Korean Job Discussion Forums

da_moler · Joined: 11 Nov 2006

Has anybody ever gone back home after working in Korea and managed to get a decent job? Is this experience useful at all back home?

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

If all you've done is teach English at hakwons, well, your prospects are grim indeed, even if you want to apply for french fry guy.

It'll take a few years, a lot of money and perhaps retraining or more education to readjust to the West. And that's IF you want to, and I didn't.

This topic has been done to death, so you should search through past threads.

JamesFord · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Location: my personal playground

Oh yeah, the search function on Dave's is dynamite. Good advice.

robertmanicni · Joined: 16 Oct 2006

In that case, is teaching ESL a complete waste of time?

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 11:42 pm Post subject:

most people in fact go through radical career changes at least three times in their adult working years... four distinctly different, nonoverlapping careers

consider ESL teaching for 3-5 years as simply one of those careers

shapeshifter · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Location: Paris

robertmanicni · Joined: 16 Oct 2006

So, is it possible to start a new career when you hit 30 having only taught ESL??

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

PeteJB · Joined: 06 Jul 2007

That and, if you can speak Korean, it might help with some of those rarer jobs (but normally, you'd need a certificate)

VirginIslander · Joined: 24 May 2006 Location: Busan

robertmanicni · Joined: 16 Oct 2006

Isn't that advice just going to lead to a lifetime as an increasingly bitter ESL teacher?

jeffkim1972 · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Location: Mokpo

If you learned Korean, learned how to get around in Korea, actually able to guide someone through Korea, then perhaps some type of international business relating to Korea.

But many people don't bother to learn Korean or Korea, unless it's something like getting a haircut or ordering a beer. but while you're here, learn as much as possible. don't spend all your time judging, but just actually immersing yourself into all aspects of society.

What do you think most people from Korea that go to study in America or another foreign country do when they come back to Korea? They are usually in the international sales departments of their companies. Or they are able to get jobs with foreign branches that are located in Korea.

Just a suggestion.

Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida · Joined: 27 Oct 2006 Location: Not Korea

Doing great myself. I wrapped up my certification in Colorado Springs and then enjoyed a short holiday. I'm catching a plane back to Canada in 5 hours.

Teaching in South Korea was fun but it's not really much of a career. The experience one gains does not really translate to a "real" job. You can however, improve your lot in life if you put forth the effort.

Matman · Joined: 02 Jun 2006

I got a job at a college teaching my subject specialism back in the UK. The Korean teaching experience was probably decisive in helping me get the job. However, I got sick of that and I'm going back to teach in Korea. I have a grand plan of running my own business. ESL is indeed not a long-term career option but a great stop-gap job to get your mind or your finances sorted. I just hit 30 and it's no big deal.