the other, I know what MY choice will be. I'll take a job with some respect, thanks.

I DIDN'T suggest 'taking on more debt' to get trained. I SAID, don't spend your savings on travel benders and new cars. Use it for a carefully considered and recognized technical credential.

I ALSO said traveling is fine, just don't overdo it. Reasonable costs are one thing, blowing all your savings on it with nothing set up back home is stupid.

As for 'getting older,' I'll lay good money I'm older than you. I don't need moralizing about 'taking a stand with what you have' from the likes of you. I'm quite sure I've endured worse than you have over the last 4 years.

A city boy? Ha. I grew up on 10 acres of forested property surrounded by huge corn fields in Northern Illinois. I'm WELL aware of the supposed benefits of country property. Delusion again. Aside from growing crops or raising animals, you can't do ANYTHING with it, but it sure as heck can suck YOU dry [leasing/renting? for WHAT? Storage? of WHAT?]. And if you think farming and ranching are some great ticket to prosperity and independence, you're a bigger fool than I thought. See how many people quit both those sectors every year. It's BRUTAL for young farmers and worse for ranchers. I suppose you imagine agriculture to be immune from the whole globalization thing? Ha. Good luck with that, if you ever manage to pull it off.

I'm sure your work-mates could meet a definition of 'loser' as well as any ESL lifer over here, sure. There are lots of losers in the world. But if you want to claim that ESL can match up to the likes of an engineer, a scientist, an certified accountant, a medical researcher, a nonprofit executive, a management consultant, a museum curator, a programmer, an economist, a pilot, or a million other skilled technical professions which are NOT a joke by definition, then I'd say you don't know what you're talking about.

[MigukCowboy]

[PRagic]

Funny thread. The interesting thing, OP, is that you had to leave twice to figure out that you can make a good go of it here. That's too bad, because Korean takes care of its own, and by leaving you demonstrated that you didn't think you could do it here in the first place. No harm, no foul, but keeping the fact that you bailed twice to yourself will go a long way to endearing you to your self-adopted Korean breathren.

And what's with all the 30K vs 100K banter? If you're here into your 30s and plan on staying, plan on banking and investing a heck of a lot more than that if you want to retire properly, or even if you're looking to make a transition back to 'home'. Get to work and get at least a million working for you.

Related to this, one poster made a couple of great points: ) don't piss away your savings on useless crap, and 2) continually invest in yourself and your skill set. Nobody will want to keep paying you more if you don't pony up and show why you're worth more!

So welcome back, OP. The prose made for an interesting read. Kindly just promise us, however, that you will never convince yourself that your experience and enlightenment are truley unique and deserve to be preserved in novel form. Bank away!

[MigukCowboy]

[newb]

[Weigookin74]

You have to specialize. I myself took a business degree but didn't specialize. If this were before the economic meltdown and I hadn't lived in a place prior that had a terrible economy to begin, I prob could have started at the bottom of a company and then worked my way up. I would suppose all of you could have done that and can do that once the economy back home recovers. As it stands, I was thinking of taking about a year and a half's worth of university credits to add to my BBA and perhaps going for an accounting designation but that would be a few years down the road if I did. I think all of you need to look into finding out what the market needs and adapting your skills. Is it a trade? What kind of trade? Nurse? Accountant? Engineer? When the economy recovers, debts are gone, and some cash is saved up, gotta have a plan. Failing to plan means planning to fail. My plans may change. Exchange rate has been sh!t since the end of 2008 making these goals take longer. We'll see what happens. But where are the jobs and where will they be in the future? The power of google is amazing. Sadly, the market has no place for phycology degrees, history majors, and basketweaving. But, employers in a booming economy can appreciate those with something specifically (Specific skill set) taken in addition to those.

Don't get a master's just for the sake of getting one. If everyone and their dog has one, you're just going to be more in debt and even more frustrated. Which skills does and will the market need? Answer that question and you'll find your pot of gold.

[MigukCowboy]

Thanks a lot of the replies people. It's all great food for thought.

I am DONE trying to play the BS capitalism game on other people's terms. Done being a bitch to a system that I hate. I am just gonna walk my own path in life. And if it leads me into failure and disaster, at least I can say that I did it my way.

Lots of people are stuck in the idea of looking for a career to pay them. I am trying to think more as an entreprenuer. I will get some money and then I will multiply it all by myself.

And if I run out of options. I will just become a porn star. I am definitely "qualified" for that job. Ask the ladies around Ori Station about that.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[isitts]

[isitts]

[tiger fancini]

[slothrop]

edit

[The Great Toad]

Megook Cowgirl rider I am discouraged by your use of the sad situation of Ori staion Souls with less opportunities to teach upright and make upstanding cash like you and I in Corea. I doubt the spirits' cleanliness that granted you the Maslow state of Epiphany that you claim as your freedom. You should not go about hurting yourself and bereft Corean yo-jah chingos like in this terrible story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uwp5ShEEl8&feature=relmfu

Of course I admit to saying this with wooded eyed indolence as I am failing to publish my amazingly adroit and clever books and poesy as I should- being gifted with my incredibly large and powerful brain.

Despite that I do agree with your economic points. I surely could be a tenured teechur of Ingles in America by now making more money then I do in Corea presently at a topped out High Sk00l salary - but you have to count the cost of cars, apartments, (home loan), and health care in America as well as the evil drug loving broken home kids who threatened to kill me because I insisted they remain seated and finished their writing... (never did find out want happened to those high school kids- God save 'em)

So it is that we may meet in Busan on the beach...? You should bring a wayward lass of yours for me to encourage to evolve and embrace the gentry life of moderation and prudence. Also she could tell me I was a very handsome guy...

Not everyone can be as determined and magnanimous as the Konglisman, a fine fellow himself. But, I like to think that most teachers here - and especially those who return, have a deep love for the Korean people and can not wait to rub the back of the funny bunny You-chee-wons who approach us with their mother's urgings for no other reason then we said "Hello" and smiled back at them in rreturn...

I suppose I could retire now in the USA and pay cash for a small house somewhere... but I continue on here as it would be a curse to Heaven for me to deprive students from my dooms of English wisdoms- I guess I will stick around for a few more years or until I can wed a old kindly Hoggywon teacher who falls in love with me- which constantly happens as I walk the streets in all my Won Bin Glory like English Prince Nobility... Anyhow send me a PM and we can meet up in Centrum City in Busan or at the BEach and share how great and well traveled we both are... I am at around 30 nations though as I was before a Viking Hero Marine Crusader and since an amazingly handsome and noble ESL Gentlemen traveler... so I have a few more c00l points than u.

[edwardcatflap]

[MigukCowboy]

Actually that last part was just a joke inspired by my stand up comedian friend who sports a huge Salvador Dali mustache. He does this really filthy Andrew Dice Clay sort of thing. Usually the crowds boo him off the stage. It's great. I've been to two of his shows. At the last one, in front of like 100 people, a 6 foot tall tranny stood up and started yelling at him "Fuckk you! You represent everything that's wrong with America!"

It was hilarious. He is a great artist on stage. He also says he might come out to Korea or Japan too.

I'm glad you found my post inspiring. I wrote the OP in an extremely intoxicated state. I'm glad it came out alright.

I just try to live my life with good karma and live the good life. No need to take it too seriously. Just enjoying the experience of life. Not trying to be in a rat race.