Korean Job Discussion Forums

Perri · Joined: 28 Dec 2009

Hey everybody, I'm brand new to the forums and I've done a few searches on the matter but haven't found anything.

My Girlfriend and I are leaving for South Korea in one month [Feb 15] and I've been wondering about how to make the best first and lasting impression with my employers.

Firstly, I like to wear a bit of scruff on my face- I'm never clean shaven, how is this received in South Korea? Will this seem unprofessional? will anybody care?

I've been thinking about professional clothing as well and was wondering if the typical button up and nice pants [not jeans] is the norm over there as it is here. I won't have to wear full suits to class everyday will I?

I guess while I'm at it I should ask about gifts. I've read that bringing gifts to your employer something of a custom down there and have been wondering what to bring. I'm Canadian, so do you guys thing that they'd enjoy some souvenirs from Niagara Falls or Maple Syrup or something? Just looking for some ideas.

Thanks in advance!

Scamps · Joined: 01 Feb 2008

Sleepy in Seoul · Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 3:17 pm Post subject:

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

Korean-style dress is button-down short-sleeved shirt and dress slacks in the spring and summer and full suit in the fall and winter. If you're teaching small kids then it may be a bit more lax.

Not being clean-shaven every day will almost guarantee that people will think of you as a backpacker who doesn't take himself or his job seriously. Just sayin'.

oldtactics · Joined: 18 Oct 2008

I agree with what everyone else has said about being clean shaven, but things will lighten up a bit once people get to know you at your school. If you get to friendly terms with the people that you work with, having a bit of scruff won't be that big a deal. Your choice. I have friends who arrived here with properly-groomed beards and they haven't experienced any problems, as far as they know.

As for gifts - I'm Canadian and I brought maple syrup candy along with a pamphlet about how they tap the trees and whatnot, and my VP still talks about it and tells people about it when we're out. Again, your choice, but I think a small gift like that really speaks volumes about your personality. I brought something small for my principal, VP and main co-teacher. Small Canadiana kitsch is good, don't spend too much money.

Also, as a sidenote, your local MP has a truckload of (free! paid for by your fine tax dollars) Canadian pins and flags ready to be given out to anyone who requests them - if you email or call them and tell them that you're going abroad to teach, they'll send you a package in the mail. I used a few of them as prizes and during my intro lessons. The flags come in handy for lots of things, including Canada Day celebrations at the bar.

Enjoy the adventure!

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

As others have already stated, being clean shaven is the way to go. I have worked with a few guys with scruff and they always got complaints and criticized. You will need to have tough skin to deal with some of the stupid things that you hear.

I have seen teachers wear everything from wrestling Tshirts with vulgarities and jeans to suits.

I would suggest some kind of docker type pants and a button up shirt. I would go for long sleeves always. Wearing short sleeves even in summer will open you up to more insults. I had one colleague pull on my arm hair and say that I reminded her of a cute fuzzy monkey. I guess she was trying to be funny, but I didn't like it. I wear long sleeve shirts everyday now. I often wear a tie especially on the first day and any special event.

I wear dress slacks and a business shirt, but I don't wear a suit jacket.

The more professional you look, the better you are treated.

As for gifts, don't bring anything. Every time that I gave something to people it was never really appreciated in the long run. They were polite about it, but they never used the gift.

These people are not your friends, they are your employers and they just want you to do your job and not get complaints from parents.

If you bring some gifts, I would wait after you have been there for a while to give them. Chose your friends and then give the gifts. Giving to the different management and colleagues before you know them, doesn't do much.

Good luck. Try not to let them know too much about you. Just keep things professional. They will ask a lot of personal questions but will reveal nothing about themselves. Don't be distant but be careful who you confide in.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Depends on where you live. Most likely in Seoul, shaven is the way to go. In the rural areas, they are just happy to see you show up. After dressing up for 6 months and seeing my co-teacher wear jeans, I decided to do the same.

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

I work at a public high school. I usually always wear a tie, but a suit is only required for special ceremonies (and teacher photos) a couple times a year.

I think private academies (hogwans) are more casual, but I always wore a tie when I worked at those, also (since I have over 30 of them...)

Btw, you can find maple syrup in Korea, but it's very expensive...

Paladin Brewer · Joined: 25 Dec 2009

Hmm, I should be coming to Korea in February as well. For the past few years, I shave my face but I like to keep hair on my chin, like a goatee. Otherwise I look like im 10 and I have a fat chin :p Im hoping its not a big issue cause I don't like to shave it off.

oskinny1 · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Location: Right behind you!

The adjumma teachers have their leg hair sticking out of their tights, so you can have some hair poking out of your balaclava.

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

skim234 · Joined: 02 Sep 2009

People in Korea (outside of work) dress really nicely. I would advise bringing some nice shirts, jackets, pants, etc.

It seems like some ESL teachers came to Korea with their worst t-shirts thinking they were visiting a 3rd world country located on a beach (like Thailand or Philippines).

If you are living in Seoul, you will stick out like a sore thumb if you wear cargo shorts, sandals and wear a backpack everywhere you go when it's not -5 celcius.

You could say that Koreans in Seoul "overdress" a bit, therefore you probably don't want to look too underdressed.

Alabama Rattail · Joined: 04 Dec 2009

I am moving to teach in Daejeon to teach in two weeks. The other American teacher I have talked to at the school put a huge emphasis on how you dress in the classroom. She says there is a direct correlation between your appearance and the amount of respect you get from your students and coworkers. I already planned on wearing more "respectable" clothes for the job but she was adamant about dress shoes, dress shirt (necktie recommended), and dress pants.

Good to hear that khaki pants aren't in vogue there...they are the worst.

I have a weird question...I've been growing a rat tail and have fairly shaggy hair and would like to keep my 'do. Will having a trendy hairstyle be ok or should I get it cut before I leave?

lovebug · Joined: 29 Apr 2009

first impressions are incredibly important here so i would start off clean shaven and take it from there. my boyfriend likes to grow a beard and then shave it off every 6 weeks or so - he started for some time clean shaven and now grows a beard in and they don't care. he's done a good job building a solid relationship with his students and coworkers, so they don't look for a reason not to like him.

it won't take a lot of time or energy to get a few gifts for your coworkers. yes, maybe a few of them will never appreciate it, but some of them definitely will, and some of them could hold a grudge if you don't get them something.

a few guidelines:
do NOT get the same things for people of different rank. principals get the best gift, then vps, then coteachers.
wrap everything. koreans prefer to open things when you leave in case they don't like it. giving something unwrapped forces them to react to your gift in front of you.
use both hands to give a gift.
multivitamins are a good gift - it sounds weird but they are really expensive here.

some admins/coteachers may never even look at or use your gift, but it's all about gesture and ceremony here, so ultimately, the giving is more important than what it actually is.

i'll always bring back cookies or candy or something small for my subject teachers to share when i go on a trip as well - it helps assuage their jealousy for my child-free, holiday-laden existence Laughing

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

For the poster that asked about hair, make sure that it is cut. I have had long hair most of my life and I deal with the grief that comes with it. In Korea men have short hair. If you have a trendy cut, then maybe it is ok. But depends on what trendy is. Look at some pictures of Koreans and their popular fashion what might be trendy for you is retarded for them.

If gift giving was so important, then why don't Korean teachers when they are hired give gifts? (not once in all of my years have I ever seen a new Korean teacher give anyone gifts. Why don't all teachers get parting gifts from their schools?

Save your money and your energy.

Skim do you even know what you are talking about?
"It seems like some ESL teachers came to Korea with their worst t-shirts thinking they were visiting a 3rd world country located on a beach (like Thailand or Philippines). "

I doubt that you have worked in either country because if you had you would know that in both of those countries dress code is a lot more strict and adhered to than in Korea. I have never seen a teacher in Thailand wear jeans and a tshirt in class but it is common in Korea.

You are prejudice and ignorant by your post commenting on countries that I doubt you have even been to.