The job market is a battlefield — only those who are prepared survive. As employment challenges for young professionals worsen in South Korea, more attention is being drawn to the underlying causes affecting unemployment rates among graduates. Under these circumstances, support systems and infrastructures in universities play a crucial role in enhancing students’ competitiveness in the job market. In this article, the Sungkyun Times (SKT) analyzes current employment trends and explores career services for Kingos at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU).
Fading Employment for Graduates
The conventional belief that “good credentials guarantee good jobs” is now beginning to be questioned. According to the Higher Education in Korea portal, the average employment rate of the top 15 Korean universities fell slightly from 70.7% in 2022 to 69.3% in 2023, suggesting that the graduate job market remains stagnant. The phenomenon is believed to be caused by three main factors. Firstly, the recruiting criteria have shifted dramatically, with businesses now giving preference to applicants with prior experience. The Korea Enterprises Federation and the Korea Employment Information Service analysis revealed that the percentage of organizations prioritizing work experience as their primary hiring criterion increased from 58.4% in 2023 to 74.6% in 2024. The Bank of Korea analyzed that as companies increasingly seek more skilled employees, they are given a recruitment advantage, and thus, the concept of lifelong employment is diminishing. Additionally, regular open recruitments declined from 39.9% in 2019 to 35% in 2023. Since the Hyundai Motor Group abolished group open employment in 2019, many large companies have also shifted to a continuous hiring system, employing as needed instead of following the regular recruiting cycles. As a result of these changing circumstances, job hunting, particularly for first-time job seekers, has become more difficult. Furthermore, a growing number of applicants are choosing to apply to larger organizations rather than taking positions at smaller firms. In a 2024 survey run by the recruiting platform Catch, 70% of young job seekers answered they were willing to prolong their job hunt while reapplying to large companies, even after receiving offers from small or medium-sized corporations. However, despite such complex circumstances, SKKU has been able to sustain a high employment rate. With an employment rate of 73.8%, it ranks first among universities with more than 3,000 annual graduates, as published by the Higher Education in Korea platform in 2023.
The SKKU Edge
-Step-By-Step Career Exploration
For nine consecutive years, SKKU has held the highest employment rate among Korea’s top 15 universities, thanks to its academic courses, but also its robust career support programs. The Student Human Resources Development Team provides personalized career counseling services, that are even available for underclassmen to explore potential career paths. It also operates the University Employment Center, supported by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, to help students develop personalized career and employment strategies. For underclassmen, the Career Counseling Program analyzes aptitude tests and experiences to help set career goals. Ryu Jin-ha (Sophomore, Department of Media and Communication) shared, “Their counseling helped me gain clarity on my true aspirations, guiding me to enter my desired major successfully.” For upperclassmen, counselors consider students’ academic backgrounds and extracurricular activities to advise them toward suitable career trajectories. Moreover, the Career Management Program offers continuous assistance to graduates looking for employment in or outside their specialized fields, even if they are transitioning to a new professional path. By providing systematic career coaching from enrollment through graduation, SKKU ensures that students are suitably equipped for their future careers, contributing to its continuously high employment rate.
-Future with Career Readiness
Beyond career counseling services, SKKU also has several initiatives to enhance student competitiveness in the labor market. One renowned program is Co-operative Education, which combines academics and industry experience, integrating coursework with corporate field training. This enables students to obtain real-world experiences while earning academic credits and even receiving a stipend, meeting all three benefits simultaneously. Furthermore, the university holds a large-scale Job Fair every March and September, inviting over 70 companies. Open to both enrolled students and graduates, this event allows students to interact directly with recruiters and explore job options. It serves as a critical opportunity for Kingos to find jobs and learn about different professions. Thanks to its practicality, approximately 4,500 students participated in 2024. Furthermore, the University Employment Center offers personalized training programs to help students prepare for all stages of the recruitment process, such as document screening, aptitude tests, and interviews. Programs such as Online Resume Clinics, specialized interview lectures, and mock interview simulations are available year-round, including school breaks. Through these initiatives, SKKU not only helps students gain field experience but also equips them with essential skills for career development, ensuring they are well-prepared to navigate an increasingly competitive job market.
New Prospects and Student Choices
-Startups: Students Paving New Roads
In response to the changing job market, more students are turning to entrepreneurship. SKKU actively supports student-led startups through various initiatives. One of the most integral programs is the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Major, which cultivates entrepreneurial mindsets and execution skills. Courses like Product/Service Development for Startups and Entrepreneurship Capstone Design provide structured learning to help students lead innovation or establish competitive startups. Additionally, the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center supports student startup clubs, enabling undergraduates to form entrepreneurship project teams and gain hands-on startup experience. Selected teams also receive specialized training, step-by-step professional mentoring, and access to the office space at the Kingo Startup Campus in Hyehwa. Furthermore, the Startup Support Center helps emerging entrepreneurs refine their business concepts and create tangible strategies by offering professional coaching through its online platform. This service provides essential aid in overcoming hurdles during the initial period. The extensive efforts of SKKU enable students to boldly forge their own distinct career tracks and effectively pursue their dreams.
-From Student to Entrepreneur: RaonData’s AI-Powered Vision
Q1. Please provide a brief introduction of yourself and RaonData.
I am Choi Seong, a master’s student in the Department of Applied Artificial Intelligence at SKKU. In 2021, I established the artificial intelligence (AI) startup RaonData while working in my department's Data Science & Artificial Intelligence Lab (DSAIL), and I am currently leading its operations. RaonData operates Lightn, an AI-powered voice of the customer (VOC) analysis service. Lightn’s primary function is to manage and analyze multi-channel VOC data collected by companies, employing AI to extract meaningful insights from them.
Q2. What motivated you to start your business, and how has SKKU supported you?
I wanted to contribute to the industry through the technology and services I developed. I decided to start my business with the support of Professor Han Jin-young and through valuable advice from Professor Park Eun-il, who were my advisors from the Applied Artificial Intelligence Department. When I first started my business, I was able to refine my ideas and operations in the working area at the Kingo Startup Space, the startup incubation facility of SKKU’s Startup Support Center. The university also has many successful alumni entrepreneurs and experienced professors who offer an ideal environment for aspiring founders to prepare for and achieve success in their ventures.
Knowing that a path exists and actually following the correct path are entirely different concepts. SKKU provides its students with more than just career counseling in the rapidly evolving job market. It actively motivates them to overcome challenges and grow through practical experience. Taking advantage of the resources provided, Kingos can pursue a variety of pathways and increase their job competitiveness moving forward.