Helpful Resources for Making it Big in Korea
Need Career Path Advice
Hello All,
First I want to say that this website has a wealth of knowledge and has been extremely helpful. I'm here to ask for advice on the path to take at this point in my career. My original intentions of coming to Korea to teach English were similar to most, but I had been to Korea before on travel and had a desire to live abroad long term. Only 6 months into my first year did I realize that this is a place I could live for a long time. Knowing that, I worked another year in ESL, but tried to improve myself by attending Yonsei Korean Language Institute for a semester. My 3rd year would be a new step in finding a path to a career in Korea as I was accepted to a dual-degree program between Chung-Ang University and Cleveland State University's respected Graduate Schools. The knowledge I gained was priceless and I acquired a new desire to work in the areas of Korea Real Estate and/or Real Estate Investment as my major was Urban Regional Planning. Unfortunately, my 4th year brought me back to the States to finish the second year of my program. It did give me a lot of experience using ArcGIS Desktop which is the standard for the Geographical Information System (GIS) field. But now it's been a year since I've graduated and I've only had a couple serious job opportunities in Korea related to my education.
On the flip side, I've worked in the area of Web Development and IT Consulting for over 11 years as a way to pay the bills. It's something I'm good at, but can be unstable. Plus finding a niche in Korea related to IT is not very easy. If there was a career that I could combine my IT skills with another field, say IT Healthcare or eGovernment, then I'd be set.
It's been especially difficult to network and find new opportunities since I am 6,000 miles away in the States. Now I'm at the point where I have make a plan and stick to it because I feel I'm too keeping my options too open and not going after something. I'm confident that I will be successful in achieving my goal to work in Korea long term, but at what point is still unclear. I'm sure most of you have been at this point in your life where you make a major decision that effects the rest of your career. Hopefully you can tell me about your moment and what you learned from it. Also any advice on a path that you would recommend would be appreciated.
Here's the two paths I'm thinking about taking:
- Acquire an ESL job ASAP to place myself in Korea to start networking and building relationships for jobs
- Start an entry level job in the US related to Real Estate or REI to build experience and visit Korea on holiday to network. Then after a couple of years try to enter the field in Korea.
Once again, thank you for your help!
Conor
Replies to This Discussion | 이 토론에 대한 답글들
-
Permalink Reply by Tyler Joyner on -
Someone with more experience and knowledge can expand on this, but it's probably safe to say that you're not going to get a whole lot of applicable experience just by doing real estate here in the US. The Korean real estate system is pretty significantly different from our own. Add on to that the importance of personal relationships in doing business in Korea, and also the relative difficulty of improving your language skills while living here, and you have some fairly compelling reasons to seek employment and residence in Korea sooner rather than later if you're really set on living there.
I can't advocate anyone moving to another country without a stable financial situation, but if you've decided you're really set on living in Korea, then you may as well just do it. You get into real estate here in the US and you might find yourself five years later still trying to pay the bills, nowhere close to being ready to move to a whole different country and set up a business.
-
Permalink Reply by Conor J. Meagher on -
I do agree with you Tyler about trying to work in the US as a local Realtor, but I was talking more about Real Estate Asset Management. As you may know, firms such as Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers (bankrupt), GE Capital, and others have invested quite a bit in Korea related to REI. I thought I had a great opportunity to work with Shinyoung Asset through a friend, but that fell through as the market did too.
-
Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on -
I agree with Tyler's comments below. Coming to Korea in an ESL job as a means to move into another field in Korea has its pitfalls, but if moving to Korea is your goal, being in Korea in any capacity is surely better than just getting some entry-level job in the US as that's not going to move you in the Korea direction at all.
For perspective, I encourage you to listen to Steve McKinney's interview on KBC, as well as check out the other resources on this KBC Topic Central page: http://www.koreabusinesscentral.com/page/topic-central-get-a-job-in
-
Permalink Reply by Conor J. Meagher on
-
That's what I expected. I think I just have to make a plan to come back to Korea as an ESL Instructor, because I'm not achieving my goal here. Also, I believe in my contacts and my ability to network. If I never try, I will regret it the rest of my life!
Thanks for the Steve McKinney interview and Get a Job in Korea information. I've been through them and they've been helpful. I'm just at a point where I need to improvise since what I'm doing now is not working.
-
Permalink Reply by William Sisson on -
Hi Conor,
Comments here are good and on target.
As a headhunter in Seoul I can tell you that your education, experience and Korean language skills in your industry are not going to be enough for a company to invest in sponsoring and relocating you to Korea. It is much easier once you are here to network, continue your language study and be on top of the job market.
Take a ESL job, come to Korea, study more while you are teaching and position yourself better to land a great job.
Good luck and keep in touch,
William
-
Permalink Reply by Conor J. Meagher on
-
Thanks William. It's staring me right in the face, so I'm going to go for it and never look back!
-
Permalink Reply by Mike Park on -
Hi Conor - go visit the Linkedin Group called "Business Korea" on the internet - under the jobs category/section, you'll find that a company called Asiance (in Korea) is currently hiring web developers this week. This could be an alternative, if your skills/background match-up with the job/role requirements, as compared to coming to Korea for an ESL job. If you feel such a position is in alignment with your interests, it might be worth checking-it-out. Good luck.
-
Permalink Reply by Conor J. Meagher on
-
Thanks Mike! Actually I've applied to this company before, but these positions are a little different. So maybe the second time is the charm? :)
-
Permalink Reply by Erik Cornelius on -
If you have expertise in GIS, that's a specialty that the U.S. Department of Defense generally needs and hires contractors for, especially with the always impending move of the Youngsan military base. Check to see if there are any direct-hire or contract jobs. The pay and benefits are both excellent.
-
Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on
-
Conor: Are you interested in an internship in Korea?
If so, you should check out William Sisson's post today: http://www.koreabusinesscentral.com/forum/topics/kookmin-recruits-f...
This looks like a great opportunity!
-
Permalink Reply by Lara Tosh on
-
So, Connor, where are you at (career-wise)? ...I've got stuff to share -but it depends where you're "at" as to whether or not it'll be helpful^.~
...will only toss in my two-cents if I sense it'll help.
It sounds like the others have given you some good, solid, realistic input.
All I could do, really is suggest a little "writing exercise" which might help you clarify any remaining confusion & make a choice that "feels right" internally (regardless of external situational details -which are unpredictable, uncontrollable & continuously changing).
Let me know if you're needing / wanting that sort of thing & I'll share ^.^
Download the KBC Korea Business Library The Best 47 Free Korean Business Resources to Improve Your Results in Korea
(We hate spam just as much as you and guarantee to never sell or give away your email address.)
Function-Oriented Menu
Feedback, ideas, suggestions or questions about KBC? Click here to share your thoughts with KBC Creator Steven Bammel.
© 2012 Created by Steven S. Bammel.
