Find a job in South Korea
Some of the best resources to find a job in South Korea include newspapers, recruitment agencies, consular services, bi-national chambers of commerce, Internet research, as well as word-of-mouth from friends or relatives in the country.
Newspapers
The Korea Times is a useful source to learn about South Korea and its economy and business world in general. Korea Times also has an online edition.
You can also check job offers in the Korea Herald. Korea Herald also has an online version.
Consular services
To find a job at a foreign company, you can consult that country's chamber of commerce in South Korea. You will find lists of foreign companies with job offers looking for foreign professionals. On top of that, you can get helpful advice on employment in South Korea in general.
Useful link:
Job agencies
There are several job agencies in South Korea that specialise in helping foreign professionals find both long-term or short-term employment.
Good to know:
You can seek an appointment with the agency or post your CV on their website.
Useful link:
Internet
Internet research is probably the best way to find a job in South Korea. You can find general and specialised job websites that allow you to upload your resume or browse the extensive job section. These websites also provide helpful tips and tricks for interviewing with companies in South Korea.
Useful links:
Learn 4 Good
Xpat Jobs
Tip Top Job
How to write a South Korean cover letter and resume
Your CV or resume is generally based on the American model. While it is important to outline career goals, it happens more in an open and unrestricted way on a Korean resume.
It is important to be as specific as possible and provide only truthful information on your resume. Korean employers are indeed likely to check the information provided and get in touch with your references.
The same applies to the cover letter. It is essential to highlight your motivation and career aspirations in relations to the post you are applying for. Moreover, if you intend to send your application letter by email, make sure to take a simple layout without too many special characters so that it is compatible with Korean computers.
It is also recommended to translate your CV and cover letter in Korean even if your recruiter speaks English or if the position does not require any Korean language skills. Submitting your resume in both English and Korean will be very much appreciated. Consider getting a free CV review at TopCV.
How to approach an employer
Before starting your job search, consider printing business cards with your contact information in English and Korean (one language in the front and one on the back) as exchanging business cards is very common in South Korea. If you are facing a potential employer, present your card first with both hands, tilting your head slightly forward in a small bow as a sign of respect. Receive a business card offered to you with both hands and also nodding slightly in gratitude.
Stay humble during your interview. Present your professional experience and talk about yourself, but, above all, show your interest in the company. Research as much as possible about the company before the interview to impress the interviewers.
As with any job interview, it is important to be polite and show respect to the people who are interviewing you. Avoid a stiff posture and do not confront your interviewer. This is considered extremely rude in South Korea.
Good to know:
Do not shake hands with your interviewer unless the latter initiates the movement.
