(15) 90 in 90: Job Applications in Korea aka The Bizarro Applications

Filling out job applications in Korea is a challenge in ways that I never thought possible. This isn't a challenge in the normal sense of finding a job and having to slog through an endless parade of applications, at least not yet. It's the challenge of not only filling in a job application, but understanding it as well. Even when in English, Korea job applications are an entirely new beast to tame and a new puzzle for me to wrap my head around.

I'm recently in the process of applying for a new job. To apply for any job, one needs to fill out an application before going to the next step. Seems simple enough. The website is in English and the place of employment is full of English speakers and English speaking job opportunities. It should be simple.

It's not, not even in the slightest.

The application itself is very unusual, with some of the questions ranging from odd to blatant invasion of privacy. Sure, you have some sections to fill out that all applications share such as address, previous place of employment and where you went to school. those questions are fine, and I filled them out with no effort.

Take everything you know about job applications and THROW THEM OUT THE WINDOW. Welcome to Korea.  

It's the more unusual ones that threw me for a loop. Questions that I cautiously filled out, knowing full well that someone asked these types of questions back in the US, someone, somewhere would throw a fit.

The application asked me what my religion was, and among other things, members of my family. While personally, I didn't mind answering these questions, I know many people who would be bothered by these questions and question the level of privacy and being threatened by asking these questions. It seems ridiculous that these would even be included on a job application. Does my religious affiliation have any difference when it comes to lecturing about grammar mechanics? Do my parents make a difference in determining my job?

These questions are considered relatively tame and standard to some of the questions my girlfriend had to answer. One application even going as far as to ask the income of both of her parents. Why did they ask? Even she doesn't know. She kept referring back to the Korean way, telling me that applications like this are normal. As a foreigner it looks like a way to criticize someone while not taking a look at their experience or qualifications., but rather a way to judge someone and their family before even considering them for the job. It seems so childish to me, I feel there has to be more that I'm not picking up on.

If that wasn't strange enough, I found that the rest of the application was in Korean, with one section in English and the rest in Korea. Some of the simpler questions and sections I could answer. However some of the more complex sections I could not even begin to answer.

Which one are you? This is totally relevant to your job. 

A lot of credit goes to my wonderful girlfriend, who has helped me along in the process to conquering this beast of a job application. She's had the patience of a saint through all of this so, much credit goes to her and if by some stroke of luck I actually get this job, it will become my solemn duty to repay her back as thanks for her time and patience and all those times I asked her what "bachelor degree" was in Korean.

I still have a few days before the deadline so I'm going to be spending the next few days hammering away at this and trying to finish it. I'm not bitter or even annoyed, its been an interesting experience learning about the Korean job application process and experiencing all the differences from small to Oh My God, that would so be a lawsuit in America.

This is just the start of my journey to apply for a new job next year. Wish me luck everyone. Hope for a bright future. Hope that my girlfriend doesn't want to kill me by the time its all over from my annoying questions.