Korean Basic Conversation 3
Chapter 5 Β· Work & Careers: Applying for a Job & Interviews
πΌ Work & Careers β μ·¨μ
κ³Ό λ©΄μ
A job interview is where you meet the most formal Korean in this course. Interviewers and candidates use the formal polite style (-γ
λλ€/-μ΅λλ€), and the two key patterns are -κ³ μλ€ ("I am doing / I have been doing") and -(μΌ)γ΄ μ μ΄ μλ€ ("I have done it before"). Chapter 3 used -γ
λλ€ only in the verb tables; here you use it in real answers. Dialogs have a Hard words note, and a short reading text closes the chapter.
eo = γ
(short, open "uh")
eu = γ
‘ (unrounded "oo")
kk, tt, pp, ss, jj = tense (tight, unaspirated) consonants
β Looking for Work β μΌμ리λ₯Ό μ°Ύκ³ μμ΄μ
A:μμ¦ λ νκ³ μμ΄μ?What are you doing these days?
B:μΌμ리λ₯Ό μ°Ύκ³ μμ΄μ. μ΄λ ₯μλ₯Ό μ¬λ¬ κ³³μ λμ΄μ.I'm looking for a job. I've sent my CV to several places.
A:μ΄λ€ μΌμ νκ³ μΆμ΄μ?What kind of work do you want to do?
B:μ»΄ν¨ν°μ κ΄λ ¨λ μΌμ νκ³ μΆμ΄μ. νκ΅μ΄λ μΈ μ μλ νμ¬λ©΄ λ μ’κ³ μ.Work related to computers. A company where I can use Korean too would be even better.
A:λ©΄μ μ°λ½μ μμ΄μ?Have you heard about an interview yet?
B:λ€, λ€μ μ£Ό νμμΌμ ν κ³³μμ λ©΄μ μ λ΄μ.Yes, I have an interview at one place next Tuesday.
Hard words: μΌμ리 il-jja-ri Β· μ΄λ ₯μ i-ryeok-sseo Β· κ΄λ ¨λ gwal-lyeon-doen Β· λ©΄μ myeon-jeop Β· μ°λ½ yeol-lak Β· λ©΄μ μ λ΄μ myeon-jeo-beul bwa-yo
β‘ Starting the Interview β μκΈ°μκ° (formal)
A:μλ
νμλκΉ? λ¨Όμ κ°λ¨ν μκΈ°μκ°λ₯Ό ν΄ μ£Όμμμ€.Good morning. First, please introduce yourself briefly.
B:μλ
νμλκΉ? μ λ μκ΅μμ μ¨ μ μμ€μ
λλ€.Good morning. I'm James, from the UK.
B:λνκ΅μμ μ»΄ν¨ν°λ₯Ό 곡λΆνκ³ , μ§κΈμ μμΈμμ νκ΅μ΄λ₯Ό λ°°μ°κ³ μμ΅λλ€.I studied computing at university, and now I'm learning Korean in Seoul.
A:μ°λ¦¬ νμ¬μ μ§μν μ΄μ κ° λ¬΄μμ
λκΉ?What is your reason for applying to our company?
B:κ·μ¬λ ν΄μΈ κ³ κ°μ΄ λ§μ νμ¬λΌμ μ κ²½νμ μ΄λ¦΄ μ μλ€κ³ μκ°νμ΅λλ€.Your company has many overseas customers, so I thought I could make use of my experience.
Hard words: μλ
νμλκΉ an-nyeong-ha-sim-ni-kka Β· κ°λ¨ν gan-dan-hi Β· ν΄ μ£Όμμμ€ hae ju-sip-ssi-o Β· μ§μν ji-won-han Β· κ·μ¬ gwi-sa Β· μ΄λ¦΄ μ sal-lil su
β’ Experience β κ²½νμ΄ μμΌμΈμ?
A:μ΄ λΆμΌμμ μΌν μ μ΄ μμΌμλκΉ?Have you worked in this field before?
B:λ€, μκ΅μμ μ΄ λ
λμ μννΈμ¨μ΄ νμ¬μμ μΌν μ μ΄ μμ΅λλ€.Yes, I worked for two years at a software company in the UK.
A:νκ΅μμ μΌν΄ λ³Έ μ μ μμΌμλκΉ?Have you never worked in Korea?
B:μμ§ μμ΅λλ€. νμ§λ§ νκ΅ νμ¬μμ μΈν΄μ ν μ μ μμ΅λλ€.Not yet. But I have done an internship at a Korean company.
A:μ’μ΅λλ€. νκ΅μ΄λ‘ νμλ₯Ό ν΄ λ³Έ μ λ μμ΅λκΉ?Good. Have you also held a meeting in Korean?
Hard words: λΆμΌ bun-ya Β· μΌν μ μ΄ il-han jeo-gi Β· μννΈμ¨μ΄ so-peu-teu-wo-eo Β· μΈν΄ in-teon Β· ν΄ λ³Έ μ μ hae bon jeo-geun Β· νμ hoe-ui
β£ Strengths and Weaknesses β μ₯μ κ³Ό λ¨μ
A:λ³ΈμΈμ μ₯μ μ 무μμ΄λΌκ³ μκ°νμλκΉ?What do you think your strengths are?
B:μ μ₯μ μ μ±
μκ°μ΄ κ°νκ³ μλ‘μ΄ κ²μ 빨리 λ°°μ°λ κ²μ
λλ€.My strengths are a strong sense of responsibility and learning new things quickly.
A:κ·ΈλΌ λ¨μ μμ?And your weaknesses?
B:κ°λ λ무 κΌΌκΌΌνκ² νλ €κ³ ν΄μ μκ°μ΄ μ€λ 걸립λλ€.Sometimes I try to be so thorough that it takes a long time.
A:κ·Έ λ¨μ μ κ³ μΉλ €κ³ λ
Έλ ₯νκ³ μμ΅λκΉ?Are you trying to fix that weakness?
B:λ€, μΌμ μμλ₯Ό μ ν΄μ μκ°μ κ΄λ¦¬νκ³ μμ΅λλ€.Yes, I decide the order of tasks and manage my time.
Hard words: μ₯μ jang-jjeom Β· λ¨μ dan-jjeom Β· μ±
μκ° chae-gim-gam Β· κΌΌκΌΌνκ² kkom-kkom-ha-ge Β· κ³ μΉλ €κ³ go-chi-ryeo-go Β· λ
Έλ ₯νκ³ no-ryeo-ka-go
β€ Closing the Interview β λ§μ§λ§μΌλ‘ νμ€ λ§μ μμΌμΈμ?
A:λ§μ§λ§μΌλ‘ μ§λ¬Έ μμΌμλκΉ?Finally, do you have any questions?
B:λ€, μ
μ¬νλ©΄ μ΄λ€ μΌμ λ§‘μ΅λκΉ?Yes. If I join, what kind of work would I be given?
A:λ¨Όμ μ μ
κ΅μ‘μ λ°κ³ , ν λ¬ νμ νμ λ€μ΄κ°μλλ€.First you'll receive training for new staff, then join a team a month later.
B:μκ² μ΅λλ€. κ²°κ³Όλ μΈμ μ μ μμ΅λκΉ?I see. When can I find out the result?
A:μΌμ£ΌμΌ μμ μ°λ½λλ¦¬κ² μ΅λλ€.We will contact you within a week.
B:κ°μ¬ν©λλ€. μ€λ κΈ°νλ₯Ό μ£Όμ
μ κ°μ¬νμ΅λλ€.Thank you. I'm grateful for the opportunity today.
Hard words: μ
μ¬νλ©΄ ip-ssa-ha-myeon Β· λ§‘μ΅λκΉ mat-sseum-ni-kka Β· μ μ
si-nip Β· κ΅μ‘ gyo-yuk Β· μ°λ½λλ¦¬κ² μ΅λλ€ yeol-lak-deu-ri-get-sseum-ni-da Β· κΈ°ν gi-hoe
β₯ Two Friends (casual) β λ©΄μ μ΄λ μ΄?
A:λ©΄μ μ΄λ μ΄? λ§μ΄ λ¨λ Έμ§?How was the interview? You must have been very nervous.
B:μ, μ§μ§ λ¨λ Έμ΄. νκ΅μ΄λ‘ λ©΄μ 보λ 건 μ²μμ΄κ±°λ .Yeah, really nervous. It was my first time having an interview in Korean.
A:μ§λ¬Έμ λ λ¬Όμ΄λ΄€μ΄?What did they ask?
B:μκΈ°μκ°λ μ§μ μ΄μ λ μ₯μ μ΄λ λ¨μ μ΄λ... λ€ λ¬Όμ΄λ΄€μ΄.A self-introduction, why I applied, my strengths, my weaknesses... they asked everything.
A:μνλ€! κ²°κ³Ό λμ€λ©΄ λ°λ‘ μλ € μ€.Well done! Tell me as soon as the result comes out.
Hard words: λ¨λ Έμ§ tteol-lyeot-jji Β· μ§μ§ jin-jja Β· μ²μμ΄κ±°λ cheo-eu-mi-geo-deun Β· λ¬Όμ΄λ΄€μ΄ mu-reo-bwa-sseo Β· μλ € μ€ al-lyeo jwo
ποΈ Key Phrases β μ€μν νν
| Situation | Formal (interview) | Everyday polite |
| Nice to meet you. | λ§λμ λ°κ°μ΅λλ€. | λ§λμ λ°κ°μμ. |
| I'm applying for this position. | μ΄ μ§λ¬΄μ μ§μνμ΅λλ€. | μ΄ μΌμ μ§μνμ΄μ. |
| I have two years of experience. | κ²½λ ₯μ΄ μ΄ λ
μμ΅λλ€. | κ²½λ ₯μ΄ μ΄ λ
μμ΄μ. |
| I'll do my best. | μ΄μ¬ν νκ² μ΅λλ€. | μ΄μ¬ν ν κ²μ. |
| Thank you for the opportunity. | κΈ°νλ₯Ό μ£Όμ
μ κ°μ¬ν©λλ€. | κΈ°ν μ£Όμ
μ κ°μ¬ν΄μ. |
| I look forward to hearing from you. | μ°λ½ κΈ°λ€λ¦¬κ² μ΅λλ€. | μ°λ½ κΈ°λ€λ¦΄κ²μ. |
π€ Three Verbs for Interviews β λμ¬
| Verb | Everyday polite (-μ) | Formal (-γ
λλ€/-μ΅λλ€) | Question (formal) |
| to apply (μ§μνλ€) | μ§μν΄μ | μ§μν©λλ€ | μ§μνμλκΉ? |
| to work (μΌνλ€) | μΌν΄μ | μΌν©λλ€ | μΌνμλκΉ? |
| to prepare (μ€λΉνλ€) | μ€λΉν΄μ | μ€λΉν©λλ€ | μ€λΉνμλκΉ? |
π§± Tools for Work Talk
1. The formal style β -γ
λλ€/-μ΅λλ€
For statements, attach -γ
λλ€ to a vowel stem and -μ΅λλ€ to a consonant stem: μΌν©λλ€, μμ΅λλ€. For questions, use -γ
λκΉ / -μ΅λκΉ?: 무μμ
λκΉ?, μμ΅λκΉ?. Interviewers also use the honorific form -(μΌ)μλκΉ? to a candidate, and the polite request -(μΌ)μμμ€: μκ°ν΄ μ£Όμμμ€. Describe yourself with the plain -γ
λλ€ form, but never with the honorific -(μΌ)μ-. A stem in γΉ loses it before γ
: μ΄λ€ β μ½λλ€. After a noun, μ
λλ€ replaces μ΄μμ: μ μμ€μ
λλ€. The formal style was previewed in verb tables from Chapter 1 to Chapter 4 of this course.
2. "Be doing" β -κ³ μλ€
Add -κ³ μλ€ to a verb stem for an action in progress or an ongoing state: μΌμ리λ₯Ό μ°Ύκ³ μμ΄μ ("I'm looking for a job"), νκ΅μ΄λ₯Ό λ°°μ°κ³ μμ΅λλ€ ("I'm learning Korean"), μκ°μ κ΄λ¦¬νκ³ μμ΅λλ€. The honorific is -κ³ κ³μλ€. It also describes a state resulting from an action with verbs like μ
λ€ (wear) or μ°λ€ (wear on the head): μ μ₯μ μ
κ³ μμ΄μ means "I'm wearing a suit" (compare μ
μ΄μ, "I put on").
3. "Have done" β -(μΌ)γ΄ μ μ΄ μλ€ / μλ€
To talk about experience, attach -(μΌ)γ΄ μ μ΄ μλ€ ("there has been a time when Iβ¦") or -(μΌ)γ΄ μ μ΄ μλ€ ("I have neverβ¦"). After a vowel stem add -γ΄, after a consonant stem -μ; γΉ stems drop γΉ (μ΄λ€ β μ° μ μ΄ μμ΄μ). Combine with -μ/μ΄ λ³΄λ€ from Chapter 1 for "have tried doing": μΌν΄ λ³Έ μ μ΄ μμ΄μ. The question is β¦ν μ μ΄ μμ΄μ?.
| Pattern | Example | English |
| -κ³ μλ€ | μ§κΈ μ΄λ ₯μλ₯Ό μ°κ³ μμ΄μ. | I'm writing my CV right now. |
| -(μΌ)γ΄ μ μ΄ μλ€ | νκ΅ νμ¬μμ μΌν μ μ΄ μμ΄μ. | I have worked at a Korean company. |
| -(μΌ)γ΄ μ μ΄ μλ€ | λ©΄μ μ λ³Έ μ μ΄ μμ΄μ. | I have never had an interview. |
| -μ/μ΄ λ³Έ μ μ΄ μλ€ | νκ΅μ΄λ‘ λ°νν΄ λ³Έ μ μ΄ μμ΄μ. | I have tried giving a presentation in Korean. |
π Reading β μ½κΈ°: μνΌμ μ¨μ μ·¨μ
μ€λΉ
μνΌμ μ¨μ μ·¨μ
μ€λΉ
μνΌμ μ¨λ νκ΅μμ μΌνκ³ μΆμ΄μ μ·¨μ
μ μ€λΉνκ³ μμ΅λλ€. λνκ΅μμ κ²½μνμ 곡λΆνκ³ , κ³ ν₯μμ μΌ λ
λμ νμ¬μ λ€λ μ μ΄ μμ΅λλ€. μνΌμ μ¨λ λ¨Όμ νκ΅μ΄λ‘ μ΄λ ₯μλ₯Ό μ°κ³ μκΈ°μκ°μλ μ€λΉνμ΅λλ€. κ·Έλ¦¬κ³ μ¬λ¬ νμ¬μ μ§μνμ΅λλ€. μ§λμ£Όμ ν νμ¬μμ λ©΄μ μ°λ½μ λ°μμ΅λλ€. λ©΄μ μ μ μνΌμ μ¨λ μμ μ§λ¬Έμ μ°μ΅νκ³ μμ΅λλ€. νκ΅μ΄λ‘ λ©΄μ μ λ³Έ μ μ μ²μμ΄λΌμ μ’ κ±±μ μ΄ λ©λλ€. νμ§λ§ μ΄μ¬ν μ€λΉν΄μ μ’μ κ²°κ³Όκ° μκΈ°λ₯Ό λ°λλλ€.
Word list: μ·¨μ
(getting a job) Β· κ²½μν (business studies) Β· μμ μ§λ¬Έ (expected questions) Β· κ²°κ³Ό (result) Β· -κΈ°λ₯Ό λ°λΌλ€ (to hope that)
True or false? (λ§μΌλ©΄ O, ν리면 X)
1. μνΌμ μ¨λ νκ΅μμ μΌνκ³ μΆμ΅λλ€.
2. μνΌμ μ¨λ νμ¬μμ μΌν μ μ΄ μμ΅λλ€.
3. μνΌμ μ¨λ νκ΅μ΄λ‘ μ΄λ ₯μλ₯Ό μΌμ΅λλ€.
4. μνΌμ μ¨λ νκ΅μ΄λ‘ λ©΄μ μ λ³Έ μ μ΄ μμ΅λλ€.
Show answers
1. O Β· 2. X (she worked for a year at a company in her home country) Β· 3. O Β· 4. X (it will be her first interview in Korean, μ²μ)
π Vocabulary β μ΄ν
| # | Korean | Say it | English | Type |
| 1 | νμ¬ | hoe-sa | company | noun |
| 2 | μΌμ리 | il-jja-ri | job; position | noun |
| 3 | μ΄λ ₯μ | i-ryeok-sseo | CV; rΓ©sumΓ© | noun |
| 4 | μκΈ°μκ°μ | ja-gi-so-gae-seo | cover letter; personal statement | noun |
| 5 | λ©΄μ | myeon-jeop | interview | noun |
| 6 | κ²½λ ₯ | gyeong-nyeok | career; work experience | noun |
| 7 | κ²½ν | gyeong-heom | experience | noun |
| 8 | μ₯μ | jang-jjeom | strength; good point | noun |
| 9 | λ¨μ | dan-jjeom | weakness; drawback | noun |
| 10 | μκΈ | wol-geup | monthly salary | noun |
| 11 | λΆμΌ | bun-ya | field; area | noun |
| 12 | μ±
μκ° | chae-gim-gam | sense of responsibility | noun |
| 13 | μ§μνλ€ | ji-won-ha-da | to apply | verb |
| 14 | μ€λΉνλ€ | jun-bi-ha-da | to prepare | verb |
| 15 | μΌνλ€ | il-ha-da | to work | verb |
| 16 | λ
Έλ ₯νλ€ | no-ryeo-ka-da | to make an effort | verb |
| 17 | μ
μ¬νλ€ | ip-ssa-ha-da | to join a company | verb |
| 18 | λ¨λ¦¬λ€ | tteol-li-da | to be nervous; to tremble | verb |
| 19 | κΌΌκΌΌνλ€ | kkom-kko-ma-da | to be meticulous | adj |
| 20 | μ΄μ¬ν | yeol-sim-hi | diligently; hard | adverb |
How Korean Job Applications Work (check each employer)
Guides for foreign job seekers describe a typical process at large companies as document screening (the μ΄λ ₯μ and μκΈ°μκ°μ), sometimes an aptitude test, then one or more interview rounds. One guide notes that the application is the most important document you submit. Another says that by law employers with 30 or more regular employees may not require job-irrelevant information on application documents, such as appearance, height, hometown, marital status or family background, but that this covers the documents, not the interview, so personal questions can still come up. Foreign candidates are often asked about their visa type and expiry, their reason for coming to Korea, how long they plan to stay and their level of Korean. Interviewers expect polite language (μ‘΄λλ§). Practices differ by company, so these points are a general picture.
κ·μ¬ and Other Formal Words
In a formal interview or letter you refer to the other company as κ·μ¬ ("your company") and to your own as μ ν¬ νμ¬ ("our company", humble). Use μ ("I", humble) and μ ("my") for yourself, never casual λ. The key is steady politeness: no casual endings, no slang, and an answer that starts with the point.
As Heard in Dramas β λλΌλ§μμ
Office dramas show nervous candidates opening with μ λΆνλ립λλ€ ("I look forward to working with you") and bowing as they leave. A hopeful candidate says μ΅μ μ λ€νκ² μ΅λλ€ ("I will do my very best"). When a character hears ν©κ²©μ
λλ€ ("you passed") or λΆν©κ²© ("failed"), the scene usually cuts to a celebration or a long walk home.
Grammar Pointer
The experience pattern -μ/μ΄ λ³Έ μ μ΄ μλ€ builds on -μ/μ΄ λ³΄λ€ from Korean Basic Conversation 3, Chapter 1 (Buying Clothes), and the reason ending -μ/μ΄μ is from Chapter 3 (Post Office, Bank & Paying Bills). The honorific -(μΌ)μ- is explained in full in Chapter 6 of this course.
βοΈ Try It Yourself β μ°μ΅
Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.
1. Say (everyday polite) "I'm looking for a job these days."
Show answer
μμ¦ μΌμ리λ₯Ό μ°Ύκ³ μμ΄μ.
2. Say (formal) "I'm learning Korean now."
Show answer
μ§κΈ νκ΅μ΄λ₯Ό λ°°μ°κ³ μμ΅λλ€.
3. Say (formal) "I have worked at a software company for two years."
Show answer
μννΈμ¨μ΄ νμ¬μμ μ΄ λ
λμ μΌν μ μ΄ μμ΅λλ€.
4. Say (formal) "I have never had an interview in Korean."
Show answer
νκ΅μ΄λ‘ λ©΄μ μ λ³Έ μ μ΄ μμ΅λλ€.
5. As the interviewer, ask formally "What is your reason for applying?"
Show answer
μ§μν μ΄μ κ° λ¬΄μμ
λκΉ?
6. Tell a friend casually "Tell me as soon as the result comes out!"
Show answer
κ²°κ³Ό λμ€λ©΄ λ°λ‘ μλ € μ€!