Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SuperFly]

I'm not addressing people who teach at companies. This is for people who work for a company directly.

Has your boss ever asked you to attend membership training (MT)? What was it like? I work for a fortune 500 company and am a Edit -> Kwa Jang. I have full benefits just like the Koreans have. I work 12 hour days and have to attend meetings just like they do. Everything is being transitioned into English, but for the time being - it's all in Korean. Just wondering how MT works, what's involved and how you liked it.

Any info would be appreciated, I have one coming up and no one has really given me any details on what to expect. Most importantly, why do we have to travel outside of Seoul for M/T and what can I expect from it.

SF

[PRagic]

First of all, don't refer to yourself or your position using the 'Lim/Rim' honorific suffix.

Second, don't sweat it. Go. Where is it? Wherever you get off the bus. When will you get back? When they tell you you are going back.

These are highly scripted events, with specific times to do specific things, followed generally by huge pissups at night.

I'd enjoy it. If I were working 12 hour days, it would probably be my first and only one. You 'have to attend meetings like they do.', but you don't speak Korean, and obviously don't have a background on the culture, let alone corporate culture. You're in for a tough haul.

[SuperFly]

Thanks, actually they've been really cool about everything. The hours are long, but the culture isn't bad. I worked for another Korean company for two years, before they got hit by IMF back in the 90's... so I know a little bit about the way they do things. The only difference is that back then, I wasn't a full fledged employee with benefits like I am now. I was on an E2 instead of an F2-1.

Thanks again, I'm looking forward to the pissup.

[gsxr750r]

[SuperFly]

It's ok, I don't mind being corrected...especially when the poster is trying to help.

[PRagic]

It's not grammar, and I saved the poster from making an arse out of themselves in public. Nobody would have said anything, they would have just thought them the clueless fool.

OP. you have the right attitude. Learn what you can, how you can, when you can. Posters like gsxr750r are the ones that go back to their countries after 1-3 years 'knowing everything' there is to know about working and living in Korea. Roll with it. You have a great chance to mainstream it at a Korean company, unless you are primarily teaching English for them. If that's the case, then an English teacher you shall remain. There is generally no breaking out of that perception.

[SuperFly]

Fortunately for me and my future resume, my roles and responsibilities go far beyond teaching the CTO how to deliver an effective presentation. I have about 8 years of experience with well known companies back home, so that went a long way when they offered me a salaried position. By the way, my assistant confirmed what you said about the culture of "Nobody would have said anything..." so thanks again for the tip. And thanks for the M/T info.

[jinju]

[PRagic]

Good on you, Superfly. If you care to, let us know what exactly it is that you do. There are some very well qualified people out there who have become disenchanted with the ESL industry, and your input could open up some new avenues.

[Homer]

I agree with PR..do share superfly!

As for you gsxr750r...the correction made was very useful and I too would have appreciated it in the same situation. The guy works with Koreans at a Korean company and using the Lim/Rim honorific when presenting himself would have been a mistake that should be avoided. So, that correction was in fact very valuable advice.

[SuperFly]

My title is Communications Facilitator. I work for the personnel/planning team in HR. I have a broad range of R & R, but I'm kind of afraid to talk about anything on a public message board because the confidentiality agreement was drilled into me about 40 times last week! They said that the people I'll be working with are scouted continiously by the competition and that private investigators have dossiers on them, etc. etc. and that I should never talk to Koreans who might come up to me, and start asking me questions about where I work and who I work with.

I'm not a rocket scientist, but I work with research engineers. I think I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. It could have been anyone.

[Sucker]

I work for a medium size (just over 1000 employees) Korean firm. I have had the position for around 2 months now. I also am treated as a regular employee, mostly because I am one.

Regarding � language: I speak Korean at an intermediate level and I find that in a group or office situation, most other employees speak to me in Korean and then switch to English if there is a problem. In one-on-one situations however, most people initiate conversations in English.

Team meetings are held in English; division meetings, presentations, etc are held in Korean.

Regarding MT: We didn�t have an MT as such, but we did have orientation. All the new employees hired that month (around 50 people) had to attend three days of seminars and group building activities. It was held at our training center near COEX. Lots of seminars on our company�s products, employee benefits, how to use the company internal network, etc. One day we were put in groups and had to make a slogan, song and logo for the company and then sing the song in front of everyone else. There was, of course, a lot of drinking at night.

It was all held in Korean. On the first day, most of the presenters did a double take upon entering the room and seeing me sitting there in the front row. I actually found it all rather useful. I expected it to be all company propaganda, but it was a good introduction to the company.

Oh, we also �climbed� a mountain that Saturday. By climbed, I mean we walked very quickly up 2000 something stairs, took a 5 minute rest and then marched back down to a restaurant where we drank makolli.

[sniperteam6]

Sweet Jesus Mother of God.... I am way too overweight for that crap. I shall remain in an ESL position... lol. Public Schools forever! Makolli ok, climbing, screw that!