Bot vs man: How to beat South Korea's AI hiring bots and land a job

Classes in dealing with AI in hiring, now being used by major South Korean conglomerates, are growing fast

In cram school-obsessed South Korea, students fork out for classes in everything from K-pop auditions to real estate deals. Now, top Korean firms are rolling out artificial intelligence (AI) in hiring — and jobseekers want to learn how to beat the bots.

From his basement office in downtown Gangnam, careers consultant Park Seong-jung is among those in a growing business of offering lessons in handling recruitment screening by computers, not people. Video interviews using facial recognition technology to analyse character are key, according to Park.

“Don’t force a smile with your lips,” he told students looking for work in a recent session.