Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Marcilla]

http://students.washington.edu/mnrtyman/pub/RayMarcilla_Nov2005.jpg

You think that'd be good enough to land me a decent job?

[justagirl]

you look scary. Sorry.

[VanIslander]

Looks good, but...

Think about an actual dress shirt. And smile more.

[Pangit]

Shirt and tie look sloppy. Are your hands on your hips?

[BigBlackEquus]

You aren't in Korea yet, right? If you are, you need to pop into one of those Kodak or Fuji photo stores where they will snap your photo. Wear your suit and just show up. They do it on the spot and it costs 10,000 won for about 8 or 12 passport-sized pics. They look very professional, and it's what employers like to see. Have them use a darker background (meaning not the white one they use for passport photos).

There is also a photographer in Itaewon right next to Steffenburg Hotdogs, and the subway station. You can use them. Not sure what they charge, but it's probably the same.

That's what employers here expect to see from Korean applicants, and you'd do good to follow the same route.

[steroidmaximus]

straighten out that tie. . .no wait, change the tie. And the shirt. Get a haircut.

[jlb]

It's kind of freaky. I wouldn't hire you. Can't you smile normally?

[manlyboy]

[VanIslander]

justagirl and jlb are neither tactful nor kind with their comments. But there's some truth there.

First impressions, especially from a photo, are different than when they meet you.

You are probably a cool guy who laughs and smiles often. Show it! And put together the best photo image you can including extra copies, lighting and dress shirt, as we've indicated.

Remember Marcilla: You asked for our opinion!

Follow the useful advice given by posters in this thread and you'll land a decent job!

Your new nickname in Korea: pronounced "Che hong mahn" (Choi Hong Man). Say it jokingly. It'll be well received and shows you know something about Korea and Koreans. The locals love it when foreigners show knowledge of their culture.

[steroidmaximus]

manlyboy,

[Marcilla]

haha, man

I was hoping I could get by without having to buy a new suit and tie right now

As for my facial expression, I dunno

All my facial expressions look weird.. I've uploaded pictures from the last few years of every expression I'm capable of making to here:
http://students.washington.edu/mnrtyman/pub/expressions/

I guess I'm going to have to find somewhere (in Spokane, Washington) to buy a suit and tie, and then I'll go to a professional photographer

There's not much I can do about looking scary to asians, though, except being clean

[Marcilla]

also, I appreciate the sentiment, but don't worry about hurting my feelings

I mean, there's no need to go overboard on mocking me, but unless it's cute girls in person dissing on my appearance, it doesn't matter at all

[VanIslander]

You DON'T need a suit and you DON'T need a professional photographer.

You need a dress shirt and conservative tie (that tie was okay because it looks like many worn by korean business men).

And follow the advice of BigBlackEquus: go to one of those Fuji stores and pay about ten bucks to get ten or twelve passport sized photos taken in front of a dark back screen.

For fifty bucks you can get everything done, certainly no more than a hundred!

[Pangit]

Get a dress shirt. Iron it. Tie a full windsor. Go with the "not smiling and sweaty" facial expression.

[joe_doufu]

The camera is too close to your face, too. It looks like you are about to kill the photographer. Back up. Better yet, go outdoors, stand next to a tree or in front of some pleasant but not distracting scenery, in the sunshine, and SMILE!