Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ties), preferably in neutral colors such as gray, black, and navy, are virtually mandat-
ory for any male working in an office environment. For women, pantsuits or blouses
with skirts (of a conservative length) are equally acceptable. High heels are by no
means required, but most Korean women wear them while commuting or to meetings
then promptly switch to flats when they're in the office. Men, meanwhile, will often
trade their shoes for a pair of slippers when at or around their desks.
The “casual Friday” concept has reached Korea, and many offices allow their em-
ployees to dress down on that day. However, it's far from universally applied, so take
your cue from your coworkers—especially your boss.
Strictly speaking, Korean language skills are neither needed nor expected for most pos-
itions offered to expatriates, but they do go a long way in the workplace and will certainly
give any job applicant an immediate edge over other candidates.
Times are changing, but much of the equal-opportunity philosophy that suffuses Western
workplaces has yet to seep into South Korean companies. It's not at all uncommon for pro-
spective employers to specify the desired gender, age, and even appearance of candidates
when they advertise a job position, and a photo must accompany virtually every job ap-
plication. Some local firms will be uncomfortable hiring a woman or a youngish person for
a senior management position or an older candidate for a mid-level post, out of fear this
could disrupt workplace harmony. Many middle-aged local executives would be confused
or angered by the prospect of taking orders from a woman in her 30s, no matter how edu-
cated or competent she happened to be.
Except for the photos with the applications mentioned above, the hiring process here isn't
likely to produce too many surprises for anyone who's undergone job interviews back
home. Companies will usually call a large pool of candidates for a brief initial interview
and then conduct follow-up interviews with more promising candidates, often with several
senior executives present.
As in other countries, most of the questions will focus on a candidate's background,
what they feel they can bring to the company, and in the case of a foreign national, their
reasons for being in South Korea or wanting to come here. The line of questioning some-
times takes a more personal bent than it would in North America; don't be taken aback,
