Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fromtheuk]

My last job in England was at a life-destroying call centre. There as so many graduates in the U.K. Unless, you've got more than an undergraduate degree, I feel it's hard to get a good job there.

The more I think about this job in Korea, the more I realize it's pretty good. Truthfully, before I 'discovered' Korea, I was seriously thinking about becoming a truck driver in England. You pay about 1000 pounds for a course which lasts a few days.

Then you can get a licence and apparently can earn some good money. I didn't go ahead with it because I wasn't totally sure about the certainty of job opportunities available as a truck driver.

Anyway, which job would you do, if this opportunity in Korea didn't exist.

I'd probably consider truck driving or consider setting up a business in England.

[tfunk]

Well, the wage is Korea is very close to the minimum wage in Ireland so money wouldn't be a deciding factor if I was going to work in Korea.

I think with any job it helps to be enthusiastic or interested in the subject area; generally speaking this distinguishes a happy teacher from a lets-get-through-the-week teacher. Also, generally speaking, people that enjoy their job tend to do better within their field.

I've always admired people that don't see their job as a means to an end because I believe that makes far more sense, considering how much time we spend at our work. Teaching is one field where people genuinely enjoy their work or suffer because of it. The average Joe Soap isn't cut out to be a teacher: not because they don't possess the intellectual ability but because they don't have the emotional tools: empathy with their students and enthusiasm for their subject. This is one of the problems that arises in Korea: people with no previous teaching experience find themselves in a classroom and are pretty much compelled to teach for a year. That is why I agree with some of Steve Schertzer's statements about teachers in Korea 'failing', I just don't think he presents his argument objectively or convincingly.

To answer your question on a personal level, I've no idea for me what the perfect job is because I find it hard to commit myself to one thing and can't see myself become passionate about anything, so anything will have to do.

I would have thought the salary in England was a lot higher than Korea, but then again I guess the cost of living is too. If there was a one-size-fits-all perfect job then you would have heard about it (and everybody would be doing it, which would drive down the salary!).

I think it's best to start with your personal qualities/interests and take it from there.

Maybe I should be a barman...

[yingwenlaoshi]

Good thread.

I've thinking of training as a plumber back in Canada and starting my business in my hometown, Fredericton. I also have a camp/property back in Canada. I'm from NB, but the property is in Quebec. So if I could work in that region (kind of rural), it would be great. But I have more personal contacts in my hometown. My sister and her family live not too far from there in Quebec and would have contacts and would help me.

I could do that kind of job right up until I croak. And maybe make good money. Either way, I have a place to hunt and fish.

[dogshed]

I had some training money available to me because I was laid
off from a job during a particular period of time.

1. It had to be training that was less than six months.
2. There had to be a job demand.

The only thing that met these two criteria was truck driving.

I figured it was free. What the heck. I drove a truck for a few
months, but it was difficult to take care of the house while
I was away.

I figure I can always go back to it if I have to.