I've never seen anybody posted about a Korean entertainment company job interview before in English, and since I had the chance to experience one, I decided to write this to share!
We have LinkedIn or Jobstreet in Malaysia as a widely used job searching platform. Similar to that, Korea has their own too, namely Saramin 사람인, Jobkorea 잡코리아, Incruit 인크루트, Jobplanet 잡플레네트 or even Albamon 알바몬 that specifically cater to only part time jobs. Once you upload/create your resume, self-introduction/cover letter and portfolio on your account, with just a click of the "Apply" button, you can submit your application easily to different vacancies.
Before I further share my experience, I would like to say that job application in Korea is somewhat slightly different than Malaysia. It is tougher I would say, in my experience. Not because of the language but the whole recruiting process. In Malaysia, normally once you apply for a job, you would have an interview with the General Manager or HR or Hiring Manager. And that's it! Just one interview. 2 at most if your position is a higher one.
In Korea, it is quite standard to go through these 4 basic process.
Screening of documents 서류전형
First round interview 1차 면접
Second round interview 2차 면접
Final successful candidate notice 최종합격
Above are only the basic ones, as for some job vacancy, there are possible stages like board interview 임원 면접, personality tests 인적성검사, language ability test 어학 테스트, exam 필기시험 or presentation 발표 too.
I took the courage to apply to a few entertainment companies through those platforms and was lucky enough to get interviewed by one of the big entertainment company that I really liked 10 years back, Cube Entertainment.
I submitted my application on November 15th, 4 days after the vacancy post was published. My application was then read by the company 2 days after on November 17th. I got a notification that my application has been opened by the company but I didn't pay much attention to it because my application always get open but companies never contact back (it is very common LOL). A day after the the vacancy post is due, I got a call at around 2pm from an unknown mobile number.
Usually I don't take calls if I don't know the caller but I don't know why it felt different...So I picked up the call and he greeted me and said he is calling from Cube Entertainment. The moment I heard that I just sat straight up from my bed with my trembling hands trying to hold my phone tight. He ask if I have applied for a position at Cube Entertainment and if I am willing to come down to the company for interview 4 days later. I mean, hell yeahh? LOL I said yes (very politely because I was speechless and stunned). After the call, he messaged me with the interview details through text. In other words, I've passed the document screening round and I will be joining the first round interview.
At first, the interview was supposed to be on November 30th (Mon) but they decided to postpone it a week later because COVID-19 was getting worse that weekend. That same week on Thursday, I got a call saying that interview has been rescheduled to December 9th (Wed) and he ask if I am available on that day. Again, I mean, hell yeahh? LOL
It is my first official permanent employment interview in Korea, in a big company, so I was really really nervous. Couldn't sleep for days! A few research online didn't make me feel less nervous because it is said to be a 2:1 interview. 2 interviewees and 1 interviewer, meaning you have your competitor sitting beside you, listening to what you sell in the interview and will try to beat you to get the job. I mean, how scary is that?
I did some research on Cube Entertainment and its artists, and also tried to draft and practice answering a few questions that they might ask during interview based on my resume.
On interview day, I wore my formal attire with my long padding and headed out. Cube Entertainment is located at Seongsu station, a mere 300m distance from exit 1. Cube's cafe, also known as Cubaker, is located at the Ground floor. It felt so surreal to see the building itself.
I went up to the directed floor and was escorted to a waiting room. I met the applicant who would be doing the interview with me in the meeting room. We greeted each other and fixed our makeup because of the face mask LOL
The interview started on time. We were escorted to a large meeting room with 3 interviewers waiting inside. I thought there were going to be only 1 interviewer, so seeing 3 was scary. The interview started with some simple self-introduction. And yes, the whole interview was in Korean.
There were some common questions asked and some questions directed to both of us separately according to our background and what we have in our resume. Do note that the interviewers will ask you questions based on your own resume and your experiences. For me, some of the questions asked were:
What kind of blogs do I write, view stats
How good is my communication skills
Level of all my language ability
What are my duties in Student Council and what are the SNS platforms for
How long do I plan to stay in Korea? Any thoughts of returning to Malaysia?
Reason of job change
My understanding of Korean work culture and company organization
When can I start work? What visa do I hold?
Any questions? Any last words?
I am sure there are some questions that I don't recall because there were so many questions asked I lost track of some and probably couldn't answer it well too so it just disappear from my memory :(
The interview took around 40mins. All 3 interviewers took turn to ask questions. I don't know what is the reason of them deciding that the other applicant should be the one to answer all questions first, and I will answer after her. But I'm glad cause it gave me some time to think and reconstruct my not perfect Korean before I blurt anything out. In the middle of the interview, one interviewer passed us a bottle of water and ask us to calm down LOL
I don't think I did very well, it could be better. But it was my first interview and I tried my best. The applicant beside me was applying as an experienced applicant 경력 (meaning that she has working experience, but not necessarily in the same field), while I was applying as a fresh graduate 신입 (without official permanent employment experience in Korea). I hope they see how much I want this opportunity and how much I can contribute to the company, and hopefully they will give me a chance for second round interview soon.
The directory of the building in the elavator. I think the name of the cafe was 20 SPACE before it was changed to Cubaker.
I came home, still stunned and stabbing myself whenever I thought of a question that I should have answered better... But I guess I couldn't do anything anymore and just hope for the best. I hadn't had the appetite to eat anything since morning so I made myself my current favorite dish - 마라샹궈 and gave myself a pat at the back.
Update
So, around 4 days after my interview, Cube Entertainment called me and notified that I have passed the interview and they are offering the position to me. There wasn't a second interview like I thought it would have based on the job posting.
I still couldn't believe that a normal student like me, without any professional help on job hunting could actually land a job on my own, aced interview on my own and proceed to get hired by a kinda-big-kinda-famous company in Korea. I'm sure a lot of people reading this is as excited as I am to be hired by Cube Entertainment. I guess this truly proved that nothing is impossible! I wouldn't have believed myself if a future me were to tell me that I would be hired by Cube Entertainment a month ago.
Pursue your dreams! Even impossible says I'm possible! :D
It didn't hit me until I brought this back home and stare at it for 10mins straight
My first day at work, 20% excited, 20% nervous, 20% lost, 20% hungry, 20% laughing nervously
I went to a cafeteria that Cube Entertainment provides for all the employees to have lunch at. It is free! And it is buffet style! The food wasn't spectacular but it definitely calmed my very grumpy stomach on the first day. The mains were vegetable curry and rice, with side dish of salads, roasted potatoes (very very nice), pork cutlet (very very nice too), kimchi and soybean paste soup.
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