Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Guppy51]

Hi new member here so please be easy on me. I am from the States, finished my MBA back in 2012 and decided to come to Asia for a few years before I settle down.

My original plan was to work in the Financial industry in HK then move back to California and work as a Economic professor in community college as a career (which only requires a master, I am sure you can tell where this is heading to) but I didn't like the work environment in HK and the city in general so I moved to Shanghai which is where I am currently at now. I enjoy the city of Shanghai but it is more of a party city. I don't see myself spending few years here so I decided to move to another city in Asia. (looking at Korea and Taiwan)

I did a backpacking trip in Asia between my time in HK and SH, and I absolutely loved Korea. I already rule out working in the financial field in Asia, will get into detail later. Since becoming a professor is my end goal, I think if I can spend time working as a professor in Asia would be the best path for me.

So here is the question, with my resume what is the chance of me getting a Econ/Business professor position.

Ed
Undergrad Econ
MBA Finance
[Do not have a PHD]

Working Experience - WE
4 years of US government middle management position
5 years as small business owner in consulting industry (I ran a small consulting firm in California, which is something I will start again once I go back to the States. I was making around 70k a year, not a lot of money, I currently still manage a small size portfolio)

Current
Financial Analysis Free- lancing
Business English teacher for an American company in SH

I emailed few facility position I saw that only requires MA for business/economic field, but I got rejected on all of them. From my experience would I be able to get a facility position in Korean?

[I don't have any teaching experience, which a lot of job posting I saw requires.]

At first I only want to teach Economic(topic that I love), but now I am open to teach Business related or even plain old English.

Also I am not picky about location (anywhere in Korea) and financial incentive (as in I will take the lowest pay but not working for free), I can make enough money from the financial work I do. actually whatever title will get me a head start when I go back to the States would be enough. The actual lecture in class experience would be the most important thing.

Maybe this is a bit too much information but please give me some feedback and inputs of my chance getting a professor job in Korea. Feel free to ask any questions, I would love to provide more details.

Thanks for reading.

[Malislamusrex]

You have a good chance of being a business English teacher with that, if you were already in Korea. Those teachers have a courtesy title of professor, but they aren't considered as such. Chances of teaching a content classes would be very slim.

You said you did Financial analysis. This big question is, are you good at regression analysis and ecconometric?, if you are good at it and can write academic papers/research, you can get a faculty job.

[ttompatz]

You have couple of things working against you.

1) No teaching experience. Most employers as a university lecturer will want (often now require (government requirement)) you to have 2 (or more) years of classroom experience as a teacher/lecturer(whether in EFL or as a subject teacher).

2) Not "IN" Korea. There are more than enough "qualified" lecturers who are already in Korea to fill vacancies. They don't need to import staff. This has been the case for almost a decade now at the tertiary level (exception being research PhDs).

options:

1) Look for a "teaching" position in SH or China (get some experience).
You can also get "subject" teaching posts (taught in English) with an MBA in most of SE Asia (even without "experience" as a lecturer).

2) Be "IN" Korea when you apply. It will "improve your chances somewhat) subject to (1).

.

[Milwaukiedave]

In addition to the good points Tom made, I'll add that generally for faculty positions teaching business a PhD or equivalent is required. There maybe a few places that are the exception to the rule, but not many.

[PRagic]

Your short term goal of teaching here is not a problem to hit. Your longer term goal of teaching at a community college with just an MBA might be a bit tougher.

Have you read the ongoing series of articles in the Chronicle of Higher Education on the difficulties of getting hired at a two year school these days without the Ph.D.? And even if you do, the pay and conditions aren't all that great.

You're almost damned if you do and damned if you don't with a DBA; you need one to get hired at a 4-year university, but unless you have a pretty good degree, just the right concentration, and some publications, it's slim pickings, and if you want a job at a 2 year school, get in line. Might help for good consulting gigs, though.

[faeriehazel]

The job market for adjuncts in the US is tough. I worked a year as an adjunct in Chicago with an MA from UChicago. I had an advantage because UChicago is easily the best school in Illinois, but I still had to compete against my fellow alumni. I had to work at two different schools to make ends meet, and I wouldn't have gotten either of those job without networking. As an adjunct there is a lot of competition for full-time positions, with tenure being the holy grail, obviously. Without a PhD or contacts, your only chance is probably working at a community college that is not in or near a major city.