In the upcoming graduation season at American colleges, representatives of the South Korean government will be on a search. The government will be looking for so-called "elite" Koreans abroad – those with a bachelor's or master's degrees in specialized fields – on behalf of Korean companies and government agencies, which need qualified employees, despite the continued economic depression. The government and several industries are looking at a broad range of possible qualified candidates, including recent grads, experienced workers, green-card holders, immigrants to the United States and U.S. citizens.
For example, the Doosan Engineering & Service Company, of the Doosan Group, one of Korea's heavy industry companies, is recruiting engineers for its electric power plants.
The company is looking for people who have degrees in construction and plant operations engineering, as well as engineers trained to work with machines, pipes, electricity, computer graphics, civil and construction design, and machine installations. A minimum of five year's experience is required. Applicants must also be legally eligible to apply for jobs.
The Korean Telecom Company did not advertise job openings in the newspaper, but is recruiting elite Koreans through its company website (recruit.kt.com). LG Electric and Chemical is also busy recruiting. Last week, the company held recruiting sessions at campuses in the Chicago area. And the Korean government's Institute of Science and Technology is seeking Korean-English speakers for a Talk program and for assistant teachers for language classes in South Korea. Candidates for the Talk program must have either U.S. citizenship or a valid green card, and have completed at least the sophomore year of their college studies. Selected candidates will teach English to students for six months to a year in after-school courses at provincial elementary schools located in South Korea. For EPIK (English Program in Korea), assistant teachers for English instruction should be Korean green-card holders or U.S. citizens, either students or graduates of a four-year college, and must commit to working 22 hours a week at a Korean middle school or high school for one year. Applicants for these positions can apply for Talk and EPIK through the Korean Education Center of the N.Y. Korean Consulate General.
Mr. Song-Soo Kim, the president of the Korean human resources company HRCap, said, "The economic situation is still bad and hiring has been down at Korean companies. But hiring for skilled Koreans abroad has held steady. Korean companies love having employees with international experience."
Most Korean companies hiring Korean elites abroad give priority to applicants who have studied planning and management, marketing, business strategy and distribution and control and who want to live in South Korea. HRCap President Mr. Kim explained it is very important for the candidate interviewing to show professional ability in a major field of study, fluency in both English and Korean, a deep understanding of cultures, an international outlook, and a strong commitment to remaining at the company. He also suggested that the applicant clearly describe his or her abilities and skills based upon the job description. The successful job seeker's resume should illustrate why he or she is the correct person for the position and the type of employee for which the company is looking. Applicants who do not wish to relocate to Korea should note that many companies are looking to fill positions at branches in the United States.
