This study analyzes qualifications (in Korea, known as “spec,” shortened from the English “specifications”) and skills to which the top 500 Korean corporations attached importance when recruiting candidates. The study uses the choice-based conjoint method as it has the advantage of being free from omitted variable bias.
The results of the study show that their timing of graduation played a very important role in the stage of assessing their supporting documents for qualifications and skills. In particular, young people applying more than three years after graduation had difficulty overcoming the weaknesses of the graduation timing even if their grades, job suitability of major, and school reputation were the highest. After graduation timing, grades, job suitability of major, and school reputation were similarly important.
In the interview stage, core competencies commonly required for any job, such as morality and personality, teamwork, endurance, and problem-solving ability were found to be more important than the skills required by a particular company or industry, such as understanding of the company and the job and basic knowledge of the job. Among the core competencies, the variable of morality and personality was most important, followed by teamwork, endurance, and problem-solving ability.