Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Stalin84]

I'm back home now and heading back to Korea soon. My actual start date in Korea keeps flaking around because of documents/rushes/embassy crap and what have you so I'm still a bit up in the air about whether or not I'll be returning and when.

The idea of staying in Canada and working enters my head now and then because I think that I might be ready for it. I definitely want to do at least one more year in Korea but it's looking more and more like a short term gig and less and less like a long term gig, these days.

Anyway, I tested the waters this week and took my resume to the local employment centre in my home town and in the closest city. I mainly just wanted advice and since it's a free service it couldn't hurt (just sitting on my hands now and doing nothing anyway).

Every employment centre I spoke to told me to take my BA off my resume. They said it would do nothing but over-qualify me for most of the work I could do and since I don't have a particular field per se, there is really no reason to have it on there. Apparently, the only places that would hire someone with a Bachelor's degree are places that need warm bodies of any variety. The places that I'd be better suited are instead asking for 5+ years experience doing similar work (which I can't get because they're all saying that and where would one begin...)

I don't think I can bring myself to just taking it off my resume. If I took my degree off, I'd have to take my Korea/Japan teaching experience off too which makes it look like I've been doing nothing since I was 18 other than odd part time jobs. That and despite it being worthless, I do feel like it helped me become a better person which indirectly makes me more employable.

Do you put your degree on your resume? Why/why not?

[Poker]

Really now, that just sounds silly, a BA makes one over-qualified? Jeez. What kind of work are those employment centres finding for people?

[morrisonhotel]

Of course. I'm applying for jobs that have interviews in the week I'm home over Christmas. Every job I've applied for has asked for an advanced degree in a related subject. My degree isn't related so I've just had to put a positive spin on it in my cover letter. So far, it has worked out okay - I've so far applied for 6 jobs. I have 4 interviews lined up. Unless you're going for cleaning jobs or whatever, I don't really see the necessity of leaving it off. Just make sure you put a positive spin on it in your cover letter.

[Cerulean]

I don't understand why you have to take off Korea and Japan if you take off your degree.

Please explain if you don't mind.

And I'm not being sarcastic.

[Cedar]

Anyone who tells you to take a BA off your resume is either mentally deficient in a major way or you are applying for ditch-digger positions. Seriously, I guess I might take off my degree if I wanted to get the ditch-digger position, but otherwise why spend the time and energy to get it and NOT put it on your resume? (and I'm nearly 40 so I've had more time on the job market to test these waters for myself)

[Provence]

Don�t work with those employment agencies, they obviously want to place you in jobs with minimal requirements. Remember they only get paid if you get paid and will place you anywhere they can as fast as they can.

[mises]

[Died By Bear]

Trust me, they are right. Just take it off and say you worked as a peace corps volunteer in Korea. Lie a little, everyone else does it. It's not like you're going to list these temp jobs on your resume in the future, it's a filler position right?

[Stalin84]

[Tundra_Creature]

Are you looking at jobs that don't require a degree?? Because other than that, I don't really see why you would be asked to take your degree off your resume. Even then.

[Stalin84]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[curlygirl]

[AsiaESLbound]

I had the same problem in America. I was over qualified for most jobs, but under qualified for professional jobs due to lacking at least 5 years recent experience in a specialized role. A smart educated skilled man can easily go broke in the economy of the 2000's.


If applying to deliver pizza, you might say you attend school. If applying to be a cook, leave the degree off. If applying to be in a business oriented job like sales and computer work, include your degree even it only pays $9 an hour and most other in there don't have a bachelors. The low paying business oriented job seems to be the only place where a degree gives you a leg up against the competition in this economy. Unfortunately, accounting and sales wearing a suit is only paying $9 to $12 an hour with little to no bonuses these days. Other jobs are commission only and about as possible as you winning the Powerball when it comes to getting paid enough to minimally live even if you can sell.

[lawyertood]

Do you really need a resume to apply for a job delivering pizza?