Discovering Careers Night: HR Consulting and Preparing for the Era of Multi-job Careers 

On October 10th, Korea University Business School (KUBS, Dean: Eonsoo Kim) hosted the event “Discovering Careers Night (Job多한밤)” at the SUPEX Hall in the LG-POSCO Hall. This event serves as a platform where alumni share their career and life experiences with current students, offering guidance and resolving concerns about future paths. Alumni from diverse fields participate in this program, which, on this occasion, featured Jin Seok Park (Business Administration, Class of ’91) and Jung Kwon Hwang (Business Administration, Class of ’91), who gave lectures on HR consulting and strategies for diversifying income. 

The first speaker, Jin Seok Park, currently serves as the Country Managing Director of Korn Ferry Korea and previously held the position of Vice President at Mercer Korea. Park described Korea University Business School as a place that nurtures future leaders, encouraging students to strive toward leadership roles. Highlighting the importance of global leadership, he advised, “Aspire beyond being a leader in Korea—dream big and seek opportunities to operate on the global stage.” 

Park also provided practical advice for those interested in HR consulting. “HR consulting plays a critical role in resolving organizational personnel issues and building leadership aligned with corporate strategies,” he said. He emphasized the need for strategic thinking and a deep understanding of organizational structures, regardless of one’s major. He also encouraged students to gain diverse internship experiences, particularly during their summer or winter breaks in their junior year. 

The second speaker, Jung Kwon Hwang, a seasoned professional who has held positions at Hyundai Securities, Truston Asset Management, KB Asset Management, and now serves as an advisor to Worksmate, focused on the shifting dynamics of the labor market. He stressed the need for students to adapt to a rapidly changing job environment and build personalized career portfolios, especially as the era of “multi-job careers” emerges. 

“In the future job market, a portfolio combining regular employment, short-term jobs, and investment income will become increasingly important,” Hwang noted. He pointed to Japan’s thriving market for ultra-short-term jobs and the concept of “freeters” (a combination of “free” and “part-timer”) as examples. He urged students not only to gain experience in the gig economy but also to explore ways to generate additional income through investments. 

Hwang also addressed shifting corporate expectations. “Today, companies value experience over creativity in new hires,” he said, contrasting the current emphasis on practical skills and work experience with the creativity-centered evaluations of the past. He concluded by advising students to move beyond a focus on credentials, instead prioritizing career-building during their university years and differentiating themselves through skills and experience. 

Both Jin Seok Park and Jung Kwon Hwang provided actionable advice for students. Park emphasized the values learned at KUBS and the importance of HR-related experience in growing as a global leader. Hwang highlighted the need to adapt to changes in the labor market by building a personalized career portfolio and preparing for the rise of multi-job careers.