[Sponsored Report] Korean Air puts employees first

New Korean Air employees celebrate in front of a company plane. Korean Air has invested big in its workforce in recent years. [KOREAN AIR]

True to its founding principle that “a company is only as good as its people,” Korean Air has several policies in place to help employees achieve their full potential.

The first is a recruitment process that focuses on matching the right talent with the right role. Composed of a wide range of services, the aviation industry is one that requires communication and cooperation across the board. As such, Korean Air has made efforts to recruit candidates who are service-minded, well-mannered and capable of working in groups.

These efforts include removing the KALSAT written exam from its hiring process in 2015 and placing more weight on personal statements and interviews. In hiring cabin crew, Korean Air currently holds “situational response interviews” to determine candidates’ crisis management skills and suitability for the position.

Korean Air also offers its employees customized career development opportunities. Its current development plan involves a systematic job rotation based on each employee’s aptitude.

The airline provides new recruits with extensive mentoring to help them adjust to company life. At the one-year mark, these employees are given the opportunity to explore their career paths and better understand their duties through a “refreshment” process.

Korean Air also has various educational programs in place to build a strong workforce befitting its status as an international airline.

New recruits go through basic, practical and specialized training, while all employees participate in workshops stressing the importance of cooperation.

Additionally, the airline’s soon-to-be department heads are required to take “Airline Management School,” a program that builds management skills.

Constant efforts to bring out the best in its employees lie at the heart of Korean Air’s strategy to become the world’s leading international airline.

BY PARK HYE-MI [park.hyemi@joongang.co.kr]