By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter
Kim Su-young, an assistant marketing manager at Royal Dutch Shell, is an avid blogger who provides useful guidelines to those interested in working with multi-national corporations in the U.K. Her blog, https://blog.naver.com/cyberelf00, has captured the attention of more than 130,000 Net surfers since she created it in 2007.
At a time when thousands of Korean college graduates are expected to enter domestic and overseas job markets, the 28-year-old shared with The Korea Times her transition from a graduate student in the U.K. to an up-and-coming marketing specialist with the world's second largest energy corporation.
``After traveling around 30 countries and spending six months on an exchange program in Melbourne, Australia, I wanted to explore more of the world and lead a global lifestyle,'' said Kim in an interview, adding that her inclination toward an international lifestyle first started as a college student in Seoul.
``I researched job markets, visa processes and spoke to many friends around the world to decide where to start my international career and London seemed to be the best place. It's English-speaking, sterling was strong, London is a cosmopolitan city with lots of opportunities and it's so easy to get to from here,'' said Kim, referring to her unusual choice of London as a second home and work base. Koreans have traditionally preferred to study or relocate to North America, as Europe has not been so popular with Korean job seekers. ``There are far fewer Korean professionals than Korean students or other European, Indian or Chinese professionals in the U.K.,'' added Kim.
Her employment with Royal Dutch Shell, commonly known as Shell, is the result of meticulous academic and linguistic preparations that started in 2004 when she was an international management major at a London graduate school.
What started as an internship in July 2006 eventually turned into a full-time position. ``I joined the 'International Graduate Scheme,' which was launched by the U.K. government around the same time to recruit high caliber graduates with good potential from non-EEA nations. In general, leading companies in the U.K. will require the equivalent of a 3.0 GPA from Korean universities. You need to prove your capability through your resume with various academic achievements and work experience.''
In particular, Kim stressed that past work experience will prove to be critical, even for graduate students. ``I worked for a few well-known companies in Korea during college as an intern, part-timer and freelancer, and these experiences were essential in acquiring job interviews,'' said Kim. ``Speaking fluent English is a must for a professional career but you don't need to be a native speaker, as half of Londoners are from everywhere else in the world,'' said Kim.
Specifically speaking about England, Kim urged job seekers to thoroughly research the job market by speaking to people who work in the industry, following news reports and checking online U.K. job sites such as monster.co.uk and reed.co.uk. For experienced professionals, there is the ``Highly Skilled Worker Program,'' which provides the chance to work freely in the U.K. Consult https://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/general/ for information. Graduate and undergraduate students are advised to accumulate work experience through internships and overseas placement programs.
Kim added that the easiest way to build a career abroad is to join an international company in Korea and then move internally to another country. ``A lot of Koreans I know moved to other countries that way. It's not only easier, but also they tend to get good relocation and expatriate packages.''
Getting a job is one thing, but maintaining it with a competitive edge is quite another, especially if one is surrounded by bright young professionals from across the globe. Kim is constantly trying to improve her work performance and qualifications by utilizing the company's support program. ``I learn a lot on the job and get great in-company training. For example, I flew to the Netherlands last year for two weeks of industry introductions and leadership training, which was very useful. The company also sponsored me to study for the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting qualification, when I was previously in the finance department,'' said Kim.
Despite the negative economic climate, Kim believes that Koreans could be competitive in the international job market. ``Young Koreans should widen their horizons and seek opportunities outside Korea, as having international experience is a great asset in your career and your life. If you have the right experience and qualifications, there are opportunities everywhere in the world.''