If you’re not an English teacher, finding jobs in Korea as a foreigner is really difficult. However, I have gathered some great information that will help you land your dream job and work in Korea. Please note that my tips are for those already living in Korea or looking to change workplaces. If you are trying to find a job outside of Korea, you will have to consider things such as visa qualifications and Korean language ability.
1) Update your Resume & Portfolio
Things to Consider Before Leaving Your Current Employer
If you are considering looking for a new job, you should try your best to stay for either three months or for year intervals. When you are hired it is standard to have a temporary three-month contract first, then be offered a full-time position and sign a 1-year contract.
If you leave after three months, make sure you have an explanation prepared on why the company was not the right fit for you. Many in Korea are familiar with toxic work environments and will understand if you decide to leave early in extreme cases. However, if you decide after three months to leave the company they will assume you broke your employment contract.
Experience You Should Highlight
It is really important to update your resume with all your credentials, work experience, and basic information if you want to work in Korea. For a Korean employer is important to know where you worked before and which tasks are able to perform.
The descriptions of your work experience should be fairly detailed. Especially if you have worked outside of the country before, job titles often don’t require the same skills across countries.
In particular, it is important to highlight any experiences you have using Korean. Even if it’s a low-end job such as a cleaner, or waitress put it at the top of your resume and talk about it in interviews. The biggest concern Korean companies have when hiring foreigners is potential communication barriers.
Your resume should include:
- General Info (Name/Age/Gender)
- Contact Info (Included SNS or Website if any)
- Visa Status (yeah this is important!)
- Education History (only University degree)
- Working Experience (Includes job title, dates of employment, tasks performed)
- Certificates or Honors (any certification es. Facebook Marketing, GTQ, etc…)
- Language Ability (prepare your TOEIC, TOPIK scores)
- General Skills/ Hobbies
In addition to a resume, many professions often request a portfolio. Many professions foreigners are regularly employed in require a portfolio. These include; marketers, web developers, editors, and translators.
Your Portfolio should include:
- Examples of previous projects (Previously published work)
- Examples of potential projects (Mock projects)
- Reviews (Screenshots of feedback)
If you are not really good at using PowerPoint presentations, Canva has some amazing templates for showcasing your portfolio.
2) Register on Recruitment Platforms
This is super important for those who want to work in Korea! Tons of Korean companies use recruitment platforms to find employees. Plus, if you register with Korean recruitment platforms, headhunters can take a look at your resume and find a job for you. Make sure you spend a lot of time filling out the forms on these websites and attaching the necessary documents. In the end, it will save you a lot of time and energy. It’s better to dedicate your time to thoroughly setting up your profile instead of writing surplus cover letters and sending out multiple individual applications.
Recruitment Platforms in Korea
Every company has its preferred platform. For this reason, the best way to not miss any chances is to register on a few different platforms.
Major Korean Recruitment Platforms
English Recruitment Platforms
Most of these platforms are used by international companies with branches in Korea. In addition, can be a good choice if you cannot speak Korean really well or if you are looking to work for an international company. However, using these platforms exclusively will significantly reduce your chances of finding a job. It is better to use the Korean platforms and demonstrate your language abilities.
If you are an international student in Korea, you may find the following platforms helpful. These are new websites but they promise to help connect international students with local companies.
3) Apply for the Job
Search For the Most Suitable Positions
There are different techniques to navigate the sea of job openings. As a foreigner living in Korea, here are a few suggestions
- Search by keyword the job position you are looking for in both English and Korean – even on Korean platforms. For example, if you are looking for editing jobs, search Editor, 에디터, and 편집자
- Search by company
- Search for Foreigner jobs: You can search for companies looking to hire foreigners or people with skills in your native language. For example, you can search 외국인, 원어님, ( your nationality), or (native language) 가능자.
TIP. On most Korean sites you can mark companies as ‘preferred companies’. You will be advised when a new position opens in that specific company.
Add a Cover Letter
Once your Resume and Portfolio are online is really easy to apply to any position you want. However, the recruiters know that really well. So, if there is a particular job position you are enthusiastic about, it is great to submit a Cover Letter.
Below are a few tips to write a successful Cover Letter. There is a set of specific characteristics Korean style Cover Letters have that are new to most foreigners.
Steps to Create a Korean Cover Letter
- Introduce yourself and specify the position you are applying for
- Give the 2 -3 reasons why you want to apply for the position.
*Be specific and show knowledge of the company. - Explain how you are going to be a useful member of the team.
*Refer to the job opening requirements. - Briefly explain which of your skills will help you to succeed * Mention your previous working experience, certifications, related degree, etc *Avoid telling them about skills unrelated to the job
- Tell them about your attitude at work and personality.
Above all, be systematic and efficient, a good Cover Letter shouldn’t be longer than one page. It is always a good idea to ask for some help from Korean native speakers to check out your spelling before submitting a cover letter.
With some effort and a ton of luck, you can get your dream job and work in Korea by following these three steps. To everyone applying for jobs, I wish you all the best!
Need more advice about work in Korea?
Check out some of the articles below:
1) Top 9 highest paid jobs in Korea
2) How to register for TOEIC in Korea: A guide for foreigners
3) Work in K-entertainment: How to create a Korean portfolio
