Samsung puts creativity in spotlight for new jobs

For the second time since October, Samsung Electronics will exempt people seeking entry-level positions in the design and software sectors from written exams, meaning they must only pass through two-stage interviews.

Candidates can file applications on the company’s official Web site from today until July 6 and the successful candidates will be announced by the end of August, the company said yesterday. The recruiting process, initially entitled “Future Creator Challenge,” has been renamed “Creativity Plus” and redesigned to ferret out candidates with a lot of character, Samsung said.

“Some people lack college degrees in design or software but are extremely talented. ‘Creativity Plus’ is aimed at recruiting them,” said a Samsung Electronics spokeswoman.

As an initial step, applicants are required to submit essays and portfolios to prove or at least hint at their talent and capability regardless of their college major. Those who are picked will then go through two rounds of intensive interviews.

The first is mostly technical, requiring them to solve specific tasks in the field of application, while the second is more focused on testing their creativity.

CJ Group, another leading conglomerate, is also stepping up its efforts to take note of employees’ talents. It said yesterday it will revise its corporate hierarchy to introduce a fast-track promotion system next year.

By shortening the period required for employees to be promoted to executive-level positions from 20 to 10 years, the new system will make it possible for exceptionally talented workers to race up the ladder and assume senior posts before they hit their mid-30s.

By Seo Ji-eun [spring@joongang.co.kr]