Financial Sector Job Fair Opens... Keywords: 'Practical Skills, Experience, Work-Life Balance'

Held over two days under the theme "Youth Dreams Opened by Finance"
Conducted video interviews, recruitment consultations, briefings, and consulting
Bank hiring values job-related practical skills over 'specs'
Current employees also promoted "Life with Evenings" firsthand

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-seop] The 'Joint Financial Sector Recruitment Fair,' involving 55 financial companies and over 15,000 job seekers, has officially opened. Financial sector recruiters emphasized practical skills and experience related to the job rather than unnecessary credentials. To appeal to the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), who prioritize work-life balance (WLB), they actively promoted solid welfare benefits and progressive corporate cultures.

The fair, held under the theme "Youth Dreams, Finance Opens the Way" on the 8th, will be conducted online and non-face-to-face over two days. The event, which started at 10 a.m., includes an opening ceremony, video interviews, recruitment consultations, job briefings, and employment consulting, continuing until 5 p.m. Participants can also join a talk concert featuring current bank employees.

Kim Kwang-soo, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Banks, emphasized in his opening remarks, "The financial sector will discover new jobs suited to the changing financial environment," adding, "We will continue efforts to create jobs in the real economy through financial support." Yoon Jae-ok, Chairman of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, who gave the congratulatory speech, stated, "If the government and the entire financial sector work together to increase youth employment, the recruited young talents will become the driving force for the development of the financial industry, leading corporate growth and creating a virtuous cycle of employment."

Promotional Video for Joint Recruitment Fair in the Financial Sector

The financial industry that attracted the most attention from job seekers was undoubtedly the commercial banks. The competition rate for entry into the five major banks?KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, Hana, and NH Nonghyup?remains around 100 to 200 applicants per position. Most commercial banks showed a preference for practical talents related to the job through their online corporate information centers. Major banks are already implementing rigorous blind recruitment processes to exclude unnecessary credentials and personal information.

At Kookmin Bank, after document screening, candidates take a written test evaluating basic job skills and in-depth job knowledge for the general track. IT and data positions also require an online coding test. In the first interview stage, candidates must undergo presentations, sales interviews, and practical interviews related to the recruitment job.

Shinhan Bank advises applicants to effectively express their capabilities in their documents and states that understanding the relevant job group is essential in the three-stage job suitability interviews. Nonghyup Bank also assesses applicants' communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and information skills through job competency evaluations. Notably, questions about understanding agriculture and rural areas are included, and different questions are given depending on the application field.

Experience Over 'Specs': "Apply Because You Can Have an Evening Life"

The trend has shifted from focusing on credentials to emphasizing experience. Hana Bank, through its 'Small Tips for Each Recruitment Stage,' advised, "Even if your experiences are not flashy, if you have gained something, consider whether they align with the company's talent values and core principles." Woori Bank guides applicants to express their willingness to join and interest in the company during both document screening and interviews.

One of the events at the 2021 Financial Sector Joint Recruitment Fair, the 'Current Employees Talk Concert.' Representatives from Woori Bank, NH Nonghyup Bank, and IBK Industrial Bank are explaining about recruitment and corporate culture.

At the current employee talk concert, bank employees actively promoted welfare benefits and work-life balance. For MZ generation applicants, having an 'evening life' is as important a value as high salaries and growth potential.

A Hana Bank participant said, "If you choose an exercise like Pilates or golf, the company supports monthly fitness expenses," adding, "Due to the PC off system at 6 p.m., employees must automatically leave work, ensuring work-life balance." A Kookmin Bank official explained, "Most employees leave after 6 p.m., to the extent that managers ask if there is more work to do today."

There was also a noticeable emphasis on strict blind recruitment and encouragement for active applications. A Nonghyup Bank official who appeared at the talk concert said, "There was even a 42-year-old among the recruits," and added, "Since age is not entered during recruitment, please apply without hesitation."

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