"COVID-19 Fear" Major Corporations Fully Reconsider Hiring Schedules

Samsung Electronics, March Recruitment Briefing Unconfirmed
LG Electronics, New Graduate Recruitment Delayed Until After April
SK to Postpone First Half Recruitment by 2 Weeks
GS, POSCO, Hanwha Announce Schedule Changes

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has cast a red light on the recruitment schedules of major companies such as Samsung and LG for new college graduate hires. As companies postpone or defer their hiring plans due to concerns about large gatherings of people, anxiety among job seekers is growing.

According to the business community on the 24th, Samsung Electronics has yet to finalize the schedule for university-specific recruitment briefings related to the first half of 2020 hiring. Every year, the company announces the schedule for recruitment briefings by university before the start of the open application period for new hires at the end of February, and then holds briefings by university in March.

However, this year, as COVID-19 spreads rapidly, the company has not been able to decide on the recruitment schedule itself. In fact, Samsung Electronics postponed the software (SW) competency test, which can earn additional points in the level 3 new college graduate open recruitment, from the 15th of this month to next month. A Samsung Electronics official said, "Amid the national spread of COVID-19, we have not yet finalized the recruitment schedule," adding, "We understand that the company is struggling to coordinate the schedule."

LG Electronics has decided to postpone this year's open recruitment schedule for new employees until after April. An LG Electronics official said, "Due to the COVID-19 situation, more than 90% of universities nationwide have delayed the start of their semesters by 2 to 4 weeks, causing academic schedules to be delayed," adding, "We plan to inevitably delay the recruitment period somewhat until after April."

Additionally, the company has decided to postpone by about a month the open recruitment schedule for high school graduate skilled positions (production jobs) in the home appliance business division, which is being conducted for the first time this year. LG Electronics had completed the document submission for new skilled workers belonging to the H&A Business Division, which is in charge of the home appliance business, by the 11th and planned to proceed immediately with aptitude tests and interviews, but all schedules have been postponed.

SK Group is also reportedly considering delaying the first half of this year's open recruitment schedule by about two weeks to mid-next month compared to last year. Depending on the COVID-19 situation, the written test for open recruitment, usually held around the end of April every year, may also be postponed or replaced with other evaluation methods.

SK Hynix has postponed training schedules after a close contact of COVID-19 was identified among new employees in mid-month. The company lifted quarantine for about 250 people who had contact with a patient showing pneumonia symptoms on the 21st, and plans to lift quarantine for about 550 others who overlapped with the movements of close contacts of confirmed cases in Daegu on the 1st of next month and resume training from the 2nd.

An SK Hynix official said, "Since the close contact and the employee who showed pneumonia symptoms tested negative for COVID-19, we plan to resume new employee training from the 2nd." It is reported that the company is reviewing whether to minimize the schedule even after resuming training for safety reasons.

GS is postponing or reconsidering recruitment schedules for the first half of the year across its affiliates, and POSCO and Hanwha Group are also reviewing plans to adjust their recruitment schedules.

As some open recruitment schedules are delayed or not finalized, the damage is directly affecting job seekers. In fact, a survey conducted by JobKorea targeting 1,731 new job seekers on the 'Impact of COVID-19 on Job Preparation' showed that 63.5% of respondents said COVID-19 is having a 'negative impact on job preparation.' The item with the highest response rate (57.3%) regarding the biggest impact of COVID-19 on job preparation was 'concern that companies may cancel or reduce hiring.'

A business community official said, "It is difficult to decide on recruitment schedules as COVID-19 is spreading more than expected," adding, "It seems that companies are monitoring the spread and considering postponing schedules or reducing briefings."