Background: I work as a Software Engineer in South Korea through a program known as SIP1 (Skilled Industrial Personnel). It's a highly selective program where Korean males who must serve a mandatory military duty for two years can instead opt to work for IT companies that contribute to the national defense for three years. Under this program, I am given one opportunity to move to another company. Because I am dissatisfied with work here and get paid minimum wage, I'd like to apply to other companies but there are several difficulties in doing so:
- The program legally requires me to work from 9 to 6 everyday2, and I am not allowed to miss work except for medical reasons or unless if my boss specifically allows me to. There's absolutely no question that my boss will not allow me to miss work for me to go to interviews.
- I'm an indispensable member of this company not necessarily because I'm competent, but I'm the oldest employee around who knows the system inside out and there's only four employees working here.
Last week, I just saw an opening for a dream company I'd really like to work for and applied to it. They are calling me in for a coding test and an interview on a weekday. I'm genuinely considering about getting an injury intentionally to be on a medical leave or lie about one of my family passing away to take this opportunity.
You might say "Be honest and mention this issue to the boss", but I think this would be excessively naive. There's a lot of criticism in SIP because the very nature of this program gives huge leverage to business owners to be as abusive as possible to their workers, because you'll be sent off to the military and start all over if things go very wrong. Given my status and the situation of my company, my boss will without a doubt do everything possible from letting me go.
I've been here for almost two years and I get three vacation days per year, which have already been used. I believe if I were to miss work with an unauthorized absence I am allowed two strikes(instances) or so before my program is terminated and I'm forced off to the military, starting my time all over
Given this grim situation, how does one tactfully apply to other companies?
1. http://askakorean.blogspot.kr/2009/03/military-service-series-part-i.html
2. But practically speaking, I almost always work overtime