"Uncomfortable with the Trend of Non-Face-to-Face Hiring"... Job Seekers Cry While Job Changers Smile

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[Asia Economy Reporters Jang Sehee and Gong Byungseon]"Where is a good place to have a Zoom video call?" "Is there a place to rent for video interview locations?" "My cat cries every day at home, so I have to go outside. Please recommend a suitable place for video interviews in Sillim-dong."

Recently, numerous inquiries related to non-face-to-face recruitment have been posted online. As non-face-to-face recruitment expands due to COVID-19, job seekers and those changing jobs are experiencing mixed feelings.

According to industry sources on the 28th, most companies are conducting all stages of recruitment through 'non-face-to-face recruitment.' Samsung Group, which closed its recruitment application on the 21st, was also confirmed to have conducted all stages non-face-to-face. A Samsung Group official told Asia Economy, "From document submission to online aptitude tests and non-face-to-face interviews, the entire process is conducted remotely." Platform company Market Kurly has also been conducting non-face-to-face interviews since spring 2020.

According to a survey by Saramin targeting 386 companies, 45.1% have implemented or plan to implement non-face-to-face recruitment. Among non-face-to-face recruitment methods, video interviews (82.8%) were the most common, followed by online aptitude tests (23%), online job tests (13.2%), artificial intelligence (AI) interviews (12.1%), and online briefings (9.8%).

However, opinions differ between job seekers and those changing jobs. Lee (23), preparing for a job in the financial sector, said, "I have heard a lot about connection errors during non-face-to-face interviews, so I feel very anxious," adding, "I'm worried that if a problem occurs momentarily, it might leave a bad impression on the interviewers." He also said, "There are too many inconveniences, but since this has become the trend, I think I need to find ways to adapt."

Office worker Park (27) said, "Thanks to non-face-to-face interviews, I was able to attend interviews even when I had COVID-19, but unlike face-to-face interviews, it often felt like I was just reading what I had prepared," adding, "It was hard to gauge the atmosphere since we were not in the same space." Most job seekers also pointed out that vulnerability to unexpected situations such as screen freezing and speaker malfunctions is a downside of non-face-to-face recruitment.

On the other hand, those changing jobs generally preferred non-face-to-face recruitment, which is free from time and location constraints. Kim (34), employed at one of Hyundai's affiliates, said, "It was convenient to attend interviews without taking leave," but added, "However, I couldn't fully express my charm, and it was disappointing not to experience the company atmosphere in person." Oh (37), working at an electronics company in Cheonan, said, "I went to a nearby study cafe during lunch break to attend the interview," adding, "I was less nervous than in face-to-face interviews and spoke more coherently than usual."

Meanwhile, the job market is improving due to industrial digital transformation and strong exports. The number of employed people last month increased by 1,037,000 compared to the same period last year, marking a two-year consecutive increase of over one million.

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