Career summit advises international students on landing jobs in Korea

International students in Korea are advised to seek job opportunities at startups focusing on global business and to leverage their expertise in international living and job searching, according to speakers at the “Youth Career Summit: Beyond 2024.”

From left, FPT Software Vice President Tran Van Minh, NVC Partners President and Managing Partner Kim Kyung-chan, Yonsei University Professor Rhee Nam-uh, SocialTable Seoul City Manager Alice Chan and Wanted Labs Global Business Operations Lead Jenny Kim, participate in a panel discussion during the "Youth Career Summit: Beyond 2024," on Sunday. [LEE TAE-HEE]

Identifying fields that favor foreign talent is crucial for international students seeking jobs in Korea, with students also advised to leverage personal networks, according to a careers summit on Sunday.

More than 400 international students gathered at Yonsei University's Baekyang Hall on Sunday for the “Youth Career Summit: Beyond 2024,” participating in panel discussions on career opportunities and networking with potential employers.

The event was organized by the Vietnamese Student Associations of Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University, but it was open to students from all universities.

One of the tips given by panel speakers during the event was to seek jobs at startups focusing on global business.

"There is a lot of openness from startups looking to understand the foreign landscape, which is something that everyone in this room can leverage as an advantage," said Alice Chan, Seoul city manager at startup SocialTable, which offers a service that facilitates networking dinners.

"Don't hesitate to leverage your advantage of being from outside of Korea because that's something that Koreans really want to understand better to further their business."

It is also important to search for companies that have not yet expanded abroad but are willing to do so.

"I want to emphasize the importance of researching which companies are aiming to go global in Korea," said Jenny Kim, global business operations lead at Wanted Lab, a job search website focusing on startups.

"Your skills and expertise as students who have lived abroad will shine and stand out because moving to a new country, studying and finding a job is an amazing skill that you should be proud of."

Panel members also stressed the importance of networking, being able to connect with people in companies students wish to work for and even obtaining referrals for internships or full-time positions.

The Korean Venture Capital Association (KVCA) is one organization that will soon offer opportunities for entry-level students. It is currently a good time for those with global experience, as emphasized by the event’s speakers.

The association will provide a three-month career education program on finance and investment for undergraduates and university students who have just graduated. The annual program allows around 60 students to participate, with announcements made around June or July and starting in the fall.

"I haven't seen foreign students in the program in the past three years, but I know that many Korean venture capitals have a keen interest in Vietnam and Southeast Asian global markets, so it's a good time to consider the KVCA program," said Kim Kyung-chan, president and managing partner at NVC Partners, a venture capital firm.

Hanoi-based FPT Software also attended the event to introduce its global internship to attendees. The company is accepting applications for engineering internships until Tuesday and will bring selected students to Vietnam for an eight-week internship in the summer.

Additionally, the company has an office in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, and actively hires foreigners for its Korean office.

Other companies, such as Vietnam Airlines, set up booths at the event, meeting with students interested in working for the company.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]