SKT seeking savvy digital networkers as new interns

Young job seekers will have a chance to intern at Korea’s top telecom company regardless of their academic background or age as SK Telecom rolls out a new program this year.

The nation’s No. 1 mobile operator said yesterday it will select so-called “social managers,” or interns who are capable of utilizing social networking service (SNS) sites, but will not make its choices based either on their academic performances or English-language test scores.

Successful candidates will operate Facebook and Twitter accounts of SKT to bridge the gap with customers, it said.

The most important evaluation criteria will be candidates’ proficiency in using the SNS, the company said.

Candidates will be given three-stage missions to attract participation from SNS users. The company will assess how many people share posts uploaded by candidates and how many replies they get.

The whole evaluation process, except for the final interview, will be conducted on SNS sites.

“SKT will be the first company to select interns based on their ability to use SNS services,” said Kim Hye-jin, a manager at SKT.

SKT will also run a question-and- answer session about the new internship program on its official Twitter account (@sktelecom), and further information will be provided on its blog (blog.sktworld.co.kr).

Those who wish to apply need to give their basic personal information and explain why they want to be social managers on SKT’s Facebook page (facebook.com/sktworld). The deadline for online applications is April 23. No certificate of enrollment is needed.

Successful candidates will work at the company’s headquarters for six weeks from June 18. Those who complete the internship will be exempted from document screening if they apply for recruitment for entry-level positions later this fall, the company said.

“The existing recruitment method has its limits, as the talents it seeks are all standardized,” the company said.

By Lee Soo-ki [ssh@joongang.co.kr]