Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mindmetoo]

A popular question is how much should I bring to Korea? How much am I going to need before my first pay check? Let's consider the other side. How much money are you going to need when you move back?

This is going to wildly vary depending on your sitch but some things to think about:

1) transportation? You got a car back at home? Can you use public transit? Maybe you need to buy an old beater. Figure $2000-$3000 for beater + insurance. Never been insured? Driver's license expired and have to get a new one? Your insurance might set you back $100-$200 a month. Going to have to drive to another city for job interviews? Figure easy $30-$50 a week in gas. My own car was sitting in my sister's backyard for 4 years and it easily cost me $1,000 to make it road worthy again (new tires, battery, flush and fill, oil change, new muffler to replace the one that rusted, new brakes lines).

2) Got an interview suit? Got two? I've interviewed for a lot of positions in an environment where shoes and socks are only worn by sales peopole, but no matter the environment always err on the side of a nice suit and tie. And have another one for the second "we want him but we have to run him past the VP to mollify his fears we're hiring an axe murderer" interview. So figure $500. And don't show up in a 10 year old suit either.

3) First and last month's rent. You'll need that cash in the bank. So $1200-$2000.

4) Are you moving to your own first gosh darn place where you have to gosh darn furnish it? Set aside about $1000 easy for everything from a futon to pots and pans to blankets to extension cords to floor lamps.

5) Utility deposits. Got no real credit rating? Some utilities might demand $100-$200 deposit.

6) Unless you're heading straight to Alberta, Also budget it'sgoing to take you 2-4 months to find a permanent job pretty much any place in North America.

Bottom line, figure out how much money you want to save in Korea. $10K a year? $15K a year? Let's say you plan on being in Korea for 3 years and want to save a $30K nest egg. Something you're going to put aside long term and eventually put down on a house or condo. Now add a minimum $5,000 for startup costs for your real life back at home. Add more if you're thinking you're going to buy a beater to get around. So I would say if you're gunning for, say, $30K to show for your time in Korea then aim at banking $35-40K.

And none of this is considering you're bringing back your girl...

[mises]

Good post.

MM2, how did you sell your ESL experience in Korea? Clearly, it isn't related to the job you landed. What aspects did you stress and gloss over?

[mindmetoo]

[Ekolye]

I hadn't even thought about this until I read your post.
Thank you MM2.