Série: The All-Rounder Employee Becomes a Legend
Título: The All-Rounder Employee Becomes a Legend Chapter 4
------------------
04 : Aptitude Test
The day of the test.
Kim Tae-seok took a bus to the test site.
[Tip : It's best to wear a neat suit.]
The constant pop-up messages frustrated him, but they were surprisingly helpful.
At first, he found it strange.
A simple aptitude test.
The dress code was casual.
And yet, over 70% of the applicants were in neat suits.
And… junior employees who looked to be in their first or second year were guiding people at the front.
Tae-seok passed through the glass doors and entered under their guidance.
“Kim Tae-seok.”
“You’re application number 9861.”
“Yes!”
“Please look at the seating chart and find the seat matching your application number.”
Then, as soon as Tae-seok passed, the female employee said something to the male employee.
“Number 9861, O.K.”
“Yeah. Got it.”
At first, he didn't know what they were talking about. But a system message told him what it meant.
[System Message: You have passed the dress code check.]
Tae-seok was startled. He thought it was just a test, but it wasn't.
‘So this is how they secretly evaluate your attitude toward the company.’
Elseong Group.
A conglomerate that excelled in various fields such as fashion, logistics, shopping, distribution, and tourism.
As such, their selection process was thoroughness itself.
Following the directions, he arrived at a large plaza.
A high ceiling that looked to be 10 meters tall, and long screens stretching left and right.
And behind them, desks and chairs were arranged in neat rows for the job applicants.
20 rows, 20 columns. A space that could hold about 400 people.
The seats were already more than 60% full.
Tae-seok looked around. Every single person had an aptitude test workbook out, giving it their all until the very last moment.
Tae-seok also took out the problems he had solved more than once and skimmed through them.
The difference between someone who knew which workbook the questions came from and someone who didn't was enormous, and Tae-seok had the upper hand in that regard.
About 10 minutes later, a female employee in a semi-formal suit took a microphone and began to speak.
『Everyone! I'm employee Kim Jeong-mi, and I joined in 2017. I look forward to working with you today.』
And next to her, a male employee continued.
『Hello, everyone. I'm Assistant Manager Kang Min-yul, and I joined in 2014. We're here today to help you with your aptitude test. As you all know, some of you have come from far away, and some from nearby. Did anyone have any inconveniences?』
At Assistant Manager Kang Min-yul's question, a woman in the distance raised her hand.
『Yes! Go ahead.』
Given permission by the male employee, she asked her question.
“I came up from Cheonan. Other companies provide travel expenses. Do you not provide them?”
At the mention of travel expenses, Tae-seok's expression soured.
‘With that kind of attitude, how does she expect to get hired?’
Just then, another window popped up.
[System Message: Applicant Yoon Mi-ra has failed the test.]
Tae-seok clicked his tongue but tried to make a good impression on them.
He could have been a bit more aggressive, but the male employee was surprisingly calm.
『I'm so sorry, what should we do? We don't have plans to reimburse travel expenses this year… I'm truly sorry. Our Human Resources Development team didn't think that far ahead. We'll try to incorporate it starting next year. Are there any other questions?』
But contrary to his answer, he checked her seat number and jotted down the corresponding application number.
A veritable kill list.
That's right. Here, even a single question becomes a criterion for evaluating new employee candidates.
Tae-seok said nothing. He just stared straight ahead. And he began to do what they wanted.
He listened attentively, didn't stand out, and made sure not to cause them any inconvenience.
『If there are no more questions, we will now begin the evaluation.』
The evaluation began.
Click, clack.
People walked around, handing out test papers, black ballpoint pens, and answer sheets.
Tae-seok glanced over the test paper.
And inwardly, he cheered.
‘I know all of this. Everything! From start to finish!’
He now had a dilemma.
Should he get them all right, or should he get a few wrong on purpose?
But he soon dismissed that worry.
‘No reason to hold back. Whoever gave me this ability clearly wants me to use it. So I'll solve them all. I'll get every single one right, from beginning to end. This is what I worked for. This is what I stayed up all night for!’
About 200 questions. Tae-seok didn't hesitate. He wrote down the answers one by one.
But the people next to him were the same. They must have studied hard, too, as they solved the problems smoothly without getting stuck.
Just 30 minutes.
200 questions in just thirty minutes!
Tae-seok finished faster than anyone else. It took him about 28 minutes.
Even though he already knew the answers, transferring them to the answer sheet with a special pen for computerized scoring took a long time.
But it seemed to be the same for everyone. People were moving with a sense of urgency.
『One minute remaining.』
“Ah, damn it!”
“This is crazy.”
“Wow, unbelievable!”
The aptitude test.
A test of reflexes, with no time to think or judge, ended just like that.
* * *
The next day at lunch.
Tae-seok, who had been sweating since dawn, was eating with a tired face.
Seeing this, the Team Leader spoke to the young man.
“Hey! Kim Tae-seok!”
“Yes, Team Leader!”
“You seeing a girl?”
“……”
At that, Cheol-seong sir, next to him, grinned at Tae-seok.
“Ohhh~ Tae-seok! How many times did you do it?”
The Team Leader chimed in, playing off Cheol-seong's words.
“Tae-seok, don't wear yourself out too much. How hard did you go that you couldn't even come to work? You didn't answer your phone all day. And you're the guy who never misses a single day!”
Tae-seok couldn't bring himself to tell the Team Leader that he had gone for a major corporation's interview. If he did, he'd be branded a traitor.
So he gave the most appropriate answer.
“I'm sorry.”
The Team Leader then gave a knowing, man-to-man smile as if he understood everything.
“Exactly! A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. Why else do we make money? To enjoy life with women, right!”
Cheol-seong, who was next to him, backed up the Team Leader.
“Yes! You're absolutely right.”
Tae-seok wore an awkward expression and said to the Team Leader.
“To the Director….”
“I know. Don't worry. I'll smooth things over with the Director.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Tae-seok thought he was really lucky to have met this Team Leader and his team members.
If it weren't for his bad back, he might have continued doing this work.
Just then, a message appeared.
[System Message: You have passed the aptitude test. Prepare for the interview evaluation.]
0 Comments