Kickstarting Your Career in Seoul With An Internship

Like many you graduates, you’re trying to understand how to jumpstart your career during a period that is uncertain and unpredictable.

As competition for jobs increases, university graduates need to work out ways to get ahead and break through the noise.

The primary challenge now is to break the equation of ‘no experience = no employment’, and to tackle the tumultuous job market head on!

Research conducted by the The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveals an unprecedented youth unemployment rate. It currently sits at over 15.5% for the US and soars up to 40% across different parts of Europe. 

On the other hand, 74% of companies are reducing their hiring capacity too. Leaving room only for the world’s most adept and skilful. 

But it’s not all grey skies ahead.

Skies are turning blue, as more and more industries open doors for newbies to enter life and career-changing internship programs. In an attempt to fight market volatility and give graduates a chance to turn around the statistics, companies of all industries invite everyone to gain first-hand experience.

Wouldn’t it be thrilling to observe and take part in the creation of advertising campaigns while interning for a marketing agency? Or get creative in AutoCAD for an architecture firm? In fact, according to research from Cardiff University, modern-day internships have been proven as effective as a postgraduate degree!

When interning, you not only get a visceral feel of what you’ve been studying in coursebooks. But you’ll be on-site with like-minded and similarly ambitious interns who will push your skills to unimagined limits. An internship is something of a ‘trial for the real thing’, where you’ll make errors, learn from them, and unfold new aspects of your passion.

But where should you undertake the perfect internship? 

Embarking on a placement determines your future career success. As such, you wouldn’t want to intern someplace you don’t vibe with.

For tech enthusiasts, lovers of mouth-watering cuisine, and cultural connoisseurs in general, we think Seoul, South Korea, is the meeting spot of your career and globetrotting dreams!

For the vast majority of us, Korean culture unexpectedly entered our lives for the first time via PSY’s ‘Gangnam style’.

However, South Korea has been subtly entrenching itself into our daily lives long before K-pop landed in the West. For instance, brands like Samsung have led the TV market for four years in a row. And their phones keep many of the world’s smartphone users busy on a daily basis.

Seoul’s character could be described as a delightful cross between hard working genius and fun loving pleasure-seeker. While Seoul’s accolades stand firmly in the innovation sector, holding a six-year streak for innovation in Bloomberg’s 2020 Innovation Index, locals never miss out on the opportunity for serious, after-work fun too!  

This city of nearly 10 million people is replete with vibrant and opulent venues. Each will etch on your mind and never fade away! For instance, the century-old Gwangjang market is just one of these places. 

Originally a textiles market, food stalls gradually interspersed among the fabric sellers, causing the place to expand to a whopping 5000 stalls! As you study the textures of Korea’s finest fabrics, chefs will tempt you with a slice of sundae (Korean sausage), a bowl of bibimbap (mixed rice) or fresh hotteok  (red bean pancakes).

To say that Seoul offers a plethora of alternatives is an understatement. Rather, the city curates its cultural landscape to all tastes – both local and foreign.

For individuals who wish to escape the noisy urban lifestyle, Seoul provides access to plenty of recreational parks. After ascending the hill beside the World Cup Stadium Station, you’ll find yourself overseeing Seoul’s cityscape in an Eden-like garden, known as Haneul ‘Sky’ Park, with lush verdant meadows in the summer, and burnished scarlet trees in autumn.

And if nightlife is more your thing, the Gangnam district is jam-packed with extravagant nightclubs featuring the country’s best DJs. In fact, Seoul has a renowned drinking culture often matched to that of Ireland.

Seoul is one of Asia’s tech-beating hearts. Placed as the 12^th strongest economy in the world, South Korea has centralised its core industries in the city of Seoul. But it’s not just the giants like LG and Samsung, hundreds of tech start-ups begin in Seoul.

Out of all industry niches, young companies diversify Korea’s fin-tech portfolio with advancements. From deep-learning camera technology for automobiles, LiDAR sensors and e-wallets to financial solutions software.

With a steady economy that knows how to take a hit or two, South Korea has turned the odds in its favour in the last 60 years. The result is a vibrant but orderly and mindful society.

Under the bright morning and afternoon sun, Seoul’s rich history and cultural veneer shines through! As the sun sets over the Han river, ambiance mellows down and it’s time to stroll by the passing boats. By nightfall, the streets blaze with the light of neon and billboards.

Though, while it’s pleasant to wander in thoughts of what life could be like in Seoul, the application processes can sometimes feel like a big reality check. And to add to the nerve-wrecking experience, you must tailor your CV to high Korean industry standards. 

But that’s where Beyond Academy can come to your rescue. We’ll help you find the right company, familiarise yourself with a South Korea’s work ethos and traverse your VISA-application, hassle-free. 

Much like any other metropolis in the world, Seoul is fraught with competition. But if you want to arrive armed and ready at Incheon Airport, listen closely.

Beyond Academy will guide you from point A to point B. From helping you to write a pristine CV to discussing your career goals with experienced coaches. Having Beyond Academy at your side will make your internship experience as easy and enjoyable as possible.

With Beyond Academy, you’ll be liaising with career experts who’ll find you a placement in accordance with your career goals and aspirations. During your internship, there’s a stack of professional tips and crash courses waiting for you. These can be the secret tools you’ll need to succeed, even after completing your placement.

Once you are on the internship track, it’s time to meet the Beyond Academy Community Team 

In Seoul, our local team will navigate you through the dazzling city.

Have questions regarding your accommodation? Or want to know the quickest route to your new workspace? They will be available for all your inquiries and concerns!  

After a quick introduction to your fellow Beyond interns, it’s time to get to grips with your placement. As you survey your surroundings, Beyond Academy events will be running in parallel, so you can join at any time for a refreshing social. 

By the end of your placement, you will know both Seoul and your professional field like the back of your hand! 

Venturing someplace far away from what you’re used to isn’t an overnight decision. Thankfully, even if it’s on the edge of Asia, the South Korean peninsula is one fantastic edge to be on.  

In and out of the tourist season, Seoul’s residents wholeheartedly greet foreign faces. And they cherish the sight of other cultures appreciating the big heart of their rather small country.

To keep your engagement levels pumping, Beyond Academy will host community events and trips. These will help you to seamlessly bond with fellow interns and locals. 

There’s no mould a Beyond intern should fit! 

Whether you’re a software developer who is in love with the cyberpunk genre. Or a budding industrial designer who’s warming up for the auto scene, your dreams have Beyond’s full attention. 

To find out what being a Beyond Academy intern is really like, check out the plan for our immersive Seoul internship program or get in touch with us.

Got a bit more reading in you? Learn more about interning in Seoul with our comprehensive guide or check out the top Seoul internship industries on offer here.