POSCO begins training program for blue collar interns

One hundred and one interns pose after holding a ceremony to start a training program at POSCO Group University in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Nov. 30. / Courtesy of POSCO Group

By Park Jin-hai

POSCO has launched a training program for its blue collar interns in line with a government initiative to nurture skilled workers, the steelmaker said Tuesday.

In a year-long work-and-learn program, the interns for production lines will learn skills on the job and receive education based on the National Competency Standards (NCS).

Earlier this year, amid increasing concern that jobseekers are wasting too much time and effort building up so-called “spec” skills in order to get a decent job, the government and 130 state-run enterprises signed an MOU, to overhaul their hiring requirements.

The companies pledged to adopt the NCS, an employment system set up by the government, which evaluates how much knowledge and skill is required to work in a certain industry.

On Nov.30, a total of 101 interns took part in a ceremony to kick off the program. They are under a three-month off-the-job training session at POSCO Group University in Pohang, followed by a nine-month on-the-job training session.

They will be evaluated after a year, and the results of this will determine whether they are hired as permanent employees.

“It is noteworthy that the internship program newly adopted the needs of each field and implemented the work-and-learn program in line with the government’s initiative,” said a POSCO group official.

This is the first time that a major conglomerate has set up such a program, setting a precedent for other companies to hire based on competency rather than the qualifications they have.

“I would like to congratulate the trainees on being selected for the program, and ask that they keep in mind that great character and optimism is as important as passion and competence in an employee,” said a POSCO official. “POSCO Group University will provide the interns with great teachers and many resources. I hope that the interns will be able to give shape to their dreams here.”

The 101 interns were selected from an applicant pool of 10,000 who responded to a recruit notice in October.

Meanwhile, POSCO successfully carried out similar training programs for 60 employees at 15 small- and medium-sized companies in July.