Career Development for Women in Korea: An Expatriate Perspective

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Career Development for Women in Korea An
Expatriate Perspective

• Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Leadership Seminar
• March 22, 2007
• Sue Abbey, Ph.D.
• Managing Director
• Organizational Change Strategies
• GM Daewoo Auto Technology Co.

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Topics

• Cross-Cultural Differences and their Impact on
  Career Development
• Finding and Pursuing Your Interests
• Challenges for Women

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GlobeSmart Profile
Definitions
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Comparison of National Cultures
Independent
Interdependent
Egalitarianism
Status
South Korea
Germany
Risk
Restraint
Brazil
U.S.
Direct
Indirect
Task
Relationship
U.K.
Short Term
Long-Term
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Observations of U.S. Employees

• Less influenced by others expectations (family,
  society, etc.) about their career
• Strive to stand out in the crowd

Independent
Interdependent

• Expect to be treated as valuable, capable members
  of the team decline non job-related work

Egalitarianism
Status

• View new jobs as learning opportunities
• Experience greater frequency and variety of
  career moves

Risk
Restraint

• Openly discuss career interests and desired
  support with supervisor and others

Direct
Indirect

• Focus on job moves needed to achieve career goals
• De-emphasize loyalty to a particular boss

Task
Relationship

• Chart their own course Early bird gets the
  worm rather than Good things come to those who
  wait

Short Term
Long-Term
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Finding and Pursuing Your Interests

• Determine career attributes that are most
  important
• Identify opportunities
• Leverage your network
• Develop a plan

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Career Anchors

• Technical/Functional Competence
• General Managerial Competence
• Autonomy/Independence
• Security/Stability
• Entrepreneurial Creativity
• Service/Dedication to a Cause
• Pure Challenge
• Lifestyle

Source Schein, E.H. (2005). Career Anchors
Self-assessment. Pfeiffer.
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Identify Opportunities

• Analyze possible jobs
• Knowledge, skills, and attributes
• Specific education and experience
• Degree of fit with your ideal job
• Assess yourself
• Strengths and developmental areas
• Resume

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Leverage Your Network
Subject Matter Experts
Previous Jobs
YOU
Professional Orgs.
Personal
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Exploratory Interview Questions

• Please describe your job. Types of activities in
  a typical month? What do you like/dislike?
  (Listen for alignment with your career anchors.)
• What knowledge, skills, and attributes are
  needed?
• What education and experience do you recommend?
• What suggestions do you have for me based on my
  current position?
• Are there other people I should contact?

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How Development Occurs

• Key Jobs 70
• Important Other People 20
• Courses (and books, tapes, Internet) 10

Source Lombardo, M., Eichinger, R. (2002). The
Leadership Machine. Lominger Limited, Inc.
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Develop a Plan

• Analyze the gap between the requirements you
  identified and your self-assessment
• Identify specific actions needed to close the gap
  (what, by when, support needed)
• Engage others

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Challenges for Women

• Societal expectations for the role of women in
  terms of family and career
• Few female role models in some fields and
  positions
• Less feedback regarding developmental needs
• Limited informal network compared with men
• Sense of isolation

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• Time is the coin of your life. It is the only
  coin you have, and only you can determine how it
  will be spent. Be careful lest you let other
  people spend it for you.
• - Carl Sandburg

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Questions
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Thank you

• Sue Abbey, Ph.D.
• Managing Director
• Organizational Change Strategies
• GM Daewoo Auto Technology Co.
• Office 82 32 520 2024
• Fax [phone]
• Mobile [phone]
• sue.abbey_at_gm.com