Customized Job Support for Young Applicants
The Customized and job competence-based employment programs of Chonnam National University (CNU) are showing results. All the students that CNU has recommended have been selected as apprentice 7th grade civil servants for two years, and about 95 students per year are guaranteed jobs through industry customized education programs in recent years. Last September, CNU’s employment supporting activities focused on improving students’ job capability and was also selected as the best example by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. This means that CNU has a distinguished employment support capacity even though the employment rate of CNU is a little lower than that of other national universities.
In case of the 7th grade civil servant program, CNU selected five students for the position this year and provided them with intensive interviewing and pre-job training services. They prepared for the potential employment systematically and developed their employability skills through the program, so they were able to achieve a good result. This is a good example of helping students to successfully find employment through job training programs based on the needs of individual students.
To stand out in a competitive job market, students have to be provided with customized career guidance and development programs that best fit their specific needs for employment. The Institute for Adaptable Interdisciplinary Education (IAIE) at CNU manages various employment support programs for students at different levels, from freshmen to seniors. It is important for students to take a career aptitude test and find out the right job first, then students can map out their future career path from the beginning. Oh Myung-geun (Team Leader of the Center for Career Development at IAIE) said, "Get past your job search fears and just think of it as a transition, like middle school to high school and high school to university. Also, to know your ideal career is important so that you can prepare for it thoroughly."
'Employment Ace' helps students self explore and career explore, job search and prepare for finding jobs in small or major companies in groups by organizing members who are suitable for each other. Every college runs a similar program named 'Employment Group' for juniors and seniors and provides information about the company where students want to enter. Students who participate in the program take a career test and meet alumnus who got jobs and listen to their stories from job preparation through to career achievement. Also, there is a program for students who passed the application phase of a certain company to do a mock job interview and experience the atmosphere of a job interview in advance. Jeong Soo-jeong (Junior, Department of Clothing & Textiles) said, "I attended the woman leader program and learned which applicants the companies want to recruit. I know how important the leader's role in the collaboration relationship because of this group’s program." Every college operates 'Job Roadmap' for lower grade students. In this program, students can explore their aptitude and career, and also draw their own career road map. Furthermore, the IAIE is running other employment support programs for students’ capability improvement, such as one-on-one counseling for students’ futures and a regular course named ”Life and Career Research”. Lee Deuk-yeon (Member of The Center for Future Planning Team at IAIE) said, "It is important for a student to find her/his own purpose from the lower grades. Attending many employment programs from that time will be helpful for her/his future. Also, we will keep managing the programs in the best way."
Even though CNU has been doing their best, the employment rate of CNU has decreased a little. The employment rate was 49.6 percent in 2011, 48 percent in 2012 and in 2013, it is 47.5 percent. A member of IAIE explained, "Maybe it is because most students prefer big companies to start-up or small companies. As a result, after graduation, students tend to spend two or three years preparing employment." However, the university has to provide students systemic career path development and job competence enhancement services. It would be the most effective to increase the employment rate, especially if based on an individual student’s specific needs. We hope that all CNUians have a fruitful school life and prepare well for their own promising future!
By Lee Su-jung, Tribune Reporter
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