Korean Job Discussion Forums

[theSeeker]

Hello friends,

I have a question. Im planning my trip over to Seoul. I am going to need to do some shopping before I leave here. I need some nice clothes to wear once I get there, first for the job search, and then for work. I'm thinking some solid colored shirts and some pretty ties. Several clean comfortable slacks. etc.

Anyone have any advise on do's and dont's?? Are there any offensive colors or color combinations??

Please send advise.

Thanks!

[Grotto]

What size are you?

If you are a small and slender size you can buy clothes over here by the truckload cheap cheap cheap!

If you are a + size you had better stock up before coming over.

Koreans wear drab dull clothes. No color really. Black and white are the most common.

Dont dress like a Korean! Wear some colors, my students absolutely love my thai dyed tee shirt and I get tons of compliments on it from older Koreans too.

[prosodic]

[peppermint]

Safest bet- think about what your teachers wore in grade school and go from there. Consider it an outward show of your professionalism.

[theSeeker]

thanks everybody for the great advise. keep it coming.

[Gollum]

Interview in a suit/tie. In my opinion, you can't overdress for a teaching interview. You can easily under-dress yourself out of a job, however.

Koreans are all about first impression and stuff like that.

They are extremely materialistic. Perhaps some of the most materialistic people on the planet when judged as a whole.

[Grotto]

Absolutely true!

Koreans are probably more hung up on appearance than any other race on the planet.

Just check out the clothes they throw out. In front of my apartment is a bin full of clothes by the recycling area. They throw out anything with even the slightest bit of wear...misssing buttons etc.

Wear what you feel comfortable in. I have it written into my contracts that shorts, sandals and t-shirts are acceptable summer wear

[T-dot]

forget the clothes, you can find decent leather furniture.

they throw out perfectly fine furniture that might have a scratch on it,

[crazykiwi]

Agree with the interview stuff, suit and tie and all that jazz. just ask them what is acceptable apperal there. as for being at home and coming over soon, buy some nice light linen and cotten shirts, short sleeves and long sleeves, bloody hot hot here now and same extreme in the winter. also if you are goin for a hogwan job, go all the way on the cartoon ties. i know they are way outa fasion at home but my kids used to love them, to the point of requests for "bartman, and bugs bunny". gay i know, but a smile is all good. im lucky now, accepted apperal." what are YOU comfortable in?" haha, shorts and t-shirt thanks! all good.

[ryleeys]

I beg to differ about Koreans wearing mostly black and white. Way way too many Korean men I see are wearing pastel colored polo shirts that really bring into question their sexuality...






Disclaimer: Not that their sexuality is any of my business or that having a sexuality different from my own is unacceptable. I'm just saying... if you wear a pink polo shirt with little bunnies on it, well, it's okay if you're 7 years old and your mother dresses you... but if you're 40...well... why?

[crazylemongirl]

I agree you can't underdress for an interview. As for on the job depends where you are teaching. I teach at a public school and the dress code is probably a lot tighter than at a hogwon. Shirt and ties for guys. Women aren't allowed to wear skirts that hit above the knee and must wear hose or socks all year

Of course a lot of it depends on your principal or director and while a lot of places will probably not say to your face you need to change your clothing they'll make it obvious in other ways. For instance if someone asks if you are cold chances are they are actually saying you're showing too much skin.

Of course you can feel free to ignore them and just be comfortable. But I remember some words of wisdom that were handed down to me before I started my current gig. Welcome to 1963. As a foreigner, the standards that are imposed on you are going to be a lot more to get a lot less respect. I'm always in dress pants or skirts and the korean teachers will often wear jeans to school, but if I want to keep my vice-principal happy I gotta look the part.

[Toby]

Button down collar shirts. From 5,000 won if you need them.

Ties. From 5,000 won if you need them.

Smart trousers. From about 15,000 won if you need them.

Smart shoes. Bring your own.

Don't go crazy buying at home. I brought my suit. 2 suits actually. Worn them twice in three and a half years. And neither time was related to the school. I brought about 20 ties from my collection. Only ever worn two when I wore the suits.

You can buy what you need here. Don't go crazy buying more expensive stuff at home that you may never wear here.

[Ilsanman]

Pink and purple looks good on them, but wont be caught dead wearing it.