Guide to Job Fairs in Korea

When do job fairs usually happen?

There are 2 main job seeking seasons in Korea, 상반기 (first half of the year) and 하반기 (second half of the year). However, most of the larger job fairs in Seoul take place around August and October. These are usually headed by KOTRA.

What to prepare:

• Make sure to register online and sign up for interviews.
  You can just walk in the event itself, but it might be harder to book an interview due to the amount of aspiring applicants
• Make sure to bring your CV/Resume
  Printers are usually available at the venue, however, it is still best to bring a printed copy of your resume just in case something goes wrong. Also bring a copy of your resume (.doc, .pdf) so you can print more copies if you run out. If you are a student here, it might be good to visit your career counsilor so they can help you improve your resume. If not, bring an editable copy of your resume and see if they have a Resume Workshop booth at the event itself.
• Look your best
  Koreans are quite particular about looks, especially when it comes to interviews. You are competing with highly qualified candidate so you need a little extra to help you land a job. Wear a nice professional looking oufit (or at least a blazer), but don't forget to wear comfortable shoes as you might be walking around the entire day. There are "Image Making" booths in the venue so they can help you put on some make up, style your hair, and even match colors that would make you look your best!
• Research about the companies
  There are hundreds of companies attending these kind of events, it would be best to narrow down your choices to companies or job you actually care about. Research about the role, the industry, and even about the company and their needs. You will be given a booklet with the company's information on the day of the event, but the list of participating companies are usually listed on the website so you can do your research.

What to expect:

• Make a good impression early on
  Don't be late to your interview appointment and don't forget to smile! First impressions don't necessarily last, but they do matter. Koreans value punctuality so arrive a few minutes early before your appointment. You have to not only be qualified for the job, but you also have to be that person that people want to work with. If you can, try to talk in Korean as polite as possible.
  
• Interviews in Korean, English, or other languages
  Even if it's an event specifically made for foreigners in Korea, companies still prefer candidates that could speak Korean or multiple languages. Expect that they will test you on your language skills on the spot.
• Multiple rounds of interviews
  Companies usually ask you a few general questions during the interview at the job fair. If they like you, they will ask you if you are willing to attend another interview to know you a bit better. Interviews usually last between 2-3 rounds, but some can last 5 or 7 rounds.
• Expected Salary
  Each country would have their own way of expressing their expected salaries. In Korea, they would usually state how much they expect to earn in a year. Do take note that if you want to apply from a D2 (student) or D10 (job seeking) visa for an E7 or F2 visa for the first time, you have to reach at least 80% of the GNI to qualify. This would be around 33,600,000 won per year (as of 2023), or 2,800,000 won per month.
• Walking around the whole day
  Wear good comfortable shoes! We can't emphasise this enough. You will be walking around the hall visiting booths, taking multiple interviews, and maybe just running around to see what's happening so be sure to be as comfortable as possible without looking sloppy. Also bring a few snacks, water, candies or breath mints, a hygiene kit (comb/brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, makeup, tissue paper, perfume) so you can stay fresh throughout the day.
• Freebies
  It's not just applicants who want to make a good impression, companies usually give away a few items like tote bags, plastic folders, pens, and other things to make sure that you visit all the booths and take a look at what they have to offer.

Common Interview questions

• Please introduce yourself
• How much do you know about the company and the product?
• Can you talk more about your experience in the field/position?
• How can you relate the product to your experiences?
• Can you talk about the product's potential market in your country?
• Can you talk about what steps we can take if we want to launch the product in your country?
• How many languages can you speak?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Have you ever worked with Koreans or in Korea before?
• What difficulties have you faced while you were in this position?
• Why should we hire you?
• What is your expected salary range?
• Do you have family in Korea?
• Are you willing to go on overseas business trips?