Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ronnie555]

will they mind having a shaved head? I always shave my head very short, usually a #1 clipper.

I'm young, and I'm a good looking guy. But I've heard that they discriminate based on looks when hiring in Korea. Will the shaved head bother them? do any Korean men go for the shaved look? or do they all sport longer hair.

should I grow my hair out for the pictures I send them? and then shave it off when I arrive. a little bait and switch haha

[skim234]

[Ronnie555]

[frankly speaking]

I know countless guys in Korea that are clean shaven and they never have problems.

Unless you look like a mean skinhead or military guy, they won't care much.

I don't know what skim is talking about Korean guys having longer hair than western men. Most Korean men have pretty short hair. They don't do the crew cut or anything extreme but you will rarely see a man with hair past his ears and never shoulder length. Unless you are talking about younger generations.

I wouldn't worry too much at all.

As long as you look and act professional you will be fine.

Appearance is what is first judged upon, and it will help with other things but that goes with most places.

[SeoulMan99]

If you have hair to grow out I would recommend doing so. It doesn't have to be long, but an inch or so would be better than it being shaved. I can only go by the fact that one of the contracts I turned down specifically stated that shaved heads were not permitted. Given this is only one school, but appearance definitely does matter in the hiring process here. Don't be fooled that it doesn't. Hell, even an inch I wouldn't think is necessary, but I would grow it longer than a #1 clipper.

* Why take a chance of possibly not getting a job because of something so silly?

[Goon-Yang]

[skim234]

[tjmauermann]

When I got my job I was a shaved as bald as a cue ball. Still got my job and one of the things my KT said to me was that I looked mean and that now that she knows me it is the last thing she would ever think of me.

In truth I take a bad picture and have a face for radio.

I think having a clean look is more important to them than anything else. Appearances matter where ever you get a job, just especially important in Kland.

[lost at sea]

Clean shaven, clean close hair cut and a good dresser = a man that can land any job.

[frankly speaking]

Skim you might be a Korean American but that doesn't necessarily mean that you know anything about Korea.

I will agree that Koreans have thicker fuller hair than most westerners, but it is no where near being longer. GoonYang is definitely right on this one. You don't really know anything or only hang out with College age wankers.


Good post tjmauermann

I have had a few colleagues that got the " you look mean" and I have had a few that didn't. It isn't always about the hair but how you present yourself.

Of course the advice about the 1" crew cut isn't a good idea either because then they will think you are military. Which isn't a good thing either.

Look professional and try to give a gentle smile in your picture. Present yourself as easy going, gentle and calm and you will be ok.

[hugekebab]

Stay as you are. If they don't hire you, there is a 65-75% chance they are doing you a favour because the job would be rubbish anyway.

[FistFace]

Just look at me. I got hired.

[djsmnc]

[Ronnie555]

[RedRob]

I've taught with everything from a ponytail to a #1 shaved head. It doesn't matter as long as the overall package is tidy shoes/threads/ clean shaved etc. The only thing that will really flunk you out is a scraggly beard or visible tats on yr neck etc