Korean Job Discussion Forums

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

The editorial by the guy who said he was pigeonholed into being an English teacher is a bit misleading. Maybe HE can't get a job in consulting, marketing, finance and stuff, but I have seen and met plenty of others who have.

Thing is, the Koreans prefer someone who has been in the field for a while, not someone who wanted to be in Korea and got an MA from Yonsei or something. I've met many a foreigner in Korea -- English teachers, students, dancers, consultants and stuff -- and while it's harder here, it's NOT impossible as the guy in the editorial implies. I'm thinking we ain't getting the entire picture from the dude.

That said, you can't help thinking about the future but life usually throws you a curveball that you weren't expecting. I thought Korea was going to be my permanent home but circumstances changed it (though I'm not ruling out a return in the future).

On another note, not only do things change, YOU change. I am thinking that if I don't find someone I want to marry, I will just stay single. I figure I'll not bring someone into this miserable world if I myself am not able to find the right person to do it with. Where I am, a lot of the poor people make it even harder on themselves by having children they simply are unable to afford or raise properly.

philinkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2003

this is a top post i think. I think about my future a lot. Im half way into being 24. my second year here. Ive always wanted to get into counselling at some stage. I know theres no age limit for that in fact age is better so i see that in the long term.

I taught kids here then adults. I havnt really saved as much as i wouldve liked so far. I dont value england so much although in the next few years I would like to own a house there and get it rented out if i continue my abroad lifestyle. Ive looked into some counselling work here to perhaps make some start on that and im studying korean.

Im thinking a 3rd year could be possible if i can land the right setup since i like it here then properly save some cash for the house. Im pretty sure my future wont be here but not necessarily england.

I found it a little irritating at home people talking about their life plans. Sure i worry a bit but i feel im making some small goals, living with a bit of zest and enjoying my life. family life seems something i will want and enjoy eventually somewhere down the line

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 10:02 pm Post subject:

Im 28, soon will be turn 29. I am not worried about my future. Why would I? The only thing Im worried about is NK invading but thats about it Smile

The job is awsome, I'm making considerably more than I did at a hagwon. The apartment is better than the job. Got money in the bank and will be buying my own apartment within 2 years. I have a wife and her family is our support network. So really, I have nothing to worry about. I plan on making Korea my home, so I never even think about going back home to Canada. Why would I? To struggle financially from paycheck to paycheck at a job where I will have to work 10 years to get to the level I am at now, in terms of money I save and disposable income I have? My parents used to nag me about coming back to the "real world" to get a "real job". I simply showed them the math and they saw the light.

bobbyhanlon · Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Location: 서울

i really like this thread too. i don't post that often on here.. but anyway

i was so lucky recently. i love living in korea, but i always hated teaching- i did it for a total of eleven months, and didn't enjoy it, and naturally didn't want to be earning 2million won a month for the rest of my life. anyway i managed to get a job as a trainee stock trader for a company run by a bunch of ex-wall street koreans. it's almost like a dream come true, i get to live here (and live the life i like so much) and hopefully do something which will secure my future at a young age (i'm 22 now).. well, as long as i don't screw it up.

i had actually resigned myself to going home at the end of this year to get a "proper job" back home, and then somehow this came along, right at the last minute. life is good!

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 3:53 am Post subject:

How did you score that? Earning 2 mil is not something one would wanna do for ever, thats for sure. How much can you make as a stock broaker here? What was your major in uni?

Blind Willie · Joined: 05 May 2004

And your goals are what?

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:04 am Post subject:

probably to make a lot of money.

bobbyhanlon · Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Location: 서울

yes, you hit the nail on the head. i do want to make a lot of money.

the other comment sounded a wee tad cynical, so if anyone finds my choice displeasing, ha ha, i don't care. money is useful. other things being equal- such as happiness, health etc.. which i have here (although hite has given me a few extra pounds)- it is better to have money than not have it.

i studied philosophy, politics and economics, so i guess that is helpful.
as for how i got it, it was pure luck in a sense. a korean friend of mine who is about to graduate was applying for jobs, and he saw this one advertised. sadly his ever-so-traditional parents wouldn't allow him to work for a non-chaebol company, so he told me about it. by this time, i'd missed the deadline, and decided to send them a cheeky email anyway, with my cv/resume. they called me in for an interview, and i got it!
i do consider myself very lucky, because i'd been trying for ages to get something like this but was always told i needed to be fluent in korean (which i'm sadly not). since my boss is a gyopo, it wasn't a problem.
as for salary, since you ask.. i get paid a basic salary (which isn't great) but high percentage of any profits i make for them (which is great... if i don't screw it up).

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Had a house...no thanks...too much work and responsibility. I'm not the "fix-it-yourself" type. Apartments are the way to go for me.

I think all of this is about perspective. If you're in your 20's your future is a much different picture than if you're in your 40's or 50's.

"Retiring" at 52 doesn't sound great to me! What would I do with my time??? I LOVE what I do now and plan on "dying with my boots on"...in my class...teaching ONE MORE STUDENT that "I'm fine thank you, and you"...is NOT the one and only response to "How are you?"

Harin · Joined: 03 May 2004 Location: Garden of Eden

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

Harin · Joined: 03 May 2004 Location: Garden of Eden

mithridates · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 10:48 am Post subject:

bobbyhanlon · Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Location: 서울

rawiri · Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Location: Lovely day for a fire drill.

[quote="Harin"][quote="ajuma"]Had a house...no thanks...too much work and responsibility. I'm not the "fix-it-yourself" type. Apartments are the way to go for me.

[/quote] ME TOO!. I recently bought a condo in the states and love it very much. I've been thinking about retirement lately a lot, but am not sure where I should spend the rest of my life after quitting my job forever.

I've got about $120,000 invested in the condo and stocks and am 28 yrs old. I think I could easily save up something like.....$400,000 before I hit 40. It is not enough for me to retire in the states, but could be possible if I am willing to spend the rest of my life in costa rica, mexico, or thailand and live cheap. My concern is whether or not I'd be happy there. Would I miss the states or Korea? What if I'd like to travel or get really sick?

Of course, the other option is staying here and working until I am 56. yike.......[/quote]

do you think we could kinda get married or something?...im a nice guy and fairly easy on the eye...and i'll cook brekfast for you...sometimes.