Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Marcilla]

Update: Here's what I have so far:
http://students.washington.edu/mnrtyman/pub/Resume_2005_October.doc
Can you think of anything else that I should put on there to fill up space?

Normally when applying for internships/jobs related to engineering I have a lot of trouble getting everything to fit, but that's just because I was going into detail on various electrical engineering projects

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Hey guys, my friend and I are planning to go to Seoul in mid-November and teach English for a year or so

I'm kinda concerned about finding a job beforehand, but he just wants to head over and rely on his wits to find one before he runs out of money..

Anyway, I'm trying to reformulate my resume for applying to some of these ESL jobs I've seen posted, and I'm having a heck of a time figuring out what to put on there

My current resume is pretty technical.. I'll post it if anyone wants to look

The only highlights I can think of that might be worth mentioning:
- My major GPA was 3.8, cumulative 3.3
- I was on the dean's list every quarter two years straight
- I'm fluent in Japanese, so I have some idea about the difficulties of studying another language (I can't seem to figure out a way to live comfortably in japan for a long period of time, though, since I'm not fluent enough to work as an engineer there..)

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Several of my prospective employers (public schools) were impressed with my academic awards so I'd leave that on there. Otherwise I don't much think it matters unless you have ESL certificates or experience. What's probably more important is that you present yourself clearly and have a good photo - look as Aryan as possible and dress smart - Koreans are easily fooled by first impressions.

[antoniothegreat]

that is so true, they really honestly think that they can look at someone and tell if they are a good, honest person. The picture is more important than the resume. I had a friend hired because in his picture he "looked like he would be a good teacher." and that made sense to them.

[Ya-ta Boy]

antonio is right. Even LG has 'professional' face-readers to choose who to hire and who has a 'bad face'.

All that needs to go on your resume is: I graduated from X university. My mom taught me English. I can breathe.

I'm sorry if I burst any bubbles there, but Korea doesn't care what your GPA was, what your academic or professional qualifications are. The theory here is: anyone can teach.

If you have an MA, then you are qualified for a university, but it isn't absolutely necessary.

For any other position, graduation from a uni is the only thing that matters. It helps if you have a good picture. Smile. Look professional.

[Marcilla]

Are you serious? haha, that's so stupid

Man, I'm not white either.. yarr

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Marcilla]

haha, okay

so I need a really professional photo then?

Man, asking for a photo with someone's resume in the US is pretty much asking for a discrimination lawsuit.. I'm feeling hesitant already

Can you guys give me any tips on finding a job?

like, this one sounds good.. you think I should get in touch with them?
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=17851

[hack]

[Gorgias]

Those photos will not do. Get one that looks like a grad photo with you in a neat dress/shirt and tie (are you the man or the woman?).

Don't mention anything about the Japanese. If you are Japanese, good luck.

Not being white could work against you.

My resume just said where I worked, University, and had some phone numbers of past directors of hagwons. It has worked several times.

When in Rome...

[Marcilla]

Thanks a bunch for the advice posted here and PMd to me, everyone

I'm not tooo concerned from the negative stuff I've read here, because I imagine there'll be a lot more dissatisfied people holed up at home posting to the forums the forums than people who're having a great time

I'm the guy in those pictures, btw

I'm argentinian/italian/assorted white from arkansas

I guess I won't mention much about speaking Japanese, since it couldn't reflect too well on me that I started learning it because I liked anime in high school, but stopped liking anime and mostly studied Japanese for the heck of it, then decided on a whim a few months ago that I should go to Korea

I actually am enthusiastic about going there and experiencing another culture, learning the language, eating the food, etc

I could make significantly better money by staying in the US and settling into a cubicle at Boeing or something with my EE degree, but I want to have some fun before that

[Marcilla]

One more question, if you guys don't mind..

When writing a cover letter, I'm not sure if I should mention this or not. 9 months before I graduated, my mother was trying to scrape together some money from somewhere for me to do a little traveling after college, but then a few months before I graduated she passed away. The best way to see the world that I could come up with would be to go teach english in Korea like this, since once I start working as an engineer I'm gonna be stuck doing that forever, with only a few weeks off a year

What would this look like from a Korean perspective? I'm sure that so long as I phrase it right, it'd be a big help for an American reading it, but I remember in some korean tv show I watched they seemed to coldly look down on some woman whose dad had passed away

[peppermint]

I'd leave that out. Koreans are very sentimental in their way, but that's not the kind of thing that would work.

[Hater Depot]

If you're fluent in Japanese why not teach in Japan?

[Marcilla]

I was thinking about teaching in Japan, but it seems like you get paid about the same amount of money but the cost of living is a lot higher

I'm pretty sure I'll be able to speak Korean fairly well after a couple of months over there anyway..

[Zark]