Korean Job Discussion Forums

[richinkorea]

Hmmm.

I returned from Korea three years ago.

Found a pretty good job, basically in my field. But three years ago they couldn't hire fast enough.

I lost that job last week. My group went from 15 people to 3. I can probably find another job, maybe not paying as well or as good benefits, but a job that would pay the bills at least.

Yet, I have the urge to wander. Korea alllows one to do this very easily (vacations, new contracts every year, Korea itself).

Anyways some good points in this thread all ready stated.

My two cents:

If you want to go back home, some things to consider:

- timing (is the economy expanding or contracting ?),
- location ( you may need to relocate to a place that needs workers),
- career field
- others may just plain think you is weird

Also, be prepared to start at the bottom, unless you have a few years experience prior to your overseas adventure, you are basically "fresh meat".

As far as setting up house, I didn't find it too hard, but I also had a wad of cash and know how to spend it properly.

The west isn't all bad, it's the what's inside of you that makes the difference !

[some waygug-in]

Truer words were never spoken, or in this case, written.
My return to Canuckistan left me in the grips of poverty, working for $7 an hour, having to drive a beat up old Mazda, (the right front axle had a nasty habit of sliding off ) Having to pay those excessive taxes, on everything, high gas prices, insurance, electricity, heating, car repairs, countless fees, just to have my name on some membership list or other.
having to put up with everyone thinking of me as even more the "loser" than before I left.

What my last attempt at life in Canada has taught me is this: Why bother?
I can live in Korea, save enough to travel. Visit my friends in Mexico, work for a while down there if I want. (not for money, just for the fun of it) Try out another country. China's just beginning to boom. Maybe I could try Poland or the Chezck (sp?) republic. Vacation in Bali, or Thailand. Upgrade my teaching credentials. The field is wide open.

Korea has taught me some hard lessons, but none was as harsh as when I tried to go back home.
Cheers
There are far more opportunities outside the West than in. (at least for me)

[chilsung]

I guess the main issue for most would be your professional experience before one left for Korea. Teaching abroad does not destroy your resume, but if it is not applicable to your field it is waisted time. No employer cares about your personal experiences if they cannot relate to the job. I think the major problem with most people not securing employment is their resume. I must say that I have seen some pretty bad ones. I even saw someone applying for teaching jobs and listed his summer waiter job.
Though I agree the market for job searches seems a little bearish these days it is not impossible to find descent work. If people think that the jobs in Korea are great then keep them, because you probably won't find anything better. But for those of us who have had professional careers it is an adjustment. I am used to 1 hour paid lunches paid breaks, 12 sick days a year 2 weeks vacation start and an additional 2 days for every continuous year I worked. Christmas bonus and being treated that I was more than just a warm body in a room.
I must admit that I do love the kids and the experiences that are gained abroad and they have enriched my life 100 fold. This is the 6th country I have taught in and though many things are difficult there are so many benefits and rewards. Just don't allow yourself to be pinned to a career because there is nothing home. If someone wants to make it anywhere they just have to try. For those who believe that C's get degrees then your options are limited. Anyone dedicated and bright that tries can secure descent employment, but must be willing to adapt a little. Those who want to stay in the same town that they grew up in will be stuck. So many of my friends and family who have roots in their towns are stuck when the company downsized. It sucks but they could find another descent job if they were willing to relocate instead they took the dead end no option job because it was available.
I think that is the main reason why Korea is so attractive, it is a no muss no fuss job guarantee. You don't have to worry about a descent resume, blowing the interview or the fear of rejection and failure. I must have applied to 30 different jobs when I first graduated before recieving my first position. I had over 10 interviews and was flown all over the country but nothing meshed. I botched a lot of them before I overcame the fear. It is a depressing and discouraging experience for most to search and gain a descent position. But don't kid yourself, the teaching jobs and the treatment of teachers in Korea is sub-par compared to the educated elite and the career professional world of the west. There is no job security and no future at all, nothing to protect one's rights or ensure a professional standard.
People generally get what they deserve. Though we all may struggle to get there; the cream always rises to the top.

[Wishmaster]

Again, you fools say all of these things with the safety of distance. You aren't out there, so you can afford to just sit back and give your supposed pearls of wisdom. I actually did it...I was there...I was in the trenches of the economy and experienced a great degree of hardships. Hell, I would probably be driving a truck right now if not for Korea. In fact, it isn't a bad gig if you are the type of person for it. Which I am. Am I bitter towards the West? Absolutely. Do I think that Korea is great? Yes. Korea is a great country compared to the BS that the West offers. The West struts around and thinks that they have everything and that they are doing everything right. Wrong. They are too stupid to realize that they are stupid. But I guess that ignorance is a noble thing there, so it is okay. Korea is great!!!!!!!!!!! Dae Han Min Guk!!!

[rapier]

Sheesh wishmaster, you're definitely bitter! shame you didn't read all your replies- you may have noticed that some people agreed with you..
No one country is that great- just coz the west sucks for you, you don't have to go to the opposite extreme and declare the polluted urban conurbation of korea a paradise...
Its true, there are many things to be grateful for in korea. there are also many things not so wonderful.
For me, i find that the korean atmosphere isn't laid back enough.. on that score, give me a third- world country any day. Its great for making money, and for all the sexy eye candy everywhere...but where is the wildlife, the vast open wildernesses? give me my homeland Africa any day, on that score.
There's no point going around shouting Dae Han min guk either- they'll always see you only as a waegook...

[whatthefunk]

[Wishmaster]

Yes, and the West is sooooooooooooo pure and isn't polluted at all. Give me a break. Pollution is just as big a problem there as here. Walk down the streets of LA or Miami and tell me how they differ from streets here.How about noise pollution? I'll never forget when I first got back home and I walked down the street. Swearing everywhere. It was pathetic. These punk 15 year olds walking down the street loudly swearing up and down. People and their bad attitudes when you are trying to find things in the store or pay for an item. Damn. The gangsta mentality back home. Truly pathetic.

Anyhow, it behooves you people to go back home and see exactly what I am talking about. Try it for 4 months and I guarantee that Korea will seem like a Utopia in comparison. The West sucks. I repeat: The West sucks. It isn't just the employment situation either....IT IS EVERYTHING. Doesn't interest me anymore...you people can have it. For me, Korea rocks! Once again(with jacked up acoustics): DAE HAN MIN GUK!!!!

[the_beaver]

[Wishmaster]

You think swearing is bad here? Go to LA. Go to LA. Go to LA. Go to La. Ad infinitum..............................

[jh]

[the_beaver]

[rapier]

Wishmaster, sounds like you have only ever been in 2 countries in your life, USA and korea. Not a lot for your powers of comparison. All i can do is add "Forza Italia! Tchiocardh ar la! and maybe "vive la France!".

[chilsung]

Actually, I don't think Wishmaster is from US. Most people in the US don't qualify the entire country with LA or Miami.
I do believe that his perspective seems very limited. As for his tirade about the trenches, I must say that 4 months is not the trenches. I know people who take 6 months to one year before they get a good stable gig, especially for those with minimul experience in their field. The difference is that a stable career long term position offers 10 times that a teaching Job in Korea. Not to mention that EFL teaching is a burn out profession for most. Where do you go in 5 years when you are tired of teaching spoiled rich kids or Uni students. Unless you go back into teaching some where else, employers don't look favorably to those who switch career paths every few years.
I think that with his apparant lack of couthe is the reason that he is stuck with some dead end job. As far as professional truck drivers it is an excellent choice for many. I know one man who has written 3 books of Medieval French History. I also know of 3 other people who have left the Professional world and drive truck for the freedom and choices it offers. Also the pay almost doubles that of an English teacher in Korea.
If it is not your thing to drive truck or other jobs that you feel are beneath you then you are not looking deep enough. The job market is not as good as it was 5 years ago for entry positions but it is still better than 88-91. But maybe you should have had a goal before you finished University. Generally, people that have great jobs do some research. Then they find out the qualifications needed and get them. The bottom line is that for you C average beer drinking moron that never did the extra effort to get honors or academic merrits then what do you expect. You get out what you put into.
I don't feel sorry for those who feel that Korea is their only option. I do respect anyone who thinks that Korea is a good option for them. I fully understand the joys one can get here. There are many wonderful experiences one can enjoy. But to compare Korea to the entire West is retarded and narrow minded. As far as living here, who cares where you live as long as I don't ever have to see someone as narrow minded and vulgar as you.

[rapier]

Narrow minded and vulgar is what I hate...I had some arrogant American telling me how dirty and poor cambodia is, how the people are whores who just want money and other disparaging, down his nose comments. And he'd only ever seen pictures/heard stories- never been there.
I had to tell him I'd far rather live in cambodia than the U.S, because I'd been there, and the people were laid back and warm -hearted. They were also pretty, friendly and stylish, and the country had more history and picturesque countryside than I've ever noticed on any American postcard- where the people are arrogant, spoilt and materialistic.
Who was right I wonder....(I've never been to America, just reacting to his attitude).

[Wishmaster]

Again, you make your statements with the safety of distance. Oh, I suppose that if I lump LA and New York together then I qualify as being an American. Ha-ha. Go to any freakin' city in mi-guk and you will get the same attitude and lack of opportunity. So, your point about cities in relation to citizenship is crap.

Believe me, 4 months is a long, loooooooooong time to be in the trenches of the economies of the Western world. That 4 months may seem like a paltry 120 days or so but I can guarantee that it will feel like 4 years once you hit the mark.

Again, you are speaking about these supposed stable careers like there are a plethora of good paying jobs out there. There are not. I repeat: There are not. Most of the these stable jobs involve working 40 hours a week for $8 an hour and then benefits kicking in after 6 months or so. You can expect advancement to be slow as a snail. And there is no guarantee there, as well. When applying for such positions, you can also expect a myriad of people to be doing so....and there are no guarantees. So, although there might not be overall job stability here, there isn't any guarantee of job stability back in the West either. You are just a number and they will cut you if it means that their company can make more of a profit.

5 year burnout in ESL? Okay. Possible. But you can say exactly the same thing about any job back home. But, I guess according to your logic, nobody ever burns out at jobs back home...they just love there jobs and bosses and go to work with a big, fat smile on their face every single day. (Chortle-chortle).

You can have goals before you leave University. But trying to achieve them in the flawed system of the West is another challenge. But then again, I'm sure that you guys have reached your apex in life...I'm sure that you have achieved all your goals and are living the dream life in the West. If so, why are you even paying attention to this board? And if you are currently living in Korea, well, then, your advice seems rather hypocricitical and lacking in sincerity.

Also, your fantasyland mentality about "grades" defining your status in life is naive. Hell, if you have lived in Korea for any time at all, you should now this. I've known guys that got C's in college and partied till they puked and yet they now teach at educational institutes back home. Scary, isn't it? Hell, he might teach your kid in the future. I've got an even better one, I knew a guy that got C's and D's in college but got his ass saved by the US Air Force. He is an officer but he partied and drank his way through college. So, your logic is flawed on this point.

Ever heard of semantics? When did I ever say that Korea was my only option? I chose Korea because it is simply awesome in comparison to the crap that comes out of the West. Yeah, I chose to teach in Korea rather than work some $9 job back home under a boss who got the position only because she looks like a Playboy model. Yeah, I love the mentality of the West. Let's pay everyone that is qualified and a good worker nothing, give the supervisory positions to the most glamorous looking and whoever sleeps with the boss and also lets pay 60 million to the 18 year old kid that can dunk a basketball. Gotta love the priorities of the West.....Screw them.

Believe me, I've lived all over and I've seen many things...that is exactly why I make the statements that I make. You guys may think that the West holds a great future for you but you will be surprised when you get back. Once you hit those employment agencies or job fairs...you will know exactly what I am talking about. Right now, you are safe but that will change once you leave here. Only then will you understand the wisdom of my post. But don't worry, I don't expect you to understand it now.

By the way, it is funny the way that Rapier chose two weak countries(Italy and France). Like your argument. Italy doesn't know the first thing about organization(see...Battle of Taranto) and France couldn't fight out of a paper bag(see...the entire country). Thankfully, I've never visited either one.................