South Korean companies are redefining the qualities they seek in employees. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — As the business landscape rapidly evolves and the MZ generation (Millennials and Gen Z) enters the workforce, South Korean companies are redefining the qualities they seek in employees, according to a new survey.
A recent study by career platform Saramin, released on February 20, surveyed 231 companies and found that 58% of respondents reported a shift in their ideal employee profile compared to pre-2020 standards.
Larger companies were more likely to indicate a change, with 70.6% of firms with over 300 employees acknowledging an adjustment, followed by 57.6% of mid-sized firms (100–300 employees) and 56.9% of smaller businesses (fewer than 100 employees).
The primary reason for this shift, cited by half of the respondents (50%), was the differing characteristics of younger generations entering the workforce. Other factors included adapting to a rapidly changing business environment (26.9%), transformations in work methodologies (20.1%), evolving societal and cultural perceptions (18.7%), and shifts in talent management strategies (12.7%).
When asked which attributes have become more critical, companies prioritized ‘responsibility’ (31.3%) and ‘communication skills’ (30.6%). Other sought-after traits included a ‘positive attitude’ (26.1%), ‘organizational adaptability’ (23.1%), ‘expertise’ (23.1%), ‘diligence’ (20.1%), ‘willingness to take on challenges’ (14.9%), ‘consideration for others’ (14.2%), ‘creativity’ (11.9%), and ‘passion’ (11.2%).
The survey also highlighted the significant role of cultural fit in hiring decisions, with 58.2% of companies stating that alignment with their corporate values influences recruitment outcomes.
Nearly 80% of companies admitted to rejecting candidates who met all technical qualifications but did not align with their corporate culture, while 84% acknowledged hiring individuals who were a slightly weaker technical fit but demonstrated strong alignment with their company’s values.
To assess candidates’ cultural compatibility, 70.1% of companies relied on practical interviews. Job postings (64.5%) were the most common medium through which companies conveyed their expectations, followed by official corporate websites (35.5%), informal coffee chats with HR representatives (13.4%), official social media channels (8.2%), and recruitment briefings (4.8%).
Saramin noted that since the 2020s, the pandemic and digital transformation have reshaped work environments, leading to a broader cultural shift within companies. “Organizations increasingly prioritize employees who can contribute immediately and operate independently within their roles,” the report concluded.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
