Fuad J. Al-Fagheeh, who graduated from Seoul National University of Science and Technology recently, has now been employed by SK Engineering & Consulting in South Korea.

A Saudi graduate from a leading university in South Korea has been employed by a top engineering firm in that country.

Fuad J. Al-Fagheeh graduated from Seoul National University of Science and Technology (Seoul Tech) recently and was then employed by SK Engineering & Consulting.

In an interview with Arab News, Al-Fagheeh said he plans to stay in South Korea for a while to develop his skills further. This would allow him to make a greater contribution to the Saudi economy when he eventually returns home, he said.

“If I go back home at this point, I will be just one of several young employees. I believe that my stay here could turn into something special after a couple of years building up my experience in the industry. I want to have a dynamic life filled with different experiences and achievements. This could later be an asset to my home country.”

Al-Fagheeh said he now wants to work in as many departments as he can. This includes being part of the engineering design team and learning about business administration.

In the long term, he wants to bridge the technology gap between Saudi Arabia and South Korea in the field of engineering and industrial development.

About his duties at the firm, he said: “I am part of the control and measurement design team in the chemical plant department. Our team is in charge of establishing a database of suppliers for the purchase of raw materials needed for buildings.”

He said he had a memorable time studying in South Korea. “I took part in an event at the G-20 summit and had the opportunity to represent and introduce my country to the participating nations. I promoted our culture by cooking a few Arabian dishes and distributed flyers and booklets. I received the second-highest mark for the activity and received a certificate from the hosting organization.”

Al-Fagheeh said he struggled initially to adapt to the culture but this became easier over time.

He also had a tough time finding a job. “I applied to several Korean companies. At first, to my surprise, I had to go through three different interviews at a single company.

“You should provide a cover letter outlining what the company can expect from you. You should also have the scores for your language studies. But more importantly, you should promote yourself in an effective way, mentioning clear examples of your achievements and stating your strengths in interpersonal relationships and teamwork.

“You should tell them about things differentiating you from others,” he said.