"No Academic Background, Language Skills, or Certifications Needed"…Financial Companies Recruit Liberal Arts Talent Differently

Practical Skills and Financial Literacy More Important Than SKY Universities
Financial Companies Strictly Apply 'Blind' Hiring
Non-Majors and No-Spec Job Seekers Entering Financial Firms
Interviewers Also Prefer "Practical Verification Over Abstract Questions"

Kim Chi-hwan (29, pseudonym) applied for and passed the regional agricultural cooperative general staff level 6 recruitment held in the first half of this year. When he graduated from a junior college non-major department, his GPA was below 3.0. Although his so-called ‘specs’ were lacking compared to other applicants, he developed financial literacy by repeatedly reading finance textbooks and envelope mock exams. Kim stated, "The blind recruitment was so thorough that everyone was evaluated equally based on ability, regardless of the level of their specs."

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] As the financial sector recruitment fair is underway, the trend of ‘de-spec’ hiring in the financial industry is gradually intensifying. The practice of applying blind recruitment but effectively only hiring SKY (Seoul National University, Korea University, Yonsei University) graduates is also disappearing. Some places conduct interviews like selling products on-site. Financial companies, traditionally known for emphasizing academic background, language skills, and certifications, are now carefully assessing practical skills and financial understanding.

According to the financial sector on the 19th, recently, so-called ‘non-major and no-spec’ job seekers have been entering the industry. This is the result of financial companies strictly implementing blind recruitment and consecutively announcing large-scale recruitment notices in the first half of this year. On a financial job seeker community with 540,000 members, posts such as "They neither asked for nor considered certifications or language study abroad experience" are appearing.

NH Nonghyup Bank, which announced a new employee recruitment of about 340 people in February, is considered a financial company that strictly enforces blind recruitment. During open recruitment, writing information unrelated to practical skills such as name and alma mater is prohibited. Disadvantages are given if such information is revealed in self-introductions or interviews.

KB Kookmin Bank and Woori Bank conducted role-playing interviews during last year’s second half recruitment process. This was to evaluate practical financial product understanding, customer service skills, and quick thinking rather than abstract abilities. Although the products were virtual, tasks included somewhat complicated products such as savings insurance and loans, as well as deposits and trusts (funds). The method was conducted as if selling products to actual customers.

Interviewers also say "Verifying practical skills instead of abstract questions"

As a result, financial talents who scored high in practical skills are passing one after another even without specs. Yang Jung-woo (36, pseudonym), who recently passed NH Nonghyup Bank’s new employee recruitment, is older than typical new employees but scored high in the finance job’s economic-related part. Although he is a non-major and worked for 6 years and 6 months at a general company, it did not hinder his acceptance.

Park Seon-yang (28, pseudonym), who graduated from a non-metropolitan university, passed both KB Kookmin Bank and Woori Bank in the second half of last year without language scores or certifications. Park studied the structure of deposits, funds, and loan products sold by the two banks one by one. Park answered, "Although the products were virtual, I was able to quickly understand them in the interview because I studied the actual products."

Interviewers participating in evaluations are also tending to ask practical questions rather than abstract ones. A financial sector official explained, "Now, questions like whether you have tried something before are rarely asked. Instead, practical questions such as what you would do if money is short during settlement are mainly asked."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.