Ace Your Korean Interview: Nail Performance Questions!

Hello! Welcome to [Daily Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Getting ready for a job interview in Korea? It can be nerve-wracking, but don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Today, we’re going to learn how to confidently answer one of the most important types of questions: performance-based questions. These are the “Tell me about a time when…” questions that let you show off your amazing skills.

These days in Korea (요즘 한국에서는…), the job market is more competitive than ever. Simply saying you’re a hard worker isn’t enough. Interviewers want to hear about your actual achievements. With the expressions we learn today, you’ll be able to prove your value and impress any Korean hiring manager!

Let’s get started!

Key Expressions for Your Big Interview

Here are three powerful phrases to describe your accomplishments like a pro.

1. ~에 기여했습니다 (~e gieohaetseumnida)

• English Meaning: I contributed to ~
• Detailed Explanation: This is a formal and professional phrase perfect for interviews. It shows that you are a team player who understands how your work fits into the bigger picture. You use it by attaching it to a noun that represents the goal or project you helped with.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The final part, 했습니다 (haetseumnida), is key. The ㅆ (ss) sound is tense and strong. Instead of a soft ‘s’, make a sharp ‘ss’ sound, almost like a quiet hiss. This makes you sound more confident and clear! For example, 기여했습니다 is pronounced [기여핻씀니다 / giyeohaet-sseum-ni-da].

2. ~(으)로 인해 (~(eu)ro inhae)

• English Meaning: Due to ~ / As a result of ~
• Detailed Explanation: This is your secret weapon for connecting your action to a positive result. It’s the perfect way to build a cause-and-effect story. Use ~로 인해 after a noun ending in a vowel (e.g., 노력으로 인해 – due to my effort) and ~으로 인해 after a noun ending in a consonant (e.g., 팀워크으로 인해 – due to teamwork).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: When a noun ends in a consonant, the ㅇ (ieung) in 으로 acts as a placeholder, so the final consonant of the noun “moves over” to fill its spot. For example, 팀워크으로 (tim-weo-keu-eu-ro) is pronounced smoothly as [티머크로 / timeokeuro]. This is called 연음 (yeon-eum), or linking, and it’s essential for sounding natural.

3. ~라는 성과를 달성했습니다 (~raneun seonggwareul dalseonghaetseumnida)

• English Meaning: I achieved the result of ~
• Detailed Explanation: This is a fantastic phrase to state your achievements with specific data. ~라는 is used to quote or define what the achievement was. It makes your answer sound concrete and impressive. For example, “매출 10% 증가라는 성과를 달성했습니다” (I achieved the result of a 10% increase in sales).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip: Let’s look at 성과 [seong-gwa]. The ㅇ (ng) sound at the end of 성 is like the ‘ng’ in ‘sing’. Don’t let it become an ‘n’ or ‘m’ sound! Then, the 과 (gwa) is a quick, single syllable. Practice saying it smoothly: [seong-gwa].

Example Dialogue: The Interview

Let’s see these expressions in action! Here, B is interviewing for a marketing position.

A (면접관): B씨, 이전 회사에서 가장 큰 성과를 냈던 경험에 대해 말씀해 주시겠어요?
(Myeonjeopgwan: B-ssi, ijeon hoesa-eseo gajang keun seonggwareul naetdeon gyeongheom-e daehae malsseumhae jusigesseoyo?)
(Mr./Ms. B, could you please tell us about your biggest achievement at your previous company?)

B (지원자): 네. 제가 참여했던 ‘서울 팝업스토어’ 프로젝트를 통해 회사 SNS 팔로워 수 증가에 기여했습니다.
(Jiwonja: Ne. Jega chamyeohaetdeon ‘Seoul Pap-eop-seu-to-eo’ peurojekteureul tonghae hoesa SNS palloweo su jeungga-e gieohaetseumnida.)
(Yes. Through the ‘Seoul Pop-up Store’ project I participated in, I contributed to increasing the company’s social media followers.)

A (면접관): 아, 그러시군요. 구체적으로 어떤 성과가 있었나요?
(Myeonjeopgwan: A, geureosigunyo. Guchejeogeuro eotteon seonggwa-ga isseonnayo?)
(I see. What were the specific results?)

B (지원자): 저희 팀의 창의적인 콘텐츠 전략으로 인해 3개월 만에 팔로워 2만 명 증가라는 성과를 달성했습니다.
(Jiwonja: Jeohui tim-ui chang-uijeogin kontencheu jeollyag-euro inhae sam-gaewol man-e palloweo i-man myeong jeunggaraneun seonggwareul dalseonghaetseumnida.)
(Due to our team’s creative content strategy, we achieved the result of a 20,000 follower increase in just three months.)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In Korean work culture, while individual achievement is important, contributing to the team’s success (팀워크, tim-weo-keu) is highly valued. When you answer performance-based questions, it’s a great strategy to frame your success as something that helped the entire team or company.

Notice how B in our dialogue said “our team’s strategy” (저희 팀의 전략). This shows humility and a collaborative spirit, which are very attractive qualities to Korean employers.

Also, Korean interviewers love data! Just like in the latest K-dramas about startups like Start-Up or King the Land, decisions and results are often backed by numbers. Using phrases like ~라는 성과를 달성했습니다 with specific figures (10% increase, 20,000 followers, etc.) will make you look competent and professional. You’re not just telling them you’re good; you’re showing them with proof.

Wrap-up & Let’s Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned three essential phrases to talk about your achievements in a Korean job interview:

• ~에 기여했습니다 (I contributed to ~)
• ~(으)로 인해 (Due to ~)
• ~라는 성과를 달성했습니다 (I achieved the result of ~)

Now it’s your turn to practice!

Practice Question:
Fill in the blank using one of the expressions we learned today.

새로운 마케팅 캠페인 ________ 3분기 매출이 15%나 올랐어요.
(Saeroun maketing kaempein ________ sambungi maechuri sib-o-percenteuna ollasseoyo.)
(_______ the new marketing campaign, third-quarter sales went up by 15%.)

Think you know the answer? Try using today’s phrases to write a short sentence about one of your own achievements (real or imaginary!) in the comments below! We’d love to cheer you on. 화이팅! (Hwaiting!)