Finance

Company invests in its employees

Newbies at Korea Investment & Securities last year held a banner that reads, “we will be the best player in Asian financial market,” in front of the firm’s headquarters in Yeouido, southwestern Seoul, after completing their training camp that featured a 100-kilometer (62-mile) walk. Provided by the company

As well as a belief in the principle of no-layoffs, the Korea Investment & Securities is also very active in offering training opportunities for employees.

The brokerage firm’s flagship training programs mainly revolve around investing in employees’ education.

The company sends employees to graduate schools in Korea and overseas for free to obtain a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) or general economics and finance. The finalists are selected based on performance.

Besides degrees, the company covers the cost of obtaining finance-related licenses, such as investment consulting, futures trading and asset management.

The brokerage firm requires employees who are unable to attend private cram schools to join a curriculum it established online and take part in video lectures. The firm covers fees for all courses. English and other language courses are mandatory in the program, as the firm has an emphasis on overseas businesses.

The career management programs are considered a significant part in assessing an employee for promotion.

Like many other Korean conglomerates, new staff at the company also take part in a training camp that lasts for a few days, where they learn about the company, corporate culture and basic work manuals.

After the training camp, a mentoring program is offered for the first three months of employment, where entry-level workers are matched with senior employees. The senior mentor evaluates the newbies based on their daily reports, memos written throughout the day and a short thesis they have to write at the end of the three-month training session. The best new staff are given the opportunity of additional training sessions.

“The company is a supportive place especially when it comes to enhancing your expertise and career, if you remain active and motivated,” wrote an anonymous current employee on a company assessment and career development website Job Planet.

BY KIM JI-YOON [kim.jiyoon@joongang.co.kr]