[Books in brief]Climbing the greasy pole

The world is full of bosses who are reliable and vain. This book, by Choi Ok-young, examines both, defining which type of worker is likely to succeed or fail in an organization. One point raised here is that a lot of companies increasingly look for employees who work well as a team, rather than hiring a bright, competent self-starter. The book also points to the changing expectations of Korean companies. In the past, for example, the author argues that companies looked for “one genius who could feed 10,000 employees.” Now employers are unlikely to hire talented individuals who are unable to work in a team or who induce conflict or uncertainty among other workers. The idea of success has changed from the past when an ability to handle assignments was the single most important priority. By identifying the different types of office workers who are likely to win recognition, the book serves as a good self-help guide for young Koreans looking to win entry level jobs in big companies.

By Park Soo-mee