Starting a Job in Korea With Almost No Handover? Start Here

This article was prepared with AI assistance. Check your workplace's own instructions for the details that apply to your job.

It is your first day at work. Someone gives you a short document and says, "You will figure out the rest as you go." But you do not even know which folder contains the form you need.

If this happens, start with the work in front of you. You can learn the rest of the job gradually. Here are a few questions that can make the first week easier, especially if you are also getting used to working in Korean.

1. Ask what needs to be done this week

Your first question can be simple:

"What do I need to finish this week, and what should I do first?"

Write down the task and its deadline. Also ask whether someone is already waiting for a reply. A customer may be expecting an answer even if there is nothing about it in your handover notes.

If two things are urgent, ask your manager which one comes first. You do not have to work out the team's priorities on your own on day one.

For example, imagine that a report is due on Friday, but a colleague must check it first. Ask when that colleague needs your draft. Your own working deadline may need to be Wednesday. Put both dates in your notes so you do not discover the review step on Friday afternoon, just when you thought the task was finished.

2. Ask for the last completed file

"Can you show me the one you submitted last month?" is often a very useful question.

A completed report shows you what to write, how much detail to include, and what the finished document should look like. Ask for the blank form too, so you can start your own copy.

Check whether that form is still being used. Then ask where the latest files are kept: a shared folder, the company's internal website, or somewhere else.

For example, if you need to prepare monthly expenses, ask for last month's report, the current blank form, and the folder containing the receipts. That is much easier to follow than a long explanation without examples.

3. Watch someone do the task once

If a company system is unfamiliar, ask a colleague to show you the actual screens.

"Could you show me where to click, from opening the form to submitting it?"

Write short notes as you watch: which menu to open, what to enter, and what button finishes the task. Take screenshots if your workplace allows them.

Ask who needs to check the document before you send it. Making the file and sending the final version may be different people's jobs.

If you cannot log in, ask how to get your own account. Do this early so that access does not hold up your first task.

After the demonstration, try doing a practice version while the colleague is still available. You may find that the instructions made sense while watching, but you cannot remember the next button yourself. Ask about that exact step. If possible, save a draft rather than sending a real submission while practising. A few minutes of practice can make the next attempt much less stressful.

4. Put repeated jobs in your calendar

Ask whether anything must be done every month, every quarter, or once a year. Add a reminder before each deadline, leaving enough time to prepare.

You can keep a very small work notebook:

Monthly report Form: shared folder → reports Ask: team leader Before sending: have the figures checked Deadline: confirm the date each month

As you learn, add the missing steps. If your workplace allows AI, you can ask it to turn notes you are permitted to share into a simple checklist. Read the result and correct anything it misunderstood.

5. Keep a short list of unanswered questions

During the day, put non-urgent questions in one note and ask them together when a colleague has time. For example: "Where do I save the finished file?", "Who should receive it?", and "How do I know it was accepted?" Ask immediately if an answer is needed to meet a deadline. At the end of the week, review the list and fill in the answers you have learned.

You do not need a perfect manual on your first day. Knowing what is due, where the files are, and whom to ask is enough to get started. Those small notes can also become a much better handover for the next person.

You may also like

• "Please Review This": What Should You Actually Do at Work in Korea?
• Korean Workplace Culture: What Foreigners Should Know About Office Etiquette
• Korean Office Messenger Culture: Why Your Team Lead Uses KakaoTalk Even When Slack Is Installed