Hyundai Motor uses new method to recruit American talent

Overseas recruitment events held by Korean companies are almost the same. Human resources staff visit major universities in the U.S. to host dinners for graduating students at hotels and distribute gifts.

Students and human resources personnel at such events exchange their name cards and share information. They try to give good impressions to each other but feel non-committal in those events.

According to data compiled by Hyundai Motor on the job application rates of the students, just a fourth of students who attended such events applied for the companies that hosted them. Many say such dinners throughout colleges in the U.S. are ineffective.

Against this backdrop, Hyundai has adopted a new recruitment method. Instead of touring American universities, the company will hold interviews by calling in students who have passed examinations for professions to one place and having them make presentations.

The theme of the presentations is “New idea for the future of the automobile industry.” The presentations will be made at the inaugural Hyundai Global Top Talent Forum in Las Vegas on Nov. 4-5 and those selected at the event will undergo final interviews with Hyundai executives at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January next year.

Hyundai will pay for the airfare and lodging for students going to Las Vegas.

A Hyundai source said, “The costs for round-trip air tickets and hotel accommodation are not different from expenses for recruitment tours.”

The new recruitment method`s main advantage is that it can attract students who have more interest in cars and Hyundai Motor.

Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun played a critical role in introducing the method to the company. Experts say the company’s overall system cannot match its technological prowess and superb production capacity.

Chung, who puts emphasis on recruitment of talent and training, is known to have demanded a recruitment method that befits the company’s new slogan “New Thinking, New Possibilities.”

Those who apply to work for Hyundai Motor can submit their applications and presentation materials via the company’s recruitment page (recruit.hyundai.com) through Oct. 17.

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