[K-Women Talk] Your Expertise Level in 2025 and the Qualities of a 'True Expert'

60% of Office Workers Say "I'm an Expert"
Most Base Their Claim on Industry Experience
Building Genuine Skills Is What Matters

According to a survey conducted a few years ago by Saramin, 6 out of 10 office workers consider themselves experts, indicating that the majority of employees rate their own expertise highly. However, as companies recently abolish open recruitment and shift to rolling recruitment and job-centered hiring, the standards for 'true expertise' demanded are becoming even higher. They require practical talents who can be deployed on-site immediately after joining, and almost all recruitment processes involve rigorous verification of applicants' job performance abilities.

Most experienced professionals I meet as a headhunter introduce themselves as experts, but the evidence they present is often just "OO years of industry experience." It seems based on the assumption that expertise naturally accumulates over time. However, 'having done it for a long time' does not necessarily mean 'doing it well.'

A conversation with a sommelier comes to mind. In his mid-30s, he transitioned from a game company planner to a sommelier. He said, "I had a lot of wine at home and drank it often, so instead of drinking meaninglessly, I decided to study and become an expert." Someone next to him laughed and said, "I've been drinking for over 20 years, so why am I still just drinking?" Playing golf for a long time does not make you a single-digit handicap, and drinking for a long time does not make you a sommelier.

The Korea Fair Recruitment Certification Institute defines expertise as "not only the level of knowledge or skills related to the job but also behavioral characteristics that enable one to perform well using them," and classifies it into five levels. Level 1 is understanding basic terms and knowledge, Level 2 is applying the latest trends to work, Level 3 is producing visible results, Level 4 is sharing knowledge and supporting others' growth, and Level 5 is spreading new methods throughout the organization.

Philosopher Dreyfus, in 'Mind Over Machine,' proposed five developmental stages of expertise: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert. He defined that while a proficient person can make intuitive judgments based on experience, the final 'expert' stage can make professional judgments without conscious thought.

Besides this, there are various opinions defining experts, such as 'experience in solving problems,' 'experience in persevering without giving up,' and 'the ability to define work in one's own language.' The common point is that developing expertise requires serious skill-building rather than just the passage of time.

So, is expertise only a valuable asset in fields requiring high technical skills? The case of Yoon Seok-deok, Deputy General Manager of Korea Expressway Corporation, introduced on the variety show You Quiz a Few Years Ago, reminds us of the importance of attitude toward work for experts. He introduced an innovative idea called the 'road surface color guidance line' to reduce highway accidents. Despite legal restrictions and opposition from others, through three years of persistent thought and challenge, he ultimately reduced the accident rate by 88%. His words, "Anyone can do it, but not everyone can do it. Instead of trying to finish it all at once, it is necessary to take the initiative and proceed steadily and consistently," precisely capture another essence of expertise.

In 2025, do you have the goal of becoming an expert? Do you dream of being a Level 5 innovator, or are you satisfied with producing results at Level 3? For those aiming for Level 5, it is important to objectively recognize your level of expertise and steadily build experience and skills aligned with your development direction. The journey itself will become the driving force for your growth.

Munsun Kyung, Executive Director, Unico Search