Korean Job Discussion Forums

[time_101]

A question for those not in the ESL industry here in Korea, or those that know someone. I'm looking around for something outside the ESL fields, it's way too stressful for me. I don't really speak Korean which is a major detriment I know, but my area is in computer science, programming, and I have a few years of professional web design/programming experience (and believe me, most Korean sites I've seen are a travesty when it comes to web standards compliance). So there has to be something out there for me given the sheer amount of exceedinly poor English versions of Korean websites, or general need for English software development.

Any ways, just curious about other people's experiences/tips on getting out of ESL teaching.

[bobbyhanlon]

esl too stressful? are you serious??! anyway i got my post-esl job after a friend saw a job poster up at his university.
as far as i'm concerned there's no conventional way to get a non-esl job here as generally people are sent here from their own country.. so the only way is just to keep your eyes open, ask as many people as you can for leads and information, get yourself known, etc. and hope for the best. i was offered an interview with another company after sending a speculative email, so maybe you should try that too.

[Zyzyfer]

I got it through a friend, but it's still related to English. I'm just not teaching anymore.

bobbyhanlon: Some people just aren't cut out to be a teacher, no matter how easy it is.

[mindmetoo]

[indytrucks]

Not at all related to thread ...

mindmetoo, I like Sonic Youth.

[Wangja]

[sistersarah]

found mine on the internet. kind of lucky. the jobs do exist and surprisingly, they often have trouble filling them because they don't offer things like housing, plane tickets, year end bonus, trouble getting visa, etc......

[billybrobby]

I found mine on the internet too.

anyways, it shouldn't be too hard if you have a degree in computer science. but they're gonna want you to have that degree, because getting the visa will be hard without it. i figure if an established company wants to hire you, the visa should be automatic but nooooo.

anyways, look at the job listings. 90% of the jobs are for ESL, 3% are for some kind of engineering, 2% for management, 2% for some weird shit, and 3% for computer programming. so you've got that 3% to work with, which ain't bad.

i agree with sistersarah. my job doesn't give me any of the perks that esl teachers get. no ticket, no apartment, no outrageously long vacation. i'm basically like just another korean salaryman. so you have to think, is that what you want?

now, to work for an american company in korea...ah...what a life.

[betchay]

i have a filipina friend who's working at the Korea Times... she applied for her job in the Philippines... another filipino friend is a computer professor in Daegu, but he also applied for his job back home...

[lastat06513]

I have done 2 non-ESL jobs in Korea;

1. Marketing Director/ Promotions Specialist.
2. Car sales representative.

I hate them both with a passion from hell.

And one time, I was offered a job at a "host bar" in Ansan that caters to Korean ajummas. Good gig, 5 million won a month for working from 1am to 8am.
Unfortunately, Korean language skills were needed to "talk" to the customers and the schedule was alittle too much for me.

I think alot of jobs might involve having some to near fluent Korean skills, though as you can see from the responses, that could be waived.

As people have been saying...keep your eyes and ears open.
If opportunity knocks- take it!

[mindmetoo]

[periwinkle]

I found mine on the internet, too. I'm a bit jealous of my friends that have 4 months + vacation a year and only have to go into work for a few hours a day (uni instructors). I only have 15 days a year. Also, next year we aren't getting a pay increase due to profit losses (not sure how legit that excuse is...). The best perk for me is that I'm treated with more respect at my company compared to the uni/hakwons I've worked at.

[Mashimaro]

[kidcharlemagne]

i found my job through the ���� website - actually a friend told me about the listing. korean is definitely a plus but not always needed. for IT related jobs, taejeon is a good place to look. if you work for one of the smaller korean companies, the work will be long and hard. most of the major companies, samsung, lg.... won't hire you for an engineering position unless you have a graduate school degree.
i used to teach and enjoyed it for awhile, but now it feels like i am really doing something that i can use once i leave here. another nice perk is how much more respect i get from koreans due to my job - superficial? yes, but that's korea...

[Scary Gary]

Do you like the latest 'Youth?