Replies to This Discussion | 이 토론에 대한 답글들

Permalink Reply by Conor J. Meagher on September 4, 2010 at 1:30am

You are generally correct on all your points Robert, but it's pretty simple. Job availability. What does a job site need in order to be successful? Jobs. There just isn't a huge demand for Westerns to do normal 9-5 jobs in Korea because why would a Korean company hire a Westerner who demands more money, living benefits, and can not speak Korean? On the flip side, you do not have millions of Westerners looking for a career in Korea (see foreign population in Seoul), so the most cost efficient and diverse talent pool would be native Koreans. There's of course more factors involved but these are the most apparent to the human eye.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Eberenz on September 4, 2010 at 9:50am

Conor, I think you make some good points here, but the fact of the matter is that comparing size of economies by GDP, unemployment rates, and trade with foreign markets (especially the U.S. and Canada), why would Korea have such a disproportionately low level of jobs advertised to foreigners?

My initial take on it is that the government would like to have more foreigners working in companies, but the companies themselves would rather stay as "korean" as possible. If this is false then perhaps there are other factors at play.

Another factor has to do with the kind of jobs Korean firms are will to fill with westerners. Korean firms are quick to hire experienced executives to help lead devisions of the firms in new directions, but would much rather hire a Korean with the same qualifications as a westerner for an entry level position. Of course that's their choice and perhaps the best one... only time will tell.

I guess, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, and Thailand all have larger international communities already and larger English speaking populations. Perhaps that's the culprit. It's easy to forget that the only teachers in Korea were with the Peace Corps as recently as 25 years ago. Good 'ol Hankook is still a very recently unwrapped package for the world to explore, and the world is quite new to the Peninsula as well.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ondrej Slechta on September 6, 2010 at 5:43pm

All good points here. I'll just add one more. The overall trend these days seems to be localization. Less and less firms hire expats. Education system in Asia is getting better. Many young Koreans are getting their master degrees and early work experience in English speaking countries. There is lots of highly qualified people on both entry and mid managerial levels which are willing to work hard for just an average salary.
I have met people who just learnt some Asian language in the 70s or 80s without any other qualification and this was enough to be accepted directly for an entry level job with a foreign bank in Asia.
Nowadays, you need to have one or two master degrees, be bilingual, MBA and CFA are considered a plus (read must), have 10 years experience with a top tier investment bank, and you might be considered for an average paying mid management position, that is, if you are a good networker and manage to get in touch with hiring managers and impress them. The times have changed and we must adapt.

I believe networking is the key. Many good jobs are not even advertised so that hiring managers are not overloaded with applications. And of course luck is needed as well. I once took a short par time job as an interpreter during an FDI related negotiation between a president of a large Korean corporation and a prime minister of an EU country. The other day I got a call from the president's assistant that they want to hire me asap. It didn't work out back then for several reasons but it just illustrates that sometimes being at the right place in the right time can be more than doing standard online search.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Eberenz on September 7, 2010 at 8:45am

Great points Ondrej and thanks so much for commenting on the subject. The competitiveness and high education levels in Korea mixed with the cultural necessity of networking do seem to make up a HUGE portion of the job search process in Korea.

So is Korea more highly educated than Hong Kong and Singapore? Are there simply more banks expanding in those city states and smaller populations? What about the Philippines, Thailand and Malasia? These three are surely less educated on average, but the jobs aimed at financial operations in those countries are being advertised in English to the foreign community.

I guess I agree with all the points so far in the discussion but I don't necessarily buy the argument that these factors aren't present in all Asian economies. As a whole, Asia has (1) rapidly increasing education levels (2) more competition for high earning jobs (3) cultures imploring of social networking skills in the job search and (4) higher levels of English proficient natives already living domestically. But somehow Korea, which ranks 3rd in Asia, is a member of the G20, a global leader in Derivatives trading by volume, and a world leader in technological advances, has virtually no interest (judging only by the sites mentioned in the discussion) in hiring foreigners to work in finance. In fact, if you clicked the links you would have found that the six positions mentioned were for employment at Western firms (Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg).

Food for thought...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on September 7, 2010 at 12:09pm

Um... Point #5 is not 100% facetious. :-)

I think you present an interesting question and I don't know what the answer is. Perhaps Korea just has a richer source of local talent. I wouldn't think it's a deliberately nationalistic thing, but just that at Korea's level of financial development and based on how they think they should be directing their strategy going forward, they might just not think appealing to non-Korean speakers for employment is a requirement. It's a frustrating situation if one is trying to break into the business from outside.

BTW, Ondrej's comments on getting a job in Korea, as usual, are particularly insightful.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by William Sisson on September 8, 2010 at 11:10am

Hi Robert,

You can find open jobs in Korea by doing the following:

Go to www.myjobs.kr - all the jobs posted are in English

Go to www.jobkorea.co.kr and in the search box at the top enter "English Required" you will get a list of jobs

Go to www.koreajoblink.com - all in English

Go to www.global.seoul.go.kr – open jobs

Go to www.peoplenjob.com - some are in English some in Korean

Go to www.careerjet.com – click on worldwide locations. Choose Korea (changes to Hangul) in the first box type key word. I did “Finance” 215 jobs were listed. Some are in Korean but at least you can find a contact email to send your resume.

However, you will have to sift through many other positions to find the right one you are looking for. My advice is to do a search for Finance - Private Equity Firms and Banks in Korea and apply directly to their company homepage or to the Korea office. Additionally search for headhunters, recruiters and staffing firms in Korea and send them your resume as well. Good luck and talk soon.

Cheers,
William

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Eberenz on September 8, 2010 at 12:01pm

Wow thanks so much for these great sites William!

I'm very glad that I'm being proven wrong and that there are more sites than I have been able to find!

Thanks so much for your post William :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bernardine Mabbagu on September 8, 2010 at 11:26am

http://jobfair.goldcard.or.kr/eng/

last 2009 not only students came but also other professional who wants to have a closer interaction with korea's top companies..

maybe this year another kind of this event will be conducted and you can for sure join it.

i hope this helps.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robert Eberenz on September 8, 2010 at 12:03pm

Definitely a very exciting event and thanks for posting MsDine!

Do you recall a fall career fair for foreign natives that occured last year in October? I believe it included finance and general business positions, but I haven't been able to find any information on it this year...

Thanks in advance for any help,

Robert

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by William Sisson on September 8, 2010 at 12:11pm

Hi Robert and others,
Here you go....

Job Fair for Foreign-Invested Companies 2010
2010-10-08 ~ 2010-10-09
COEX Hall B
Hosted by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy
Web: bluesea@kotra.or.kr

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Istvan Medvigy on September 9, 2010 at 11:00am

Hi Robert,
A long while ago I had this exact "rhetorical" question and it seems like it will take much more time to see progressive changes than we wish for (but sooner or LATER it will happen).
And despite the growing number of job searches in English (I think myjobs.kr, suggested by William is great), I think (and correct me please if I'm mistaken) most of the searched for candidates ideally are Koreans with English skills. Except for English teachers, of course.
Cheers,
Istvan
PS: Robert, just read your most recent Slice on household food purchases. Good one!

• ▶ Reply