Samsung "First Online GSAT Conducted Smoothly, Will Utilize for Future Recruitment" (Comprehensive)

On the 31st, supervisors remotely monitoring in real-time at the Samsung Electronics plant in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. (Photo by Samsung Electronics)

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Samsung announced that it successfully conducted the Samsung Job Aptitude Test (GSAT), the company's first-ever written exam for new employee recruitment. They explained that the online test contributes to reducing social costs and will be utilized in various recruitment fields after some improvements.

According to Samsung on the 31st, during the two-day GSAT held on the previous day and the day itself, some candidates appeared confused on the first day as it was their first experience with an online exam. However, on the second day, candidates participated more steadily after learning about the preparation and precautions through media reports about the first day’s test takers’ reactions.

Samsung stated that despite conducting a large-scale online exam for the first time, thorough prior inspections ensured the system operated stably without server overload issues.

A Samsung official emphasized, "This test is meaningful as it is the first large-scale online recruitment exam conducted by a domestic company in the untact era triggered by COVID-19. Online testing is a recruitment method suited for the Fourth Industrial Revolution era and is a path we must eventually take. It also helps reduce social costs associated with large-scale offline group exams."

Samsung has long been concerned about the enormous social costs caused by large-scale on-site exams for the GSAT, commonly known as the "Samsung Exam." This is because gathering tens of thousands of candidates at test centers nationwide imposed significant costs and time burdens on both the company and examinees.

Until 2014, when major group companies recruited talent simultaneously, the number of test takers reached 100,000 per half-year and 200,000 annually.

Samsung’s management reportedly also felt the need for recruitment innovation suitable for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as considerations related to COVID-19. Accordingly, Samsung is reviewing plans to conduct online recruitment exams for the second half of this year.

Samsung stated, "We will thoroughly evaluate and analyze this first online exam process and address any potential issues before deciding whether to institutionalize online written exams for recruitment after the second half of the year."