"Can You Take All My Employment Assets?"... 27-Year-Old Woman Who Went from Internship to Employment to Industry-Academic Professor

Son Yerim, Graduate of Dongmyeong University Department of Visual Design

Early Employment Success at Internship Company During Studies

Mentoring Juniors as 'Industry Professor' Three Years After Graduation

The 27-year-old woman said she wants to become a "frog that remembers its tadpole days."

Now, as an industry professor who works as an employee in a company while coaching her juniors at her alma mater on their career paths, her words carry weight. She said she would revive the memories of struggling to become a frog by growing legs and pass on practical job experience to the "tadpoles."

She is Son Yerim, team leader of Design Y (CEO Lee Hyunjin), who participated in Dongmyung University's unique program called Double Mentoring. As an industry professor, she is leading her juniors in their job search.

As a senior who succeeded in early employment before graduation through corporate field training during her university days, she is now ready to generously share the assets she accumulated by experiencing corporate work and workplace culture with her juniors.

Son Yerim (left), who appeared as a mountain school professor at her alma mater, and Professor Kim Jaeik of Dongmyung University.

Son, who was a student in the Visual Design Department at Dongmyung University until three years ago, is mentoring juniors in the department this year along with Professor Kim Jaeik through Double Mentoring. After early employment at the company where she did her field training, she has appeared before her juniors as an "industry professor" after three years.

Son received high praise during a two-month field training at the design specialist company Cremant Co., Ltd. in 2020 when she was a senior, and was hired early by the company in October 2020, six months before graduation.

She then moved to a subsidiary in April 2021 and was promoted to team leader. Starting this year, she decided to address the concerns of five mentee students (two juniors and three seniors) with customized solutions. She will continue her activities as an industry professor at Dongmyung University until November.

Son said, "I also served as the head of the publicity department of the student council during my studies, so I remember well the many concerns and interests of the 'tadpoles' (current students). I want to become a frog who truly helps those like my old self."

Lee Hyunjin, CEO of Design Y, praised her, saying, "She was recognized for her abilities by learning and practicing work alongside employees during the two months of full-time field training, and it is very admirable that she has stepped up as an industry professor for her juniors after employment and promotion."

Professor Kim Jaeik said, "The fruits of her faithful participation in field training will create a virtuous cycle in the employment chain through Double Mentoring. We will also consider having such seniors participate in the 'Industry-Academia Convergence Course,' a 3-credit curriculum program, in the upcoming second semester."

Director Shin Dongseok said, "The results of Double Mentoring, which started as a non-curricular program in 2014, are growing steadily. Last year, a curricular program was also established, and currently, about 120 teams are participating."

Dongmyung University's Double Mentoring is a specialized program where professors and industry employees serving as industry professors jointly mentor enrolled students to guide their career paths and employment. This multifaceted mentoring provides students with various information and advice that are hard to obtain on campus, helping them thrive.