Nowadays, we have difficulty finding a job. The majority of unemployed people are eager to find a job, and university students are no exception. At this time, people who want employment prepare many things to fill their resume. Volunteer work, certificates, a variety of contests, internships, a TOEIC score, and a perfect cover letter are important to find a job. This issue, the Gazette interviewed three Spec Uppers that can help the readers know much about how they spec up!

* Brief information on “spec”
- Spec is an abbreviation for specification
- It’s a new word in the dictionary of the NIKL (National Institute of the Korean Language), registered in 2004.
- It represents ability like academic career (educational background, especially alma mater), GPA (Grade Point Average), possession of certificates, experience of studying abroad or internships, or foreign language ability like TOEIC or TOEFL score. Spec means the qualifications someone obtains during university.



The best contestants!
● Interview with Lee Jong-su

* K.C.G. (Keimyung Consulting Group) is a study group under the Business Department. They are eager to get prizes from contests, for example, marketing idea contests or slogan idea contests.

1. What is the most important thing to prepare for a contest?
- A contest is divided into individual and team projects. First, in the individual contest, the most important thing is to prepare what you are interested in. If you choose a contest related to your interest, you can concentrate on your work. In the team project contest, the most important thing is to organize a perfect team. If the team members get along with each other, there is a strong probability of getting good results in the contest. However, if someone doesn't pull out all the stops to make good results, the team will certainly fail. You should organize good team members, and you should be a good member in your team.

2. How can we get a good result at a contest?
- If you want to get a good score on TOEIC, you should join a TOEIC study group, and if you are preparing for an interview, you should join an interview study group. Likewise, the most effective method for a contest is to meet good members in a good study group, and take part in the contest with passion.

3. Do you have any advice for students who are preparing for contests?
- For a contest, we spend all day for several months. However, if the challenge ends in failure, you might think that you have wasted your time. If you prepare a contest just to raise up your spec, it's better for you to give up the contest, but if you think that the contest is a method to improve yourself, you can learn many things and receive a good result.



The best cover letter!
● Interview with Kim Hye-bin

1. You received the first prize in a cover letter contest which was held on campus. Do you have any special method?
- I got help from KMU programs which are related to employment. When I wrote my cover letter first, I made many mistakes. However, when I participated in an employment camp, the interviewer pointed out my cover letter’s mistake. Then, I got feedback on my cover letter again, and I started to correct it. In addition, the most important thing is not how many things you have done, but how you express your special things.

2. What is the most important thing to write a cover letter?
- Frankly speaking, writing about your abilities and the qualities which you have is very important. In addition, if you add the positive influence which you can give to a company, the interviewer definitely will look at your name once more.

3. How can we improve our cover letters?
- Visit the company’s Web site. Knowing about the company is very important. On the Web site, you can see the ideal person whom the company wants. If your experience can show that you are that ideal person, you can write a better cover letter.

4. Do you have any words for students writing cover letters now?
- Don’t be bound by form and plain language. You need your own cover letter which has your own individuality. Second, don’t be shy of showing your cover letter to others. By showing your cover letter to and getting some feedback from others, your cover letter can be improved. Through the feedback, you can improve yourself and develop the cover letter. Finally, enjoy writing your story. Your passion and desire will appear in your cover letter and be transmitted to the interviewer.



The best cafe!
● Interview with Yoo Sang-il

Have you ever heard of the Internet cafe Spec Up? If you are a university student in Korea, you may have heard of it before. For this issue, the Gazette interviewed Yoo Sang-il, who is the manager of Spec Up, the most famous and biggest Internet community among university students.

When the Gazette first contacted Yoo Sang-il, the Gazette thought that he would be very special and intelligent. However, through the interview, the Gazette discovered that he is an ordinary guy like any other university student who likes Internet surfing and meeting new people.

Yoo Sang-il is a 26-year-old senior of Inha University who majors in Computer Science and Information Technology. Until he became a junior, he didn't know anything about what “specs” were. Right after classes, he used to go home or hang out with high school friends. He didn't take part in any activities and he didn't feel attachment to his department.

When he finished his junior year, he tried to write his curriculum vitae and cover letter, but there was nothing to write. It was natural because he hadn't done anything before. From then, he decided to take a leave of absence for one year, and do as many extra curricular activities as possible. He participated in internship programs and volunteer activity outside university. As he accumulated his “specs,” he realized how important “specs” are. He usually spends his free time Web-surfing, so he is really good at finding information. He knows there is a lack of information on specs on the Internet, so he made a community on the Internet. Now, Spec Up is the highest ranked Internet cafe in Korea.

Many people regard specs as a way to judge a person, but he said he thinks specs are the fruit of sheer labor. He describes specs as the value of someone from his or her effort. However, he said that specs shouldn't be the final goal, but an additional accomplishment. If we just concentrate on making specs, there's no way to find a real job and our dream. It’s a time-wasting and meaningless activity, he said. As such, if you really want your dreams to come true, you have to not only accumulate your specs, but also always think about your particular aim.

Through the interview, the Gazette discovered Yoo Sang-il is a realistic dreamer. He wanted to remind Keimyung students not to forget their dreams. He also hopes that Spec Up is useful to Keimyung University students. The slogan of Spec Up is “Play the melody of dream.” Can you hear the sound?



Exchange Students’ Perspectives on Specs!
● Monica Ramos Flores from Mexico

Well, as far as I understand, “specs” are the extra skills or connections that a graduated student has, like knowing different languages, special connections, masters’ degree, studying abroad, etc. and how this is related to getting a job nowadays in Korea.

I think the difficulties for graduated students have increased in the last few years. Now students have to add new skills in order to be competitive and to get a good job. But this has become more difficult because of the current crisis.

That’s why students are encouraged to take extra classes, or get in the top universities. In a certain way, this is good because it makes students more competitive and companies more efficient, but at the same time the system is always “asking for more,” so there are points when students cannot take it anymore; they are tired, stressed, etc. and this high level of competition could turn negative.

●Shijie from China

Nowadays, more and more students are graduating from university. In this situation, “specs” are very important in order to find a satisfactory job.

In China, people prefer to study more in order to obtain their master’s degree or even doctorate only because they are longing for a better position. In addition, college students are studying other skills such as foreign languages, computers, music, and so on. At the same time, some choose to go abroad to experience studying overseas.

All in all, I think specs are important for the young people, especially for the person who wants to get a job or who wants to get a promotion.

So work hard, and good luck!