Korean Job Discussion Forums

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

So what jobs do you feel a spell in Korea would enhance your performance in? I'm going home soon and though I might be back for another year I still need a job in the UK. I've been here one year and as I'm looking to get into marketing or events I'm gonna be pushing the "creative" aspect of lesson planning as well as "explaining things simply" aspect.

What skills are transferrable to the business world, or does being in Korea damage your value back home?

dulouz · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Uranus

You'll find you are in demand for trade school employment. Everyone thinks elementary ed but if you in a field before you came here, you'll be considered experienced enough to teach technicians in that field based on what you experienced.

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

play up the "facilitates cross-cultural exchanges" portion of your resume. If you're in an area with cultural diversity this---and your time abroad---might be something.

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

I'm currently gambling that being a white person who speaks Korean can be very helpful to one's career. Maybe I'll let you know in 10 years or so.

Homer · Guest

Where it can pay off:

Consulting
Government work
Translation (if you learned Korean)
Multi-media
Teaching ESL (many schools back home)
Private sector (depending on the companies profile and orientations)

Jensen · Joined: 30 Mar 2003 Location: hippie hell

Paddycakes · Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul

Do what all the Korean immigrants do in Canada...

Start your own Japanese restaurant!

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

Good question.

I'm saying fark it and spending time and money on this career. Already bought two computers.

It's cheaper to live and teach here.

I have a degree in French linguistics and an IT diploma, but I'm not going back into the IT field unless it's in the States.

Learning Korean is useful, but it's good to have other languages under your belt. Like Mandarin. Companies have to take your word for it pretty much though if you have no certifications in languages.

Zack_in_Korea · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Location: Incheon

This is a good question.

I have absolutely NO idea what I would do if I went back to Canada.
NONE.. in giant highlighted capital letters.. in fact I would be one of those people who would have extreme problems intergrating back into Canadian society after spending the better part of 5 years in Korea. When I go back to Canada I feel more out of place than I ever did in Korea, and everything just seems so stupid. The government and society is so changed and inflated and corrupt. I have done alot of research and had experiences with the crazy way things are going these days during my times away from Korea, and I just don't want to be there because of that.. although in sum ways it would be nice to settle in Toronto one day. Going to Japan is next for me though. There isn't good transportation in Canada versus Korea.. going to the movies etc is like triple expensive.. it costs so much to the point that I don't want to spend my money on things there cuz it's just not worth the cost.. and can you imagine tipping and taking taxis there? Not.

The problem is the longer you stay here, the worse you are cutting off your options. Coming back to Canada or the states or wherever several years later does hinder your options.. or provides you with challenges to overcome.

If you don't mind teaching then you could easily transition to that. I, however would rather drill screws into my toes than ever go back to school, or teach American or Canadian brats back "home".

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

School sucks. I hated IT school. That was different though. Short-term and paying a ton of cash for it. I think it cost me about 30,000 altogether. Had a couple of jobs later in my hometown later with the diploma, but I don't think I'll be getting into that field again.

Last job I had was as a help desk analyst for DMS/UMTS technologies. They eventually sold that division of the company and I collected 60% of my salary, clear, for 40 weeks. That was one of the best 40 weeks of my life. I fished, golfed, played the guitar, etc. Wow.

Neil · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: Tokyo

I'd imagine Korean would be very useful in stuff like the electronics or fashion industry where a lot of your contacts would be from the ROK.

However to put it to full use I reckon you'd have to be fluent and on a hagwon teachers schedule I'd wager it would be difficult to get above the half arsed stage even after 2 or 3 years.

canuckistan · Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 6:51 am Post subject:

If you've got a plan for back home and have saved lots of money for it, Korea can make it happen.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005