As internship-to-hire programs take root as a key gateway for entry-level hiring, recruitment methods in the job market are changing rapidly.
According to Jasoseol.com, an entry-level hiring platform operated by Remember & Company, on the 5th, internship-to-hire postings accounted for 60% of all internship listings registered from January to April this year. That is up 15 percentage points from the same period last year (45%). Six out of 10 internship postings are run on the premise of conversion to full-time employment.
The expansion of internship-to-hire programs aligns with shifts in corporations' hiring strategies. Corporations are focusing on the fact that they can verify an applicant's practical skills and organizational fit during the internship period, reducing the risk of a bad hire.
An analysis of data from Remember's hiring solution platform found that the acceptance rate for candidates with internship experience was about 3.6 times higher than for those without experience. From corporations' perspective, they can select vetted talent, and from applicants' perspective, they can raise the likelihood of moving into full-time hiring, which is seen as driving the growing preference for internship-to-hire programs.
The share of internship-to-hire postings has been steadily increasing. The share, which was about 35% in May last year, climbed to 64% in February this year, a record high. It then held at 53% to 56% even during the entry-level hiring season in March to April.
Job seekers' attention is also concentrating on internship-to-hire positions. From January to April this year, internship-to-hire postings accounted for nearly 70% of views. As more job seekers prioritize opportunities that lead to full-time hiring, some analysts say internships have effectively become a required course for entry-level hiring.
Yoon Sang-ho, head of the Jasoseol business unit at Remember & Company, said, "The data showing that 60% of internship postings are conversion-to-full-time demonstrates that internships have effectively become both a required gateway and an alternative for entry-level hiring," and added, "Jasoseol.com will help job seekers respond swiftly to the changing market through our internship hiring section and data solutions."