Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Weigookin74]

What about back home? How does one break in? Don't think I'm planning this now at this time. But am curious about those who went to Calgary (or Edmonton or Regina or Saskatoon)? Unemployment rates are surprisingly low. But is it just manual labor or can one start working for a company? In other words, with low unemployment is it easy to get a start? Rents are quite high there, though. Anyone who went to these places in the last couple of years and still reading daves care to chime in? I remember someone posted here a long time ago, but forget some of the details.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Alberta+forecast+lead+Canadian+economic+growth+2014/8309172/story.html

Also, does the high rents and other costs just cancel out any salaries. Usually low unemployment means rising wages and easier to get hired for jobs you wouldn't without experience. Just want to know how truly good it is in these western cities.

[Weigookin74]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Alberta+second+highest+private+sector+vacancy+rate/8393599/story.html

[transmogrifier]

Gloves and a crowbar.

Wait, what are we talking about?

[shaunew]

I moved to Calgary over a year ago. I took an entry level position in a bank. Starting wage of about 43k a year. My rent at that time was $1150 per month everything included. I lived in the SE near Forest lawn, not the best area but it was okay. After working for about 5 months in the bank I was headhunted by another financial firm and took the position as a manager. Now my pay with bonus and other incentives is over 100k. I bought a house in the NW in a brand new community.
I still get calls from other companies, all professional type work with salaries from 80k and up.
If you are single and make over 40k I think you can do well in Calgary and move up. You can rent a basement suite for the first year, they go from 500 to 900.

[Weigookin74]

[Captain Corea]

Yeah, a Korean bud of mine moved to Calgary with his family and seems to be doing fine (landed a job with no prior connections there).

I had a job offer last year there, but didn't take it. I think any time I move back, work will be relatively easy to find - especially if you're willing to start at an entry level (and as the poster above mentioned, most likely you won't be there for long).

Just my opinion though - stay away from renting in Forest Lawn. lol
I grew up there.

[Weigookin74]

[Captain Corea]

[Weigookin74]

[silkhighway]

You'll definitely get a job in Saskatchewan or Alberta. You might have to take some less than ideal work and pay for awhile and get your hands dirty, but the economy is hot and there's movement. The biggest shock coming from Kore will probably be how much expenses you have taken for granted because they're so cheap in Korea. You might feel nickel and dimed to death at first until you land on your feet and also get used to being in a hot economy in Canada.

[Yaya]

Just know that many have come back or talked about doing so after moving back "home." I do agree, however, that conditions in Korea are deteriorating.

[misher]

OP,

with an undergrad in business it may help a little. The job I got required an undergrad in econ/finance so having a bcomm is much more marketable than. BA in elf studies. Also look at crown corps. I left Korea 1.5 years ago and haven't looked back.The only thing I miss is the dating scene. Being single and over 30 in Canada isn't so great. But I knew staying in Korea wasn't going to lead anywhere.

Living where I'm living is cheaper than Seoul actually. Seoul isn't exactly cheap anymore.

[Weigookin74]

[shaunew]

I would apply for jobs by email or job search websites like Monster, Canadian government job search site and others. Also, posting on LinkedIn will help. I had a lot of interviews when I first landed just from networking on that site.

[Ginormousaurus]

It's a good time to be in Alberta and Saskatchewan right now and things will probably stay that way for some time. Oilsands output is expected to nearly double between now and 2030. Like it or not, this is the economic engine of the west and there is a lot of money to be made from it.

I tell anyone who will listen that a great career to get into right now is Power Engineering. You can get a two-year diploma at SAIT and be all but guaranteed a high paying job with an oil company upon graduation.

I'm currently in Fort McMurray after spending 6 years in Korea. There is tons of opportunity here for both skilled and unskilled labor. Wages are high and rents are equally high. I pay $1800/month for a small, bachelor apartment!