Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gwangjuboy]

I have been studying Korean for for 2 years now (before that I was learning indiscriminately) and I am becoming quite proficient. (not fluent though). Outside of teaching is it easy to get work in other fields once you become near fluent? Just how much weight would propspective Korean employers give it? (backed with the necessary qualifications i.e- level 5/6 national proficiency test) It would be preferable if those with direct experience replied.

Thanks in advance.

[Homer]

Well it depends on your field of expertise G-boy.

To work in another industry you will need relevant credentials and Korean language ability.

You need to show the employer you have the skills, education and/or experience that would make you an asset to them.

This might mean earning a new degree or certificate in order to gain specific expertise.

Experience as an English teacher won't help you much unless you aim for an education related field....

Best of luck.

[inthewild]

This thread died quick... any chance of revival?

[laogaiguk]

[Junior]

Work for a British/ american company in Korea??


I've heard so many times that you can make big $ if you're fluent in korean. Is it just BS??

[Juregen]

If you have the language skills and can make yourself understood in Korean, plus you can understand Korean sufficiently, there is no stopping you getting a job.

Language skills are appreciated in Korea, the reaon i didn't get hired is that i don't speak Korean and don't understand it "yet".

[bobbyhanlon]

i recently started working at the korean investment company mirae asset and they're constantly on at me to learn korean (since i'm not particularly good), so i think that you're on to a good thing if you can.

i think most important, however, is networking.. as foreigners we can't really apply for jobs through the standard recruitment process (HR people would just say 'wtf?' looking at our applications), so knowing people is completely necessary.

also, are you in seoul? if you're not in seoul, then forget it. and what is your background- education, previous work other than teaching, etc. ? its a sad fact but teaching english in korea will not help you get any work other than teaching more english in korea.

[animalbirdfish]

What if you're on an F-2/F-5 and have a graduate degree to pair with your Korean language skills? Seems that triad could be pretty helpful.

[tomato]

Gwangjuboy, I see that your message is 3 years old.
Are you still with us?

I want to know how you learned that much Korean in only 2 years.
If you know a studying method that is that efficient, you should write a book about it.

[Neil]

[StAxX SOuL]

Most of my friends who work over here in business have minimal Korean skills... they are however very proficient at their job...

Korean skill is not important... a firm can employ a native Korean translator for very little money... many offices have English only policies if you work in international business too, to the extent that your Korean co-workers must only speak English in the office...

That leaves a job not working in international business... but the question to ask is do you really want to work outside of international business here? Given the work conditions that Koreans have and the excessive hours they work for relatively low remuneration, I personally wouldn't want that... it should be evidenced by the bi-lingual Koreans who seek out work in Japan and the US because there is much less competition for each position... in Korea they pay Koreans so lowly because they know there are like 20 other people they could hire to do that same job... why would you want to come into that when you could get the same job and better pay back home?

If you are hellbent on employment here as a bilingual then I'd be looking towards things like agency... but it'd be best done as an entrepeneurial venture, finding a niche, then setting up your own business to provide a bridge between the Korean deficient foreigner, and the English deficient Korean...

[tomato]