Two Hobbies That Help You Get Hired in Korea
Want to get hired in Korea? These two simple hobbies put you in the same room as people who make hiring calls. Start both this week.
The best way to get hired in Korea is not one more certificate or submitting another mass application. It is picking hobbies that put you in the same room as people who can hire you.
You do not have to quit your job to do this. You do not even need a job yet. You just need to show up in the right places. Here are two hobbies you can start this week in Korea
Hobby 1: Join a Business English Meetup
Korea has a special kind of meetup called a business English meetup.
This is not a normal language exchange. It is not foreigners and Koreans just chatting. It is different. The people who come are here for work English. Many of them are directors at big global companies. Some work on teams where English is used every day. Some do research at top universities.
So who is sitting next to you? People with real jobs. People who help decide who gets hired.
I went to one of these with a director I used to work with. He met a developer at a meetup like this. Then he hired that developer. So I know these rooms are not just for talking, they are also for meeting people who have hiring power.
Hobby 2: Join a Sports Group Near Big Companies
The second hobby is a sports group. Think CrossFit or a running club.
But here is the part most people miss. You do not join just any club near your house. You join one in an area packed with companies. In Seoul, that means Gangnam or Yeouido.
Why does the spot matter? Because these groups are often affiliated to a company. So the people working out next to you already have jobs at those companies.
Show up and be someone people like and trust. Bring something to the table. Do that, and someone can pass your name along for a job.
I have done this myself. I met someone through a sports group tied to my global company and I gave that person a referral. That is how it works when you are in the right room!
How to Find These Groups
The first app is called Meetup.com. The second is Somoim (소모임). Somoim is a Korean app where lots of small hobby groups meet. It is where many of these niche groups live, compared to Meetup where there are more general, bigger groups.
Here is the simple plan:
- Open the app.
- Search for "business 영어."
- Set your area to Gangnam or Yeouido.
- Then search for a sport in that same area, like running or CrossFit.
Do not just join random groups to feel busy. Your time is worth more than that, and it matters even more when you are job hunting. Pick the rooms where the hiring people already are.
The Real Point
Start both this week. Then keep showing up.
And before you walk into any of these rooms, make sure your resume is always polished in case they request it from you!
KOVE helps you position your resume for the Korean job market. If you need help, feel free to reach out there.