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Permalink Reply by Julius 'Desoye on February 12, 2010 at 3:05am

If I understand your question correctly Laura. You are intending to apply for jobs in Korean companies? I think when it comes to resume writing in Korea, you may want to use the American template. Which is somewhat uses a right approach to resume writing. BUT, basic Korean style must also be adopted; for example, the use of your Bio - data in the first page of the resume. Your bio-data will include; full name, your date of birth, your "passport photography", I know this sounds weird, but thats the way it is in Korea. I lived in Korea for over 2years. My ex-boss's wife had an Hangwon (private school), which I had the opportunity to see how recruitment is done.

I hope this information helps you, Laura.

Goodluck

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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on February 16, 2010 at 6:00pm

I agree with Julius' suggestions below. Those are very good.

I would also add that Korean employers put a lot of importance on formal qualifications and test scores. I would suggest you try to include as many of those as you can. Also, Korean resumes/CVs often include the names of elementary, middle and high schools. It's doubtful that you really have to include these though.

Also, you should add a Korean-language cover letter to use as your introduction and which stresses your strong points. Even if the employer speaks/reads English, s/he will find your Korean introduction an easier read and you will impress him/her by your extra initiative.

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Permalink Reply by LAura on February 17, 2010 at 12:58am

Thank you very much for your suggestions. I really appreciate it.

I will think more carefully about the covering letter. Here they have kind of self introduction wich you explain your entire life there... I do not really want to do that. That is why there is interview, isn't it? I am not sure my korean will make me able to write such a deep things... but anyways, it is a really nice and good idea....

Laura

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Permalink Reply by Dom LaVigne on February 17, 2010 at 2:38am

There are several views on cover letters, with many people feeling that one is not necessary. I would totally disagree with that.

Executives will take an average of 15-30 seconds when going through a resume. When I have been hiring candidates, I would go through resumes similarly. However, what determines for me whether I even want to review a candidate's resume is the cover letter that he/she writes.

I am not a believer in having a different version of your resume for every job that you apply for, as it is just too cumbersome. Stick with one version, unless you are applying to very different types of jobs (e.g., ESL teacher versus Communications Manager) in which case you could have two or three very different resumes in which you highlight those portions of your experience relating to those fields.

However, your cover letter is what will ultimately sell you to the potential employer. It is really critical that the employer feel, when reading your cover letter, why you are interested in their company, why that position, and what you have done that would make you the best candidate for that job (and how you could add value to the organization if they brought you on).

A good cover letter requires that you do some research, check out the firm's web site, take some notes on their company and the job ad, and what aspects of your career will fit the job and the company. It will be hard at first, but after you start doing cover letters, you will build up a library of letters that you can organize into "job type" folders, so that when you are applying for a future job in ABC position, you can reference back a previous cover letter and use that as a template.

That said, avoid the temptation just to send out a very generic cover letter that simply ticks off your background and history but makes no tie-in to the particular job. It is very easy for execs to spot generic fluff from something which is well thought-out. The cover letter is your chance to shine and to market/brand yourself to the employer. As they say about first impressions being the most important, your cover letter will determine whether you get your foot in the door, or if your resume just gets put in the company's files.

I have attached a few docs from my university days, which I still feel are quite useful for helping people to write cover letters. The sample cover letter is from the days before e-mails when we had to send out hard-copy letters (no, I'm not that old, but things have certainly changed a lot since the early 90s!)

Also, be sure to send a thank-you letter (e-mail) to the company after every interview (this is mandatory). Include again some very brief reasons why you would be the best candidate for the job and state very clearly that you want the job (many candidates don't do this... it would seem obvious, but never assume...)

To my chagrin, since hiring candidates in Asia, I have very rarely ever gotten a thank-you letter after an interview. I'd estimate no more than 5-7 TQs out of at least 40+ candidates whom I have interviewed over the last 10 years. In the States, where TQs are pretty much expected, candidates who do not do it can risk not being called for a second interview. In Asia, you will stand out (in a good way) by doing so, and I feel it will send a strong signal to potential employers about your character.

Finally, two pieces of advice I got early in my career which have stuck with me, and which I firmly believe in:

1. When you are jobhunting, do a minimum of three things every day -- i.e., send out three resumes, make three phone calls, apply for three jobs. That will probably take you an hour or so. Plan that hour into your schedule every day, just as you would do for your workouts, meals, etc.

At the end of a month, you'll have sent out 90 e-mails! People think you need to go gung-ho and send out loads of resumes every day. If you have the time to do it, that's great. But more likely than not, you won't have the time. It is too easy to let things slip and before you know it, a week has gone by and you have not done anything. So, just do three small things every day, and you'll be surprised at the results.

2. Do what you love -- don't go for the money. The money will follow...

Most people I have known go into certain career fields or jobs because they offer the promise of huge amts of money. I have rarely seen people who take on those kinds of jobs (unless that is their real passion) stay long with the company. Most are really unhappy because they are not doing what want.

Once you have some years of experience under your belt, the money will follow and you will be promoted and/or in a position where you can get jobs with more responsibility and higher pay. Doing what you love many times won't pay a lot if it is early in your career, but if you stick with it, your remuneration will improve quite a bit.

On that note, don't fall into the trap of telling a potential employer how much you make or how much you want. The way to handle this potential minefield when they ask is to say, "My compensation requirements are flexible, depending on the level of responsibility for the position and on your expected salary range." If they push you further, try to get them to give you a salary range that they are looking at. If it is within your desired range, confirm that this would be fine (but try not to disclose what you are currently making or your exact desired salary, as you'd risk potentially shooting too low.)

That said, if a employer's range is far below what you are currently making, I feel you should be honest and upfront with them and say, "My current compensation package is X. I am very intersted in this opportunity and believe I can contribute significantly to your organization. If you can match what I am currently making (or X+10% -- you determine what you are comfortable accepting from the employer), then I would be very keen on our working together."

Note: I know this discussion was orginally about how to apply to a Korean company, and although I have never worked for a Korean firm before, I believe most executives and other senior businesspeople throughout the world have similar views and expectations on candidates that they are interviewing. If you follow the tips above, they will serve you well, regardless of the nationality of the company or executives interviewing you, or the industry into which you are applying.

---Dom

Attachments:

• jh-coverlet01a.jpg, 142 KB
• jh-coverlet01b.jpg, 138 KB
• jh-coverlet02a.jpg, 78 KB

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Permalink Reply by Marissa Bonnici on February 17, 2010 at 10:05am

Thanks Dom for the great advice! I am a University student in Australia, with the aim of graduating in July. I came to Korea over the holidays, with the aim of securing an internship but unfortunately was unsuccessful this time round. I admit I was really dissapointed but after reading your post I was once again inspired. I am due to return to Australia next week for my final semester, but I will continue to search and apply for job opportunities in Korea, following the advice you set out. Wish me luck!

Thank you so much!

Marissa

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Permalink Reply by Dom LaVigne on February 17, 2010 at 10:46am

Hi Marissa,

I think you should take the same approach to an internship as re. a job search. As best as you can, it is important to be clear what kind of internship you want and how that would relate to your future goals. See it as building your own career -- you're in the driver's seat, and you can really shape what you want to do if you have a good internship.

It is very important if you can get one, and even if you can't land one in Korea, get a good one in Australia (perhaps with a Korean company?) or on int'l issues relating to Korea. You won't get to your career goal in one step... you have to do it slowly and patiently... be willing to start at the bottom (where we all have) and learn and work hard.

I'd forgotten to mention in my earlier post that I have come across many fresh grads who want to be a manager making a huge salary, with a window and a secretary... yeah, right! :-) The way I was taught, and how I have taught my staff and interns is that whatever you're given, you do it well... you do it really well. Could be stapling documents, photocopying, or holding the door open. Doesn't matter... You do what you are given really well, earn the respect and trust of your boss and colleagues, and they will give you more responsibility and greater leadership within the organization.

But, if you can't answer the phones properly, don't interact well with clients, aren't a team player, etc. etc., you will have difficulties in your career.

Bottom line (in my view) is that it doesn't matter what is your job, what is your title, or your salary. Everyone has the same goals in life -- to make a better life for themselves, to support their family, to see their children do better than they did. So whatever career you pursue (whether it's sweeping streets or being a CEO) frankly doesn't matter. What matters is that you work hard, are honest, look after your colleagues and subordinates, and do the best you can with what you are given.

And what many people I see in business forget, is that you must treat everyone equally and with the same respect. Treat the most junior person with the courtesy and respect that you would have for the CEO or for your immediate boss. Show this same courtesy to the people who deliver the mail, the suppliers, the cleaning ladies, etc., because their jobs are as important as yours -- without them, many of the basics you take for granted in your office environment would fall apart, and your company (and you) would not be as successful in what you are trying to do.

Don't be disappointed by my post, as it was not intended to discourage anyone. Rather, it was intended to give people who are newer to the workforce or just graduating a realistic perspective of what the boss or the company will be thinking. You may never hear anyone speaking as frankly as I do (and this is not advice you would get from most senior execs unless they really know you well and have an interest in seeing your career fluorish), but I don't sugar-coat things. I believe very strongly in helping younger people on my staff, interns, etc. with learning the lessons it took me over 10 years to learn, so that they can do better and be more successful in their career (and perhaps have an easier time than I did when starting out and breaking into where I ultimately wanted to go).

Feel free to drop me a note separately at dom@domlavigne.com and let me know what kind of internships in Korea you are interested in, your major, career goals, etc. (and if you can forward a copy of your resume, that would be very helpful). Happy to connect you with relevant execs I know in Korea if there is someone who might need you for a potential internship.

Please also indicate your available dates and if you can work full-time (40hrs a week - generally preferred by most companies). Also, no guarantees that internships will be paid (in most cases they usually cannot), and unlikely that companies could cover your flights/housing/living expenses. Plus, I don't know whether Korea would require you to be on a special work visa that you company has to apply for.

FYI, most companies filling summer internships want resumes in no later than March 1. In my past experience hiring interns from other countries to work in Asia, we were full-up by mid-Feb and (depending on the country I was in), it often took a month or two to get the work visa approved.

PS: If you use Skype, helpful if you can get a cheap Webcam for doing internship interviews and later on for job interviews. As you're probably aware, there is a great deal of emphasis in Asia about face-to-face contact before important decisions are made. While it would be ideal if you can be on-the-ground, in reality it's not that easy given the cost of travel and hotels. So, a Skype videoconference is (nearly) as good as being there!

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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on February 17, 2010 at 10:26am

Laura: I want to clarify one point. You should have your cover letter translated to Korean by a good Korean speaker. Don't try to write that yourself if your Korean isn't nearly perfect, as that will likely just make a bad impression, which is the opposite of what you're trying to do.

Dom: Thanks (once again!) for sharing your wisdom with the group. That advice about applying for a job is priceless!

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Permalink Reply by vince rubino on February 17, 2010 at 3:38pm

Be careful with this strategy as the prospective employer may think you are Korean language fluent. Make sure they know you are not, if that is the case.

As with any resume, customize it to make clear you understand the company, their objectives and style, and that you are the right candidate for the position. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Joon Nam Oh on February 17, 2010 at 1:51pm

Hi Laura,

all of Korean forms for resume has just succinct as you see one sample of Korean résumé form.
It divides 4 main parts: personal data with picture (name in Korean, name in English, ID number, age, married or not, current address, Zip number, cellphone number, residence phone number, email), education (period, school name, subject, graduate situation with average grade), experience (period, company name, department name, duty, note), ability (languages with grade or evaluation, certificate with date), and others (ability related to job like information ability, communication ability, etc).
And in cover letter you may write 'about you', 'motive as a candidate', 'describe about you after entering the company', and 'describe about what you have made changes or new introductions in the organisation where you were working' and 'function about the job you're willing to work'.

I hope it helps you a little.
Good luck!

Attachments:

• resume_adecco korea.doc, 85 KB

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Permalink Reply by Graham Brownlie on February 17, 2010 at 5:50pm

Hi Laura,
As one who was the first expat hired in one of the SK groups, the process of getting hired, using the the methods above by Dom are extremely important. After that, be prepared to "hurry up and wait". Especially if you are intending to work for the Chaebol. Follwing up during the process is important, and sometimes they need a little push to get going. Maintain an enthuastic attitude, as they view this an an honor to work for their company, and can help speed things up a bit. For myself, it took 3 months of them thinking about hiring, then I got a phone call late Friday afternoon telling me to start Monday, with a business trip to London. Korean companies can differ a lot in how they handle hierarchy and expats - it can be extremely rewarding, or incredibly frustrating - take that into account when choosing a company. Good Luck !

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