Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kirkasu]

I took a job in Daegu in September of 2006. Due to some personal reasons, I left after six months to return to my family. I gave notice, paid for my ticket, and all that stuff.

I am now looking to head back to Korea for a year to pay off debt before I dive into the Peace Corps. Naturally, the recruiters that I'm talking to all seem to be a bit put off by the fact that I left a contract early.

Right now I'm being upfront and just trying to explain the difference between where I am now and where I was then, but I'm worried that I won't be able to get a job because of the abandoned contract. So my questions about the situation are:

1) Even though I worked three solid years at a school here after returning the the US and have great references from it, am I pretty much unemployable in SK?

2) Would I be able to leave that off my resume and just pretend I never came the first time? Or is it something that they will find out when they begin the visa application process?

[thegadfly]

There is a difference between being honest and running your mouth -- you needn't be " upfront and just trying to explain the difference between where I am now and where I was then." You've grown and matured -- great -- no need to highlight the fact that you may have made some mistakes.

Just apply, and if questioned about why you only finished 6 months, do NOT go into more detail than necessary -- "personal, family-related reasons" should be enough. If someone was sick or hurt, you might mention specifics to garner some sympathy, or at least empathy...or you can avoid divulging personal details, if you prefer.

You can additionally reassure them that the events that led to your leaving the contract early are not likely to be repeated, and so the issue has not, and probably will not recur.

Tales of your "personal growth" or other "coming of age" situations are going to put owners and recruiters off. On the other hand, if you quit to go home and take care of your dying mother, then you can just say that, and I doubt anyone would hold it against you (and some places would actually consider it a positive sign of your good character and sense of responsibility).

...so, to recap: no, leaving a contract early will NOT preclude you from finding another job, but unless you have a "good" reason (i.e. one that an owner or recruiter would agree is a good reason), do not go into details about why you left. The less said about it, the better.

Oh, I personally would not suggest lying about your work, or leaving the time off your resume. Blanks in a resume cause me to ask questions, and if I catch a person in ANY lie during the interview process, that person's application is immediately tossed. Owning up to a mistake, when questioned, garners a lot more points in my book than lying to cover up a mistake. We all screw up -- it is how we deal with it that sets us apart (IMO).

Good luck in your search.