That doesn't mean that it's impossible to find job opportunities here in Korea. There are many foreigners who transferred to Korea to work at the Korean branch of their company, but there are also quite a number of foreigners who work in Korea that got their jobs after moving to Korea. I am one of the latter. I'm currently interning at a marketing agency, I previously interned at a skincare company, and I also have been contracted by a tourism and culture-related non-profit.
I've compiled some tips to hopefully help others who are going through this same job hunting process!
Side note: every individual's job hunting experience is going to be different. There's no magical formula to land you jobs, and finding a job does take some amount of time whether that's a week or a few months. So, please remember that the advice I give is purely advice.
---
I. Use Your Resources
Take full advantage of job hunting websites (for those that can read and understand some Korean already), LinkedIn, Facebook groups, recruiters, and even Craigslist. Many Korean companies that are searching for foreign workers post ads on non-traditional job hunting sites hoping to reach a wider audience.
Check these sites several times per week to make sure you are up to date on all postings!
Specific note on Craigslist: on the home page, click on "Jobs" and then filter out "Education/Teaching" to look at all non-education jobs. Also filter out any other categories that are not specifically what you're looking for. However, beware of some the shady job ads. If the poster hasn't included any identifiable information about the company, such as the name/address/contact information (aka something you could find by Googling them), keep scrolling!
Here are some links to the top Korean job sites!
II. Apply
Once you've found a few job ads that interest you, apply for them right away. Even if you aren't in Korea yet, apply. Apply to jobs that aren't your ideal or dream job. Apply for jobs that might not be optimal pay or the most amazing benefits. Apply for jobs even though they might not sound that interesting. Gaining work experience in Korea is extremely important to helping you get to the jobs that you actually want.
III. Interviewing
Interviewing in Korea is kind of a mixed bag experience. The interview process in Korea is generally very strict and tiresome. For native Koreans seeking jobs at the country's top firms, the interview process is often an entire day involving group interviews, personal interviews, and sometimes extra things like 5-minute presentations about a topic they were given only 10 minutes to prep for.
Most medium-sized companies (including entertainment companies) do the common 3-step process. First is the "document screening" (resume reading - all completed internally), then an initial group interview (3~5 other people), and an individual interview after which you are told if you are being offered a job.
Foreigners oftentimes get a bit lucky. If you are not yet in Korea, they may do a Skype interview and then an in-person interview once you've landed, however, if you're already in Korea, many companies only do one interview. Usually, interviews are conducted by 1~3 management or other staff persons from the company. They ask the typical questions you might hear at home, and then you just have to wait to find out if they want to hire you.
Make sure to know your resume, know what you're capable of, and be teachable.
IV. Starting the Job
The first day of work in a Korean office can be a little bit intimidating, especially if your Korean level isn't very high. Usually, you'll be greeted by HR to process paperwork, put your fingerprint into the system (for opening doors), etc. You could be shown your desk then or possibly after you've been taken around by a manager to be introduced to everyone that works in your immediate department.
Do your best to remember any position titles that are thrown at you, because most Korean companies still use them! These titles are how you will refer to all of the management. Don't be afraid to ask what a persons title is. It is better to ask than to risk being rude by using an improper title or no title. This is especially important for the older generations, who are generally the top levels of management. Note, however, that unless you are also management, you will rarely ever interact with anyone higher than a Department Manager or General Manager.
Helpful Tip:
This is (almost) all of the Korean job hierarchy titles. They are ranked from bottom to top level management
사원 / Sawon - newbie/new recruit
주임 / Juim (not common) - 1~2 year worker
대리 / Daeri - Assistant Manager (usually 3~5 years at the company)
과장 / Gwajang - Section Manager (6~8 years)
차장 / Chajang - Deputy Head
부장 / Bujang - Department Manager
국장 / Gukjang - General Manager (usually in agencies: marketing, broadcasting, entertainment)
상무 / Sangmu - Director
부사장 / Busajang - Vice President
사장 / Sajang - President or CEO
회장 - President or Chairman
When writing e-mails, sending messages, or speaking directly to the person, you will use their title + 님/nim attached. For example, 대리/Daeri becomes 대리님/Daerinim. If you are an intern or a fresh recruit, you can sometimes refer to co-workers that are the same position as you by their name and can add 님/nim to the end. Example) 김종화 becomes 김종화님 or 종화님 (Remember that there are exceptions to this rule, so it's best to ask about your company's individual policy and to follow that.)
V. 회식 / Hwesik
In Korea, company dinners or nights out are referred to as 회식. These often involve eating, drinking, and if you work for a good company, can instead be during the day and involved fun activities like going to an arcade or seeing a musical together. These are generally seen as mandatory, though some companies are more lax about whether or not you attend. However, these nights are meant to be "team-building" opportunities, so attending is usually important.
At some companies, these nights are fun and a good way to de-stress from work. At other companies, they're a drag on everyone and end up keeping people out later than they want to be. What these dinners will be like depends heavily on what your managers prefer.
VI. Tips on Pay
Korea's pay and benefits standards are different than other countries, so don't expect them to match what you might expect to receive in your home country.
That being said, this doesn't mean you should let a company take advantage of you. You still deserve fair pay and benefits. If they demand too many hours with too little pay, don't feel like you have to take the job. Just know ahead of time what the average salary is in Korea for the position you're applying for.
Large Korean firms such as Hyundai, Samsung, LG, etc. or large Western firms like Phillips or Amazon will pay more than a medium-sized firm, however, it still may be less than you would make for the same role in your home country. That doesn't mean that you are being cheated by the company just because you are foreign. The average starting pay in a large Korean firm is between KRW 32,000,000 and KRW 35,000,000. This equals approximately USD 28,000 ~ USD 31,000 before tax. A medium or small firm will be paying you closer to KRW 22,000,000 ~ KRW 25,000,000 per year or USD 19,500 ~ USD 21,000.
Pay is typically paid on the 25th of each month by direct deposit. Pay date can vary by company, but the 25th seems to be the most common pay date, in my experience. That being said, make sure to open a bank account in Korea as soon as you can! Some companies will require an account with a specific bank, so you may have to open a different account than the one you already have, but it's still good to have a bank account already opened just in case.
---
Finding jobs in Korea doesn't need to be any different than finding jobs in your home country. There are obvious overall differences, such as language, however, not all professional jobs require Korean ability. That is not to say that one should not study Korean. It is most definitely helpful and an advantage to you if you have some Korean ability (preferably an official TOPIK score) beforehand.
This doesn't mean you need to wait to come to Korea until you're fluent, but it is extremely important that you start studying as soon as possible before/after you arrive. Learning the local language is polite and respectful to the country you're living in. It is also extremely important to be able to clearly communicate with your bosses, co-workers, and for networking.
---
To close, I'd like to throw in some reminders about job hunting! These can be applied to your job hunt in any country.
1) Figure out WHAT you want to do and what steps you think you should take to get there. If you're unsure, try to explore as many options as you can and find out what interests you. Inspiration can hit anywhere, so try to vary your day-to-day activities as much as you can. Attend a music concert, go to a park, or eat something new.
2) Be open to changes in your plans. Sometimes taking detours will help you get to the next step of your plan. I tutored for several months, which I hadn't planned on doing, but it ended up landing me my current job.
3) Network! Network with everyone, but don't use people for networking. Your personal relationships are always going to be more important than the depth of your professional network, so don't abuse the relationships you have for the sake of networking. Besides, sometimes it's the people that you know best that help you find the jobs you want most!
4) Don't give up. Be willing to take jobs that aren't your dream job in order to support yourself and to gain work experience. Korean companies will want to see that you're capable of working in an international, but also Korean, environment. Having experience working in Korea, even for just a few months will be helpful!
Do you have more tips for job hunting in Korea? Leave them in the comments below!
No comments:
Post a Comment