Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yaya]

Like I said, if you want to do an MBA in Korea, fine, but don't be surprised if you end up regretting it or that it doesn't really pay off. I know of quite a few people who dropped out of grad school in Korea, partly because their peers were getting degrees at better schools in the West and others who were like "This is a grad program? NOT!"

Guess what, getting into a good grad school is TOUGH, otherwise why else do so many applicants apply every year? It's tough as nails to get into a top 25 program because the rewards are usually there after successful completion of the program.

Korea's MBA programs can't even hold a candle to the ones in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and EVEN India and Pakistan, much less the ones in the United States.

As for your labeling me a negative arse, well, reality bites, doesn't it? I remember one UCLA MBA grad joking about a guy who had gotten the same degree at the University of Scranton, PA. Most MBA students say it's just not worth it if you don't go to a good school, that recruiters from the good companies will toss your resume in a nanosecond if it ain't from a decent school.

The Samsung Group attracts the best and the brightest in Korea, many of whom have top TEN MBAs. There's getting a Korean MBA because one is a bonehead, and then there's the bonehead who could've gone to a good MBA school yet went to a Korean one.

[hogwonguy1979]

[Tukkong]

Why is there an assumption that only the USA has good universities? India is well known for its strength in IT. University of Warsaw has been described as the best IT focussed university in the world (should you want to major in IT). NUS is a top ranked university, as is Tsinghua and Beijing. This year's Times Higher Education Supplement ranked 6 Australian universities in the top 50 universities in the world.

Everyone knows that a Harvard MBA is the golden key. Read Harvard Rules. However, there are plenty of other good universities that you might never have heard of.

Anyway, where is the original poster from?

[Yaya]

[thepeel]

OP, what are your long-term goals (if you don't mind me asking?)?

If you are looking for a degree that will help you work in Asia, in an industry outside of esl, you have many options. I would suggest Nanyang in Singapore, or NUS as well. HKUST is an excellent school. Also, I know of a few programs at the graduate level that are half in Japan.

I wanted to get a degree in Asia before going home and am currently at one of the "big 3" in Singapore doing a masters in econ.

I would strongly advise you to not go to grad school in Korea. The Korean university system isn't held in high regard anywhere. Singapore and HK both offer excellent English-language educations. And, in my opinion (not a troll or flame!!!!), they are much more pleasant places to live as a foreigner than Korea.

[Yaya]

The MBA program at National University of Singapore is TOUGH to get in. I talked to a Singaporean and he said even ex-Prime Minister Goh's daughter couldn't get in because of the competition. Plus it says the median GMAT score is 650, which is like top ten U.S. MBA caliber.

I agree that Hong Kong and Singapore are more foreigner friendly BUT try getting a job in either city, it's basically as competitive as the West. No room for people who probably couldn't even flip burgers.

[hogwonguy1979]

[Tukkong]

In my opinion and experience, having an American MBA will not immediately set you apart. Of course, if you have studied at one of the top universities then you will have a heads up. However, if you have studied at one of them, I would be amazed if you didn't graduate without a job.

Otherwise, it depends upon the company, the job level, as well as other factors. My last job was with a global business intelligence company. I performed hiring in both Japan and Korea. The name of the university was not the determining factor in hiring people.

Like BJWD, I wonder what the OP's goals are. In fact, I wonder where the OP is. We have heard nothing since the original post.

[n3ptne]

...........

[Juregen]

[thepeel]

Ok, I don't want to be a jerk, but here is my opinion.

None of us have a fighting change in hell of getting into a "top American mba". It just ain't going to happen. There is no way you can spin esl to compete with people who worked for consulting firms and on wall street out of their undergrad. The top 15 are 100% out and 15-30 are slightly possible for some of us (depending on GPA and GMAT etc --- not me ---).

After that, there is no such thing as a "top Korean mba" -- Korean schools are very simply not competitive with the rest of the world--. And even to the extent that there could be one, it wouldn't be worth your time. The mba experience is about networking and such. The most useful thing you will get out of an mba, regardless of where, is your contacts with peers, profs and industry (internships etc).

Also, Samsung is not likely to hire a former esl teacher who did an mba in Korea for one of their highish paying positions in korea. They hire people who went to the best schools at home (our homes) because they know that their schools cannot offer a similar education. Your likely best outcome would be teaching business english at a uni in Korea. Which isn't really bad at all. My time at a uni was one of great economic freedom and fun. But I seriously disliked living in Kimchiland.

A middle range mba in Oz, HK, Sing, Europe, Canada or the USA will be fine for you as long as you are reasonable with your expectations upon graduation. You will not get the 120k+ job first day out as you perhaps would with Stern, Sloan or Wharton but you will get a nice job. Work your arse off, look the part (hugely important) and be proactive with your career and all will turn out ok. This is what I am told all the time by every career counselor at my school.

If you want to work in Korea you could follow the mba with a dba. Focus the research on business practices in Korea (or similar) and you will be hugely set for consulting work with Western firms wanting to work in Korea.

Most of what I wrote above is just repeating the words my different people here in Singapore. Take it for what it is. Maybe right or wrong.

[Juregen]

[Yaya]

BJWD speaks the damn truth. Many people who enter MBA programs already have extensive experience in business. The schmuck who used to teach at a hakwon before getting his MBA in Korea will look pretty stupid to a lot of experienced biz pros, if you ask me.

Many top Asian companies already get resumes from people with AMERICAN MBAs. Think Hong Kong became the biz capital of Asia with talent from their homegrown unis? NOT!

Also, the consultants I've met look down on the English teachers here worse than I could ever do, though they'll probably be more diplomatic about how they say it.

One more thing: just because you have an MBA, even from a top school, doesn't mean the battle's won. Like I said, PLENTY of Koreans struggling to find decent work here have MBAs from top U.S. schools. Getting an MBA is more like a start in the biz world.

An American buddy said it best: get your MBA and then work in whatever field for a time to gain experience and expertise. Companies here are now getting more into "aside from qualifications or degrees, can you do the job?" I've talked to people and they say some are so damn clueless even WITH an MBA, and I can definitely see that.

But I also agree that the MBA is becoming devalued, save the ones from the top 10 schools, since so many of the degrees are out there.

[Yaya]

[Mashimaro]