Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner1]

Having completed 2/3 of my contract so far, I am thinking hard about what I want to do next year. I could go for another job such as at a public school in Korea, but I am hesitant as I can honestly say that I am not enjoying living in Korea. It's not a bad country, it' just a rather boring and confining way to live from my perspective. Could be a very enjoyable way to live if in Seoul, but I don't really know that for sure. I know despite limitations out of our control, life is largely what we make of it.

I am thinking about things such as possible career opportunities, how to explain gaps in employment, how to build on Korea experience, and what areas of the US might be a great place to repatriate. I know it will not be easy without being experienced or established in a specific specialization yet, though I have a bachelor of science in business and military experience before teaching in Korea. I have ruled out police officer, security guard, and teacher. I heard many college graduates in the US are driving trucks (boring monotony) for a living or retraining for a medical specialty. Just a few ideas I got from reading career related articles. I do know health care, education, and truck driving are the 3 main industries offering career opportunities these days. Any others I should consider?

What are you thinking or planning on when it comes to your repatriation and acquiring a new career opportunity? I know some of you are not planning on this, but have decided to stay in Korea indefinitely. I want to hear from those of you who are planning to go home and start a new career. Thanks in advance.

[The Hierophant]

I finished my contract in Korea back in May. I'm now home in New Zealand studying for my Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching. I may not teach for the rest of my life, but I imagine my overall career will be well-rooted in the education field.

If you don't mind my asking, what made you rule out police, security and teaching?

[contrarian]

I've been in Korea for 8 years an I'm finished next April. About 18 months ago I bought a Mobile home in a Condo park. It's 150 meters from the Marina, so I bought a boat. Since I qualify for CPP and OAS. I am going to retire and work part time for the Korean guys who bought the local hotel.

They like me as I speak a little Korean.

My schedule. Get up at 6:00 to pee. Go back to bed and get up ar 7:30 and a breakfast of bacon, egs and hashbrowns.

Go back to bed and nap until 10:30. Get up and pee and let my dog take me for a short walk to the Marina. Look at the water and perhaps go out and fish - perhaps not. Pee over the side.

Come home and have hot Korean ramen for lunch - just for old times sake.

Have a nap. Then go to the Legion, drink Coke and tell lies to all of the other old farts.

Go to work at the Hotel. Steak Sandwich is part of the deal. Do the night audit and nap for a few hours at 10 bucks an hour.

Go home at about 1:00 am and go to bed. Get up every two hours to pee (that's my exercise.)

Perfect career. Not too stressful, there are about 3 widows in town for every old fart, so I have company. I'll get a cat to keep my ears warm. Oh yea! It's on Vancouver Island.

[Tiger Beer]

[Tony_Balony]

I had a career before I came over. The most positive responses are from colleges that teach that field. Some are state unis and junior colleges, others are technical institutes like ITT.

[Privateer]

Be a garbage collector. It stinks but it's steady work.

[pest2]

Go back to school and study something that will allow you to combine your overseas experiences with practical and academic experiences for a good job....

[VirginIslander]

Idea 1: With the money I'm saving now, I'm going to buy a house near a univesity. Rent it out to university students so I wont have to pay for my morgage. Get a job at the university and study for free.

Idea 2: Buy a house in the Caribbean. Teach there again. Rent the house out to visiting teachers. Once again, no morgage.

Idea 3: Move to Colorado. Live near my sister. Become a Fireman. Buy life insurance.

Idea 4: Do a year in Guatamala. Learn Spanish. Do something with Spanish. Date Spanish women.

Idea 5: Do a year in Thailand. Learn Muay Thai. Teach Muay Thai to kids in the Caribbean while teaching and living rent free.

Idea 6: Move to Japan with girlfriend. She speaks Japanese pretty well. Learn the way of the warrior. Eat Sushi.

Idea 7: Write ESL Children's books because everything I've seen sucks.

Idea 8: Gather 20 people. Have them work in Korea for two years. Save all of our money to buy a huge plot of land somewhere. Live off the fat of the land.

Idea 9: Grow up, suck it up and get an ordinary job.

Who knows?

[mindmetoo]

I would say get a couple years of teaching here under your belt. Acquire any computer/tech skills you can in the mean time. Lots of companies need people who can teach and can grasp technology and can write powerpoint demos. There are lots of jobs in corporate trainer/technical trainer... people who can visit the client site and explain to the client's employees how to use the voice mail system, the new phone system, etc.

Also entry level tech support.

No one is going to give you the key to the executive washroom and you're gonna earn crap wages for a couple years but you have to start at the bottom. Talent gets recognized and rises.

[dogshed]

[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

Since you are ex-military, why don't you apply to a defense contractor like General Dynamics or Harris?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Defense_companies_of_the_United_States

[The King of Kwangju]

I'm back in Canada now, and have experienced repatriation myself and seen it in many friends of mine.

The key thing is to have a plan of some kind, and the money and guts to carry it out. Then you'll accomplish your goal.

With no plan, just looking for something to fall in your lap, well, you'll be in exactly the same position you were in when you left. If it was a good one, great. If it was a rotten one, welcome back.

[wo buxihuan hanguoren]

Hopefully I can save enough to buy a new electric guitar, and lay down mad licks, and become popular like...

Atheist



Finntroll



Rotting Christ



Bathory



Impaled Nazarene



Take your office jobs and shove it, I say...

[Flash Ipanema]

I'm planning on signing another contract just so I don't have to make that decision yet, as I have absolutely no answer.

[wo buxihuan hanguoren]

I like benzies and booze. That is my future, until I can find a good dealer in KOrea.

Wow drowsy