Bangsuyeon Headhunt CEO "Jobs? Seize Opportunities with 'Metaverse'"

Diagnosis of Changes in Industrial Structure and Hiring Environment in the Non-Face-to-Face Era
Digitalization Across All Industries...Prepare According to Characteristics of Video Interviews
Stronger Preference for Experienced Workers...Coordination with Headhunters is Important

"As the digital and contactless economy accelerates, there is an increasing demand for recruitment in metaverse-related positions. Companies are slimming down their organizational size and showing a stronger preference for experienced professionals who are proficient in their work."

Bang Su-yeon, a first-generation headhunter in Korea and CEO of Headhunt (pictured), diagnosed the changes in corporate structure and the recruitment market triggered by COVID-19 in an interview with Asia Economy on the 27th. The most noticeable change is the activation of non-face-to-face interviews. CEO Bang said, "From the job seeker's perspective, the constraints of time and space have been reduced, increasing opportunities to attend interviews," adding, "Experienced job seekers who were not familiar with video interviews are gradually adapting." However, she noted, "There are limits to confirming a person's overall energy or vibe through video interviews alone," and said, "The ability to appeal one's strengths and capabilities in a non-face-to-face interview situation will be highlighted."

With the digitalization of all industrial sectors, convergence with various technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and blockchain has become an essential requirement, and interest in the bio and pharmaceutical industries has greatly increased. CEO Bang said, "In the metaverse world that has already arrived, if one has even a little interest and passion, there could be more opportunities than before," and predicted, "The importance of professional headhunters who can provide delicate coordination and strategic consulting in the recruitment process for experienced and executive-level positions will continue."

CEO Bang holds leadership positions in two companies. Leveraging her experience as an interpreter for foreign delegations during the 1988 Seoul Olympics, she established the translation company ‘Korangs’ in 1993, and feeling the need for core corporate talent, she founded ‘Headhunt’ in 1999. Headhunt provided headhunting services when Google Korea and Vivendi Universal Games (now Blizzard Korea) entered the Korean market in the early 2000s. Initially, the main clients were game companies, online portals, and promising venture companies, but now the scope has expanded to all industrial sectors including IT, automotive, distribution, and manufacturing. CEO Bang also personally conducts reemployment lectures, resume writing and interview skills support, and career-related consulting.

She mentioned the seriousness of youth unemployment, saying, "Recently, except for large corporations and some mid-sized groups, new hires are gradually decreasing." She also explained, "The number of skilled developers does not meet market demand," adding, "The growth rate of personnel with new technologies is not keeping pace with the speed of service changes."

To reduce this gap, she said roles are needed not only from job seekers but also from universities, companies, and the government. She advised, "Universities should revise lecture curricula to keep up with rapidly changing trends, and the government should support with flexible yet wise policies. Job seekers need to adjust their expectations of companies and have an attitude to gain experience, and companies should introduce evaluation systems focused on job suitability and capabilities rather than just credentials."

CEO Bang emphasized, "After 22 years in the headhunting business, having gone through various ups and downs, what I have realized is that 'people are the answer,'" stressing, "It is important to work with people who have good character and capabilities." Finally, she stated, "No matter how much the AI field advances, ultimately, it is people who create everything, so through headhunting, we will find that core value," and added, "We will continue sustainable management centered on values that benefit people and the world."