What’s in a name? A good job for one

Three jobseekers with unusual names ― they sound like certain noun phrases ― have used their monikers to their advantage, at least during job interviews.
“Just as the Nile River (gang) overflows, I will make the company flooded with profits,” said Na Il-gang during a job interview.
“I will breathe ‘strong energy’ (ganghan him) into a strong company,” Gang Han-him said in his interview.
“The things that I have learned and experienced are a groundwork for me to join this company ‘today’ (Oneul nal),” Oh Neul-nal said.
Na Il-gang, 26, is a salesman at AstraZeneca; Gang Han-him, 27, works for Samchully; and Oh Neul-nal, 27, is an employee at Starlux.
Unemployment among young adults is a serious problem, but these three men found work in the companies they applied to by simply by stressing the hidden meanings of their unusual names.
When Mr. Na, who majored in pharmaceutical science, wrote self-introduction letters, he always started by introducing his name: “My name is Nile River (gang).” Then he went on to explain his passion and vision for building the company’s future. The history of the Nile River, which flows through an ancient civilization and adds richness to its soil, was a great tool to explain his aspirations.
After first catching the attention of managers, he moved on to details.
Mr. Gang attracted interviewers’ attention when he spoke of his father’s wish for him to be strong ― hence his name. He has had many part time jobs, having worked as a laborer, waiter and a serviceman at a gas station, and has lifted weights since high school. Mr. Gang emphasized all these factors in relation to his name during his job interview, and is now working for Samchully’s Suwon office.
Mr. Oh works for a marketing department, helping distribute Guess handbags. After quitting his first job, he applied to Starlux in 2004, saying he wanted experience in the luxury goods industry. He thought he did well in the interview, but he did not get the job. However, he began sending his ideas and strategies to the company, which noticed his unusual name.
Last year, the company had a new recruitment plan and contacted Mr. Oh, offering him a job.
All three men have been made fun of because of their names, but they say that, in general, they have experienced more benefits than losses.
Mr. Gang, who is single, even has a name for his future child ― whether it be a boy and girl, he said. The name is “Hae-ra,” which when preceded by his family name means “be strong” in Korean.

by Kim Pil-kyu