As you might already know, this industry is
hiring a lot of workers right now. There’s been an explosion of new jobs in
this business. A lot of people in this industry complain
about low salaries and are warning others to stay away. People have come to us saying they were having
a hard time and that the job isn’t what they expected it to be. Tell us more about yourself. I worked as a hiring manager for around 12
years at a number of firms including CJ ENM, JTBC, and also Big Hit Entertainment, which
we now know as HYBE Corporation. I’ve taken direct charge of our basic training
program for jobseekers, covering all the necessary steps in the employment process.
All of our instructors have prior experience
working for big-name firms in the entertainment industry. It does feel like the entertainment industry
is growing very quickly, and it also appears that the secretive nature in which entertainment
firms manage their artists has carried over to their hiring practices as well. We need to have accurate information about
what it’s like to work in the industry, so that we know exactly what we’re getting
into. We’ve helped around 180 applicants successfully
land a job at major Korean entertainment and content firms in the last three years. How does one need to prepare? When we’re talking about something that’s
specific to the entertainment industry, a lot of companies ask their applicants to create
a portfolio. For example, if you’re applying for a job
in music production at JYP, they might ask you to draw up a plan for ITZY’s next album
or a marketing strategy for Stray Kid’s next release. You need to have a lot of passion in this
industry where your love for music and enthusiasm in your work are one and the same.
You also need to be able to clearly express
your vision in writing and that’s what many employers are looking for. That’s why a lot of people give up trying
to get a job in this industry. If the simple task of writing has them struggling
with creativity blocks that are mentally exhausting, working in entertainment could end up being
a tormenting experience. Can you apply if you’re just a music fan? If you’re looking to work on the marketing
side, I think it’s necessary that you have prior experience being an active member of
a fan club. But marketing isn’t about spreading word
of mouth to your family and friends.
You need to effectively communicate as an
intermediary between the company and the fan base. To do that, you need to move beyond having
a strictly consumer perspective to take on more of a corporate mindset. You may have an understanding of how members
of a fan base think and operate, but translating that into tangible profits and other benefits
for the company is a different skillset altogether. Do you have a training program for foreigners
as well? We’re planning to offer courses that are
tailored to foreign nationals with the use of subtitles.
These include a general overview of Korea’s
music industry and its key trends, tips on getting into the Big 4 companies like SM,
YG and JYP, information on how to get a visa and live in Korea as a foreigner, and also
the day-to-day work routines you can typically expect at any one of these firms. Is the industry hiring a lot of foreigners? I make routine visits to many entertainment
companies, and I’ve seen quite a few foreigners working there. They include country managers who arrange
fan meetings and manage social media engagement for their respective regions. Communicating in a different language goes
beyond simple translations, especially when we’re trying to identify cultural subtexts
and employ nuanced expressions. SM Entertainment’s third quarter hiring
announcement that includes an invitation to foreign applicants is one example that best
illustrates this latest trend. There were no such invitations before? No, there hadn’t been in the past. These changes started appearing this year
and although foreigners can now apply, they must write a cover letter and fill out their
job application forms in Korean, since they would be at HQ working with Korean employees.
It’s difficult to do, but it’s the same
hurdle that many Koreans face when they’re trying to draft their resumes and cover letters
in English when applying to work at a foreign company. A foreigner who wants to work at a Korean
entertainment firm must be able to read and write in fluent Korean. I heard it’s tough working in the industry. I think it’s all the same if you’re working
in any kind of production setting. Producers and anyone involved in content creation
shouldn’t expect a 9-to-6 work routine. A lot of people in this industry complain
about low salaries and are warning others to stay away.
Former graduates of our training program have
come to us saying they were having a hard time and that the job isn’t what they expected
it to be. Many of them can’t hide their disappointment
after getting their first paystubs. Firms often impose a probationary period for
new employees and bump up their salaries later when they’ve put in a few years of hard
work with a clear sense of purpose in mind. People have been talking about how difficult
it is to find a job these days, especially if you’re a liberal arts major. As you might already know, this industry is
hiring a lot of workers right now. Did this happen recently? Yes. CJ ENM is hiring new workers in 27 different
occupations. SM Entertainment is trying to fill more than
10 positions according to their third quarter hiring announcement. JYP is even finding someone to work in Japan,
while YG is continuing to add new employees, not to mention HYBE Corporation. In total, we’re talking about more than
60 jobs that need to be filled. There’s been an explosion of new jobs in
this business.
We have a training program that may be of
help to jobseekers who are looking for a way in, so I hope people would take interest and
keep us in consideration..