Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
INTERVIEW Ready to move on? How to leave your job wisely
Seo Eu-ra (Seo Merry), the author of the book "Working for a Company Is Just Not for Me" / Courtesy of Seo Eu-ra
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
The cover of the book "Working for a Company Is Just Not for Me" by Seo Eu-ra
A good job isn't good for everyone. Seo Eu-ra learned this the hard way after working for more than five years at a major law firm in Seoul.
“There are some things you just know,” Seo, 30, said in a recent interview. “It was not about the company or the benefits it offered, because I knew I would not want to commit myself to any company. Just like a peach allergy, some people just can't take it, but it is hard to explain why.”
But Seo, a freelance translator and author of the book, “Working for a Company Is Just Not for Me,” did not leave without preparation. Here are the things she is now glad that she did ― and didn't do ― before quitting her job.
Know your skills for the next job
Some people quit their jobs to pursue their dreams. This wasn't the case for me. I just figured that I was the type of person who would never be happy working at a company. So I started to think about which of my skills could be useful for building my career as a freelancer. After writing them down ― drawing, writing (Korean and English), cooking and handcrafting ― I did some market research. In doing so, I realized there is a big demand for translation and places to learn translation techniques. It took longer than I thought ― about a year ― to equip myself with the necessary skills not just to do this but to survive in the market, but I'm glad that I had a concrete plan for my next career.
Get your finances in order
If you have a stable job at a major company, you may not know how difficult it is to take out loans or get a credit card without that job. It is important to assess your financial needs from a long-term perspective and do your financial work before leaving the company. In hindsight, it was one of the best things I did. You also need enough savings to survive sometimes without an income. In my case, I had enough money to get by at least for two-and-a-half years without an income.
Don't burn bridges
Don't burn any bridges on your way out. You may think you will never need a “bridge,” but I did, and I'm sure you will too. After spending months for job training and making business plans without an income, I started to become inpatient and worried. But thanks to an ex-colleague, I got a part-time job when I badly needed it. Since I started my career as a translator, some of my former co-workers have given me work; they are still part of my business network.
Think twice about 'traveling around the world'
I have to admit that I also thought about traveling overseas, which I believe could be a good opportunity for some people to refresh themselves, but not for me. I did not want to spend my hard-earned money on traveling, knowing that I would one day return to the same place I left and face the same concerns.
Be prepared mentally
It may take longer than expected. Every day could be a battle to stay calm and at least take one step in the right direction. You should be mentally strong. I was able to handle the stress mainly because I had low expectations. All I wanted was to live my life doing things I enjoy. I didn't think that I would be able to make much money. But now I do make more money than I expected while writing, drawing and sharing my talent with other people. For that, I'm so grateful.