Korean Job Discussion Forums

[evilslug]

Hi all,

I'm an accountant from Melbourne Australia and i was looking to work in Korea. I know most of you are teaching English here but i was wondering if anyone has acquired a job that is not English teaching related for example accounting/finance/business/economics etc as that is what i want to be looking for.

Obviously the language is a barrier for me but are there foreign companies who employ English speaking people for purposes other than benefiting from their English ability?

I've been to Korea and my girlfriend is also from Korea and i love it, which is why i am looking to work there for some time (dont tell me how unpractical i am being or how hard it is going to be because i already know it). I am currently learning Korean so hopefully by the time I want to make a move comes around i would have at least basic conversational skills down pat.

I just want to know what kind of opportunities are available for me? Is it possible to get a decent job other than teaching English?

Any opinions or comments will be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

jazz`

[icicle]

[diablo3]

Why don't you become an adult conversation teacher at first? That way, you get to know more about Korea and what is out there. While teaching, you can network with students and find out if there are opportunities in their company.

It is much easier to find appropriate work that way.

That's what I did.

[Len8]

Knew an english teacher who swapped jobs to write financial statements for a Korean bank. He didn't know Korean either.

[PRagic]

You could send your resume/CV to several of the professional headhunters that advertise in the Korea Herald and the Korea Times. You never know.

The downside to taking a teaching job is that once you're in, it's not easy to break out. VERY few people have transitioned to business jobs based on their teaching contacts. Once a teacher, always a teacher. That's the way it goes in Korea. If you have your MA/MBA, then you might be able to get jobs teaching accounting at the university level.

[sojourner1]

Yes, business is a very hard career to break into in just about any country. I would say to start at home by researching what companies have operations in Korea or might be looking to do business in Korea. It seems to be all about who you know, not what you know regardless of where you're looking for a professional position, but it is often religiously preached that networking is key to success. Often, they will ask you what you have to bring to the table in which they are looking for you to invest some money and be an officer on commission. I ran into this a great deal upon college graduation for which I was a broke joke and needed a traditional salary like we get teaching English that few companies at home offer in these times unlike in grandpas day.

[evilslug]

Thanks so much for your responses guys it has been really helpful.

From what i can gather there is no clear cut way of getting a job in the business sector. Getting to know as many people as possible and networking as most of you have said would probably be the best bet.

I guess its all about having something to provide to a company and justifying why they have to pay you a decent wage.

Well if anyone has any further information on links or contacts please let me know!

Very much appreciated guys!

Thanks!!

[PRagic]

Just one more piece of info. To work in accounting here, it is usually preferable to have a background in Korean accounting methods (or lack there of). I had a couple of CPA finance buddies in grad school who went to work in accounting for Korean firms, but had a really rough time of it.

If you are going to approach the headhunters in Seoul (probably your best bet), you could swing your experience toward the planning side. Another thing you could do would be to check out the finance industry here. Some of the firms hire on junior analysts, albeit most of them have pretty heavy-hitting degrees. Just my 2 cents. Good luck to you.l

[evilslug]

[PRagic]

No worries. Actually, they worked for companies, not accounting firms.

[davejohnson333]

Aren't there jobs in Korea where you rewrite something in native speaker English that a Korean wrote? These are called editing jobs I believe.


?

[evilslug]

Hi davejohson333,

Are there many of these jobs around? What is the salary like?

I have also seen some translating jobs (from Korean to English). Has anyone had any experience doing this?

Regards,

jazz`

[da_moler]

How many editing jobs are out there and how do you get them?

[insam]

There are quite a few editing jobs available. Recently, I was offered 50,000,000 (around $54,000 US) per year to edit for a securities firm (basically stock analyst reports). It is a 'company job' in the sense that you are salaried and working long hours (not the best situation in my opinion, but it does include annual bonuses etc). However, many companies and universities prefer to hire editors who are currently in Korea. This seems to be a more frequent concern than it is for teaching positions. Also, due to the nature of the jobs, they also prefer candidates who have plans to remain in Korea (e.g. spouses of Korean nationals et al). Companies must (in theory) prove that you are necessary (e.g. a native could not effectively do the job) for the visa process. This limits the number of business-related jobs available to foreigners. If you are not opposed to teaching, then AP Economics is one of the best things you can do, and it is quite lucrative. It is a rapidly growing area, and there are few people capable of teaching it in Korea. I would suggest giving yourself a six month window to search if possible. You will find opportunities, but they are not available every day or even every week. You will also be expected to demonstrate your kowledge and skills which will be compared to those of other candidates (another difference from most teaching positions, which can be acquired by qualifications alone).

I would also consider researching foreign-owned companies in Korea (e.g. ABN AMRO et al) and contact potential employers directly. Many financial institutions, investment firms etc publish reports in English and require foreign staff. Most of the larger ones are interested in attracting foreign clients and therefore use English by default. You could look them up and send resumes by the dozens to any and all of them. But there are quite a few people interested in the same thing, and for good reason. No babysitting or prep. Good luck.

[postfundie]