I applied on LinkedIn, got an email few days later to schedule a phone interview. I was abroad when answering and I don't think I did a good interview and I wasn't expecting any further news from them. But, 2-3 days later I've got an email inviting me to prepare a presentation an modernising the department with no information other than CMI is no longer needed because they now have CDM.
So I contacted 5 different people who worked or still work at SGE and interviewed them to understand what and how is done. Without me asking, they all complained - people from various backgrounds, in different positions and seniority - about managers shouting at employees, working up to 2 am and getting treated like slaves.
I went for the interview half-hearted, the interview was with HR (not Korean) and, I suspected my potential future line manager, a Korean guy.
And then I presented and I felt a good vibe, we established some good business communication. I would push back on 3 occasions on the manager's belief that CMI is dead but he needs a CMI manager...
When my turn came to asking questions, things changed quite radically. I asked why did they need to hire a new manager since they don't believe they need CMI any longer and how come the position is open. They answered without saying anything really, something along the lines that they want someone because they are supposed to have such a role. And no word about what happened to the person before.
And since I noticed my question seemed to have annoyed the Korean guy, I thought that maybe I can ask HR how is the corporate culture in Samsung. Before HR could answer, the manager had almost jumped up his seat asking 'why? What did you hear?'. HR basically said that all the negative feedback about Samsung comes from incompetent employees but he can swear that his experience is different... Like look how competent I am, don't listen to those...
It was clear to me and to them that we will not meet again...