Breaking Down POSCO Experienced Hiring... Prepare for Corporate Citizenship and History

Need to Prepare for History Essay Exam
Also Need to Study Macroeconomic Trends

Manager Lee Eun-chan (left), Manager Seo Jeong-hyun (center), and Manager Jang Su-young (right) shared memorable episodes from the POSCO Group career interview process.

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] POSCO Group is continuously recruiting experienced professionals in new growth areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), environment, and secondary batteries. Here, we introduce valuable POSCO career interview tips based on the experiences of actual career hires.

◆ Why POSCO? Answer Specifically... Be Sure to Prepare Questions Related to the 'Corporate Citizenship' Management Philosophy

It goes without saying that the question "Why did you apply to POSCO?" will definitely come up. POSCO is the only one among Korea’s top 10 companies that is not an owner-operated company. Since its establishment in 1968, it has led the Korean economy with the management philosophy of "Steel for the Nation." One POSCO executive said, "Our colleagues share a strong pride in working not for an individual (owner) but for the country." Therefore, it is advantageous for each applicant to prepare specific reasons why POSCO is indispensable, including its history and differentiators.

In particular, questions and answers related to "Corporate Citizenship" must be prepared without fail. "Corporate Citizenship" is a management philosophy newly declared by POSCO in 2018. This is the first time in half a century that POSCO’s management philosophy has changed. POSCO is recently expanding businesses related to Corporate Citizenship and is actively engaging in various related activities. This year, POSCO launched a dedicated "Corporate Citizenship" website. It is advantageous to review the related information on the website in advance before the interview.

The POSCO Electrical & Electronics Marketing Cold Rolling Sales Group conducted a history essay test before the interview. Considering POSCO’s history, this is not unusual. POSCO is the first blast furnace steelmaker established for the development of the Korean economy. It is natural to require basic knowledge not only about POSCO but also about Korean history from both new and experienced applicants.

Jang Soo-young, Manager of the Electrical & Electronics Marketing Cold Rolling Sales Group, said, "To make the most of the limited preparation time, I read youth-friendly Korean history books that explain things simply, organized major events, and supplemented the details. On the actual interview day, the topics I had prepared extensively came up, so I was able to describe them without hesitation."

◆ Personality Matters Too... Keep Up with Macro Trends Like the US-China Trade Dispute and Mobility

Also, POSCO places great importance on personality when hiring experienced professionals. One frequently asked question during interviews is "Have you recently participated in volunteer activities?" In fact, POSCO ranks among the top groups in terms of volunteer hours per employee among large corporations. They conduct various volunteer activities not only through social organizations but also in local communities such as Pohang and Gwangyang.

Lee Eun-chan, Manager of the Structural Materials Marketing Office Structural Materials Solutions Group, who succeeded in career recruitment, said, "Even though it was a career interview, I felt that personality aspects were highly emphasized, and I also sensed that Corporate Citizenship was highly valued."

Along with job expertise, POSCO also requires knowledge related to macroeconomic trends. The POSCO Research Institute regularly addresses global economic issues concerning China, the United States, India, and others, which aligns with this requirement. Since about half of POSCO’s sales come from exports and it competes in the global market, understanding macroeconomic trends is essential. China, in particular, is one of the most important overseas subsidiaries, but the business atmosphere has changed compared to the past due to the US-China trade dispute.

Manager Jang said, "Questions about China/Hong Kong included 'Why has the sharing economy developed faster and more extensively in China?' and 'Who is the most respected figure among Chinese people?' Since this was a position to hire a regional expert, there were many questions to check how much the candidate knows about the region’s economy, culture, and trends."

Additionally, advice was given that applicants benefit from approaching the interview with sincerity. Manager Lee said, "I think the key was analyzing whether the conditions POSCO requires matched me and expressing that specifically, and also avoiding technical jargon in my explanations."

Manager Jang emphasized, "It is important to confidently and positively show the prepared content and my ‘true self.’ In my case, at the end of the interview, I reiterated to the interviewers any answers I felt were insufficient and emphasized my thoughts, which seemed to be viewed positively."

[Reference: POSCO - 'Melting Pot,' Genuine POSCO Stories Told by Experienced Employees]