So, August 28th was the end of my internship. The reason that I'm writing this almost a month later is because I was busy with the new semester - technically my last semester, the Fall 2020 semester in Yonsei AND I was asked to continue working for the internship company as part time because I guess the CEO was satisfied with my performance. I didn't plan to continue working at first because, first, I don't want to work while I study, I just wanted to study and enjoy my last semester as a student. Second, I wanted to spend my free time looking for job before graduation.
The CEO knew that I will be leaving after 2 months of internship, hence he has been looking for candidates continuously and interviewed quite a number of people. However, he couldn't find suitable candidate so he started to negotiate so that I would agree to continue working for a certain amount of time. The reason I end up agreeing with this part time contract was only because he actually OK-ed all the terms and conditions that I've asked for in order to balance both my studies and work.
Since I am going to be working part time with a D-2 student visa, a work permit is needed because the work that I am doing is not for academic credit. In other words, if the work does not count to your GPA, a work permit is needed. So, my internship of 2 months did not require a work permit because I claimed 3 academic credits for it by working more than 240 hours. However, for the part time work afterwards, I needed the work permit to work legally. Also, during the semester, students can only work up to maximum 35 hours per week, provided you have a TOPIK 4 and above (otherwise 20 hours max), and working hours shall not clash with class hours. Due to COVID-19 and the high unemployment rate now, the immigration office was very strict in screening documents for work permit approval. It was very tedious and to be honest, you need lots of luck too. Plus, chuseok is coming up, everybody is nervous that the work permit would not be approved on time. Luckily it did for me...
I have been going to this consulting firm that helps/advice foreign students in applying for visa and work permit. They have given me A LOT of help and I couldn't thank them enough. I would probably write a separate blog on that service after getting their permission to do so. My mood lights up every time I visit here. They have bars for free flow beer (4 types of them) and a cafe where you can order free coffee! Such amazing benefits for their employees. Lucky for me, as a visitor of an employee, I get to enjoy too :D
So back to my part time story, I was able to get on an agreement with the CEO to let me work from home from Tuesday to Friday, and only going in the office on Monday to prepare for documents and work needed for the rest of the week. The office is more than an hour away from where I live and going in to office everyday was not an option for me. With classes, exams, assignments, and student council stuff going on... I just didn't want unnecessary stress. I'm glad he agreed, so I only have to go to the office once a week, and I can go in at lunch time.
I'm sure a lot of people saw the many food photos that I've posted all along during lunch time. Since I am only going to work on Monday, I only eat in the office once a week. And the office moved so we seldom go out for food anymore. So, food delivery became our best friend. My favorite so far is my first 엽끼 떡볶이. It is a very spicy spicy rice cake dish with cheese on top, and some additional toppings like vienna sausages, ham or side dish of rice balls. The co-workers actually did a good job in providing us more options of food to choose, because we almost ate the same lunchbox continuously. I am appreciative of that.
Although there were A LOT of stressful times ;) , I still think that I've learned a lot through the internship. I am thankful that I have an opportunity to learn and work in the field of Marketing that I am trying to step my foot in for a long time. I have a major in finance and accounting and has been working as a finance analyst in Malaysia. Hence, a change in career is pretty challenging in Korea when I have no prior experience and not even a major in Marketing. This internship is technically the stepping stone for me to change my career. If I didn't have this internship opportunity, I am pretty sure it will be kinda challenging to land a Marketing job in Korea after graduation.
On a side note, Yonsei GMBA Class of 2022 started their classes in September and had their orientation on the 25th of August. Since I had some free time, I attended the dinner on their first day of OT with some other classmates. Dinner was supposed to be buffet but due to COVID-19, in order to be safe, they ordered a very high-class looking dinner box. And of course, with some red wine :) I am not a fish person but man, the best food in this dinner box is definitely the fried fish on the top left corner.
The dinner reminded me of myself, a year ago, when I attended my own OT and was talking to a senior who was working her internship. I thought "wow some day I'll be an intern in Korea like her too, I wonder how does that feel" and here I am, doing exactly that. It reminds me how fast time pass by, how much things have changed.
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