Korea Endless Internship-Job Hunting Circumstances That Continue to Overheat-June 28, 14:32

"When I fell into internships one after another, I became mentally unstable."

A 21-year-old Korean female college student who speaks like this.

So far, I have applied for more than 10 companies, but many of them failed to participate in the selection process.

That's why she still has to stick to the internship.

It is Korea's endless competition.

(International Department Reporter Kim Tomohide)

An intern who is advantageous for finding employment in a large company

Mr. Chan Cherin

"I actually started this internship because of the experience of learning the contents of my work, but I feel like I have to keep doing it in order to improve my" specs "."

This is what Chan Cherin, 21, says.

I'm a third year student at a famous women's university in Seoul, South Korea, and now I'm taking a leave of absence to concentrate on job hunting.

There is a reason for her to find a job until she takes a leave of absence.

It is the job hunting situation in Korea, which is said to be harsh.

It is said that it is difficult to get a job at a large company even after graduating from a "prestigious university" because the number of large companies is limited while the rate of going to university is high in Korea.

In order to get a job at a large company, it is necessary to have a track record called "specs" such as "highly educated", and in fact, it seems that job hunting starts from the first year of university.

It is said that the "specs" evaluated in job hunting are mainly as follows.

The main contents of the "spec"

, academic background or have graduated from any university

have a high score or the like, English TOEIC

results in-grade university excellence or

internships in and companies

such as and overseas experience study abroad experience or some

such, outside the university in activities participation experience for students program of companies

Among them, one of the "specs" that has recently been emphasized mainly by large companies is said to be an "intern" at a company.

Even though it is an intern, the maximum magnification is 200 times!

??

However, this intern has also become more competitive over the last few years, making it difficult to participate.

According to experts, the maximum internship rate of a Korean private company is over 200 times.

Furthermore, as the selection of internships intensifies, it is said that companies have recently been required to submit what is called "visualization of abilities" = "portfolio".

It is said that each company has to summarize their abilities such as off-campus activities and qualifications in materials, and the burden of activities to enrich this "portfolio" is heavy.

Mr. Chan applied for internships at more than 10 companies in about a year, but only two companies were able to participate.

I feel that I was faced with a harsh reality before job hunting, which is directly linked to hiring.

Mr. Chan Cherin

"I searched for internships to improve my practical skills in the field of the company, but I fell one after another. At that time, I felt helpless and impatient, and became mentally unstable."

How many companies should I participate in the internship?

Even if I can finally join the intern, that is not the end.

Mr. Chan took a leave of absence at the end of his second year of college and joined an intern in charge of marketing at a company that operates a major employment information site.

There, I learned the actual work experience and what is necessary for practical work.

However, when he saw acquaintances participating in the internship many times, he felt impatient and had to continue to be selected.

Also, in Korea, internships are long and last for more than half a year, so it is normal to take a leave of absence from university before selection.

Mr. Chan is currently participating in the second internship and has already taken a year off from college for a total of one year, which is a heavy burden.

And I'm worried about how many more internships I should participate in and how much I should raise the "specs" in order to be hired by the company I want.

Mr. Chan Cherin

"In order to get a job, you have to raise the'specs', but if everyone experiences the internship in the same way, doing the internship itself will not be a special spec. But I can't stop because everyone is doing it to raise the "specs". "

Why internships are important

Why is internship so important in Korea?

Jung Yo-nu of Incroot, the operator of the Korean employment information site, cites the fact that the number of companies that are introducing “always hiring” is increasing, especially among large companies.

"Always hiring" means hiring only the required number of people at the required time, as opposed to the "regular hiring" that is mainly used in Japan.

Mr. Chung points out that in the fierce competition with companies around the world, there is a growing tendency for human resources who are ready to work and those with social experience to have an advantage in hiring.

Mr. Jung Yeon-woo

"There are many students who think that one internship experience is not enough as a" spec "and try many times. Some internships can systematically learn practical work, Many of them end up with simple tasks. Therefore, I feel that the "specs" are not enough, and I apply for another intern to solve it. This causes excessive competition. "

Endless intern

An endless internship happening in Korea.

And the harsh job hunting that awaits you.

Japan on the other hand.

Until now, many companies have positioned internships as a place for work experience, saying that "interns have nothing to do with hiring."

However, in April, Keidanren and the university council, which had been discussing the ideal way of job hunting for students, positioned the intern as an activity for students to actually get a job in the workplace, and companies are also considering recruitment selection. We have compiled a report that we should be able to make an evaluation.

Ask Japanese university students about these movements.

"I can't miss the opportunity to be an intern, and I can't help

myself.

"

"If

you don't

acquire the skills from the first year of college

, you won't be

able to make it in time, and preparations for job hunting will be quicker and faster."

There were a series of uneasy voices that could lead to a longer job hunting.

Regarding this situation in Japan, Kim Myung-jun, a senior researcher at the Nisseikiso Research Institute, who is familiar with employment policies in Japan and South Korea, points out as follows.

Senior Researcher Kim Myung-jun

"I think there is a high possibility that even in Japan, we will develop practical skills as an intern and hire excellent human resources. As it becomes more important, students will also be required to have skills tailored to the company. It is necessary to recognize that the hiring method is changing and prepare to improve the skills as soon as possible. There is. "

As I proceeded with the interview this time, I felt that the endless internship competition and job hunting competition in South Korea would no longer be a matter of concern.

I would like to continue to cover how the movements regarding job hunting and internships will change as global competition among companies continues to progress.

International Department Reporter

Kim Tomohide

Joined in 2014

After working at Fukuoka Bureau

, covered the situation on the Korean Peninsula

from 2019.