Korean Job Discussion Forums

hfrancis · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Suwon

I have been working in Korea for several years now and I plan to return home to Canada permanently next year. My tenure in Korea started well, but unfortunately the past couple of years have been inconsistent. I have been tempted to fudge a couple of dates a little (actually a lot) on my resume to make my resume look more appealing to a potential employer back home. My description of duties would be truthful, just the dates I'm tempted to alter. The question is, would they have any way of verifying this information? It seems everyone has access to just about everything these days. If they weren't able to access exact employment dates, would they be able to check the days I arrived and left Korea as an indirect way to verify the contract dates on my resume? Just curious if any of you have done it or plan to do it when you return to your home country or if you would advise anyone like myself to avoid doing it at all costs. I'm also curious how these facts are checked here, in Korea, as well. Let me know if you have anything to share. Thanks.

optik404 · Joined: 24 Jun 2008

Everyone, everywhere, embellishes their resume. I don't think they'll have a way of checking when you landed in Korea. Unless it's some gov't position where they perform background checks.

dairyairy · Joined: 17 May 2012 Location: South Korea

Are you looking for someone to tell you it's okay to lie on your resume? You're gotta live with yourself. Just remember, dates can be checked, and if you claim to done specific job duties then your next employers will expect you to be able to perform those duties like someone who has experience.
You don't have to lie about these teaching jobs to make them sound exciting. Just the facts alone about a good teacher should show an ability to live and work overseas, communicate with foreigners, and make effective presentations.
Yeah, I've heard it before that "everyone cheats." That's not true. Honest people may be viewed as "stupid" by those who cheat but aren't honest people the kind of people you would prefer to work with and socialize with after work? How do you feel after you discover that someone had lied to you? Is that how you want people to feel about you? Just some food for thought.

Steelrails · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System

Just remember- people aren't always stupid. A lot of youngens are used to BSing on papers in college and think they can pull one over like they did back in college. Don't try to be too clever.

maitaidads · Joined: 08 Oct 2012

beison · Joined: 28 Feb 2010

The two larger corporations in the US that I worked at following Korea actually hired a third party resume/qualifications fact checker to verify my past employment history.
They used a Korean language speaker to call my past school to verify dates. I'm very happy I didn't lie on my resume.
Be careful.

You can however present truthful information in a creative way

English teacher, south Korea. (2010-2013)
-worked at XXX academy, XXX academy, XXX academy
-did xxxxx, xxxxx, xxxxx

Do it like this and its clear that you worked one job for 3 years. If they ask more about it, it can come up in the interview where you can. Explain yourself better. And also now no fact checking will get you in trouble.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

KimchiNinja · Joined: 01 May 2012 Location: Gangnam

Yeah almost everyone embellishes their resume. It's about telling a story, the story needs to be mostly true, but you can wordsmith a few things... Wink

Steelrails · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Location: Earth, Solar System

I never have and don't see any reason to. I had a good record at my previous job and I will have a good record when I leave my current one. No need to embellish or fabricate anything.

As I said, I think a lot of these people who do these things think they're pulling a fast one and that the person reading it is too dumb to pick up on the BS. They're usually not. You know when you're students are BSing you. Your teachers knew when you were BSing them. Guess what? HR/Your manager will know too.

You're not as clever as you think you are.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

The quality of your communication is linked with the quality of your life, upbringing, health and relationships...embellishing ones' resume just proves it.
I am not high and mighty...but being truthful has always worked for me and those I know.
And yes...millions have lied on their resume...and we see where they are and what it got them....especially after being fronted about it!