As the economic recession continues, it becomes more daunting and tougher for students to find jobs after graduation. They can easily become disoriented when they ponder their careers since Korean students tended to decide their major and schools by social standards and their Korean SAT scores. To help Kookminians with job searching and mapping out their career paths, the Career Development Center at Kookmin University opened a Job Cafe. Located on the second floor of the Student Union building where the ‘Beautiful Store’ used to be, the cafe is a perfect place for students who are about to enter the job market. The Kookmin Review called on cafe Dream Job that welcomed visitors with interesting opening events. Review heard stories about Dream Job from In Young-Shil, a head of the Career Development Center.

The concept of a Job Cafe is little unfamiliar to people. What is Dream Job at KMU?
Cafe Dream Job is a site like the ‘Kookmin Total Information System’: ktis.kookmin.ac.kr, where you do various things related to the school simultaneously. You can get a wide range of information on careers and jobs all at once at cafe Dream Job. Students can obtain information on the field that they are interested in, keep track of the latest news on the job market and receive consultation about their careers and jobs. Also there are rooms to have a meeting for group study. There are books to available that students can check out or read in the cafe. When the school holds a seminar or group mentoring with companies about recruitment, the event will take place at Dream Job.

I heard that you have participated in judging the ‘Self-Introduction Contest’, one of the cafe’s opening events. What did you realize after screening the letters?

Thanks to the event, I read quite a few self-introductions, and I noticed a wide gap between well-prepared job seekers and less-prepared job seekers. Those who were ready for their job search had decided on specific companies that they were going to apply for. They put effort into preparing according to the companies’ standards and details. However, I could see that those who were less prepared knew only superficially about the enterprises and occupations. Having said that, I recognize that a number of students worked hard for their job hunting. I hope they all can fulfill their aspirations in the field where they want to work.

Does Dream Job have customized programs for foreign students?

We do not have customized programs for foreign students yet. However, all the students at KMU can utilize Dream Job. Some of the foreign students have already joined the programs. Particularly, everyone can have one-on-one consultation if they apply. A few international students have visited the cafe and are already signed up. Since we are expecting to need programs for international students, it is possible we will design programs for them after discussions with the related divisions in the school.