That time I really thought about working for a foreign company, like Google Korea

It’s been a while since I’ve thought about this, but I remember going through a phase where I was really set on trying to get a job at a foreign company. You know, places like Google Korea or Apple Korea. Everyone was talking about how good the work environment was, the benefits, and just the general prestige. I even heard from a friend that Tokyo Electronics was a pretty good place to aim for too, if I was looking at foreign companies.

So I started doing a bit of research, mostly online. There were a lot of blogs and forums where people would share their experiences. Some were super encouraging, talking about how you could get scouted directly from job fairs or even from some of those career events they hold. They’d mention attending these classes or workshops that were supposed to help you get ready for interviews and build up your resume. I think some of these were even government-funded programs, focusing on things like AI and digital skills, which sounded really relevant.

One thing that kept popping up was the emphasis on English. Obviously, if you’re aiming for a foreign company, your English needs to be on point. I spent a good amount of time trying to brush up on my speaking and writing, watching English dramas and trying to think in English more often. It felt like a big hurdle to overcome, and I wasn’t sure if I was good enough, even after all that effort.

There was also this whole discussion about the difference between working for a local Korean company versus a foreign one. People talked about more flexible hours, different approaches to teamwork, and of course, the salary expectations. Some articles even touched on how AI could change the landscape, with discussions about productivity gains from AI being shared with workers, which was a bit of a newer concept to me back then.

I remember looking at the Google Korea website specifically, just browsing through the open positions. It all looked so professional and… intimidating. The job descriptions were detailed, and the requirements seemed really high. It made me wonder if I was even qualified to apply, despite having some relevant experience in my field. The sheer volume of information and the perceived competitiveness felt overwhelming.

Eventually, I decided to put the idea on the back burner. The thought of preparing for interviews in a foreign language, coupled with the high expectations, just felt like too much stress at the time. It wasn’t like I had an immediate job offer or a clear path laid out. It was more of a hopeful, uncertain aspiration. I still think about it sometimes, especially when I see news about tech companies expanding or offering new programs, but for now, it’s just a memory of a path I considered but didn’t fully pursue.