Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yaeyae]

what type of picture is ideal when sending to recruiters?
formal (shirt/tie) or smart casual wear? smiling or not?

[isisaredead]

the best way i can describe what you should be going for is WARM AND PROFESSIONAL.

so, throw on a business shirt, put yourself in front of a plain background, and give a nice, yet understated, smile.

a tie wouldn't hurt either, i guess - but i've never bothered. one photo i used for a while was me wearing a classy cocktail shirt. didn't seem to affect my chances of offers.

best of luck.

[perkxplosion]

Yeah I agree. Also try to look upbeat. My photo I use is from a wedding of me in a suit giving two thumbs up with the cheesiest smile ever. It's actually not a bad photo, but if you weren't Korean you would realize the photo itself is kind of a joke.

[Skippy]

Actually someone on this board also recommended including a picture or two of you teaching (if you have that). It impressed upon some schools that he was professional.

I need to work on my poses.
Turn
"Blue Steel"

[hamie]

I've got one I used where I put on a dress shirt, smiled and it seems to work. I had no pants on at the time (waste up shot) and it still makes me laugh that it's landed me jobs.
When it was the wife and I applying for jobs we used a picture of us looking cheerful together. It was taken in the snow sitting in the back of a military carrier in Itaewon.
Look happy, look professional and go for it. If you can have some fun in the process it's a bonus.

[furtakk]

[CSlinguist]

I used to use my graduation photo (in business casual clothes) from my yearbook but I switched to a plain, passport style picture and I think it worked better. I would suggest opting against a big smile because for the most part, Koreans don't smile when they take professional pictures for job applications. But then again you don't want to look pissed off so just try to make a natural, relaxed expression.

[djsmnc]

Wasn't there a thread on this like 2 weeks ago??

RRRRAGHGHGHGH

*Throws chair at the window*

[Nadia_M]

I used a picture from a wedding I went to. I just cropped it so it was jusy my face and shoulders. I have a big colgate smile in it. It worked.

[asc422]

My director hired me at my last job because I submitted a picture where I was teaching young students.

FWIW, I think you should try to cater to the position as much as possible. If it's a kindy hagwon you'll look fairly silly wearing a suit and tie in the picture.

Aside: I think it's 'waist' not 'waste.'

[Steve_Rogers2008]

[lalartu]

for my first job i sent a photo with me looking like a mobster after a fight (mostly due to bad camera and bad lights) and still got the job.

i think it's all about your skin colour

[Widsy97]

I have used many different ones. They all worked!

[verloc]

Suit and tie, smiling. It's a professional job application (at least in theory).

[itsjustverbs]

I had a pic taken of me sitting outside on a deck chair in a back yard, trying to look summery. Not so good perhaps.