Korean Job Discussion Forums

sineface · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: C'est magnifique

Now, for anyone interested in finding completely unrelated claptrap to throw at me for asking some sort of question they deem ridiculous, please go away just go away right now please. The question is, what else can you do here that isn't teaching? Editing, publishing, etc is really what I'm thinking about. I'm teaching here at the moment, about finished my first year in the absolute back arse of nowhere (lovely though). And I know the answer is that I can do a lot of other things. Hell I can do what I please, right? Yes yes I know. But does anyone know anyone using this whole English thing to a different end? I'm interested to know. I'm interested to hear. I'm really hypothetically asking for the very far away future.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

There is big money in selling Amway. Not only are they products that you use every day but you can sell to all your friends and family. I knew a guy, who knew a guy, who met my cousin, that made millions...MILLIONS Laughing

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I couldn't help but give you some claptrap. The truth is that your only purpose in Korea is to teach...if they needed something else they would hire a Korean or 3D worker.

huffdaddy · Joined: 25 Nov 2005

sineface · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: C'est magnifique

My claptrap likes not to be italiscised. It enjoys it's intended font, and recoils at the mockery of your fannying around with it. Regardless, I can do no more than extend my humblest thanks to you. Ye hasty refonter, I was in fact looking for my purpose in Korea all this time, and now, my little ray of sunshine, I may be at rest.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Time to move to the big city, I'd say. If you don't know of any opportunities yet, then you haven't been here to capitalize, anyway. Still, here goes...

Sure, there are a ton of opportunities along the lines you mention, but they are mostly in the Seoul, and are mostly generated through time in country. Work flows through relationships and reputation, and those take some time to develop. The best creed to live by is, '...stay in country, avoid the 4 month a year vacation trap, hand out business cards like *ss wipe, and never change your cell number.' Work will come to you if you build up a good reputation. So ask yourself, can you REALLY do the work and do it well? Some people can edit/proof, some can't. Some can write, some can't. Be honest with yourself if you are selling a service as you'll do better selling a service you rock at.

Long vacations? Sure, you can do them, but I don't know anyone that is successful in the non-teaching market that takes them regularly. Koreans will resent it, and, more importantly, they will simply start turning the work over the person that is in country and ready to go.

You'll need to spend some time learning the appropriate fees to charge, too. How much for editing? How much for writing? How much for ....? You can work smart, or you can work hard. If you do both, you'll do very well. There are a ton of people doing peripheral work out there that are simply getting used, but are happy to do the work simply because they are 'not teaching'. Pathetic. Know what you are worth, or get ready to waste a lot of time.

You'll need to be HIGHLY flexible. Business in Korea doesn't punch a time clock, and most projects come off as seemingly last minute rush jobs. When in Rome.... If you try to impose your home-culture's rules and time perceptions on the Koreans you work with, you'll come across as a schmuck, and will lose business.

You'll need to have some credentials. Do you have hakwon experience and only a BA (not in English or linguistics)? Why should they pay you? Get some higher degrees and some better experience, and it'll help you out.

Good luck to you.