Samsung Written Test GSAT Concludes Online Over Two Days... "Continued Maintenance of Open Recruitment" (Comprehensive)

Schedule for the second half of the year on the 6th-7th concludes without unexpected incidents

Samsung Electronics and 20 other Samsung affiliates conducted the GSAT (Samsung Aptitude Test) online over two days on the 6th and 7th of this month for the second half of this year. On the 30th of last month, Samsung Electronics supervisors held a preliminary briefing for test-takers at the Samsung Electronics Human Resources Development Center in Seocheon, Yongin.
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Samsung concluded its online Samsung Aptitude Test (GSAT), the written exam for the company’s 2024 second half open recruitment, after two days of testing on the 7th.

Applicants for the second half open recruitment for level 3 (university graduates) positions at 20 major Samsung affiliates?including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung SDI, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDS, Samsung C&T, Samsung Life Insurance, and Cheil Worldwide?took the online GSAT in four sessions over two days, once each morning and afternoon.

Stable Test Administration and Enhanced Convenience
Test Takers Say "Difficulty Level Generally Moderate"

According to Samsung, the exam was completed without any unexpected issues such as server failures. The test consisted of 50 questions in total: 20 in mathematics and 30 in reasoning. Each session lasted about two hours, including 60 minutes for preparation and 60 minutes for the test itself.

Among test takers, the exam was evaluated as having the same format as the GSAT held in the first half of this year, with difficulty generally considered moderate. Earlier, the Naver job preparation community "Spec Up" surveyed GSAT difficulty on the morning of the previous day, with 58% of 70 participants responding that it was "average," 20% saying "difficult," and 10% saying "easy."

Samsung has been conducting the GSAT online since the first half of last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the fourth online exam. Test takers took the exam at home on their computers, while proctors monitored remotely through a monitoring system. To prevent cheating, test takers were required to record themselves taking the exam using their smartphones.

The company sent an "applicant kit" containing instructions and necessary tools for the online GSAT in advance to candidates who passed the first round of job suitability evaluation for the second half open recruitment. Based on experience from three previous online exams, Samsung thoroughly reviewed areas for improvement and conducted pre-tests with employees to ensure smooth test administration. Successful GSAT candidates will undergo interviews between November and December to select the final hires.

Samsung Electronics and 20 other Samsung affiliates conducted the GSAT (Samsung Aptitude Test) online over two days on the 6th and 7th of this month for the second half of this year. On the 30th of last month, Samsung Electronics supervisors held a preliminary briefing for test-takers at the Samsung Electronics Human Resources Development Center in Seocheon, Yongin.
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

Leading Recruitment Culture with Korea’s First Open Recruitment for New Employees
"Continued Efforts to Create Youth Jobs through Large-Scale Hiring"

Samsung conducted Korea’s first open recruitment for new employees in 1957. It pioneered open hiring by introducing the first open recruitment for female university graduates in 1993 and abolishing academic restrictions in 1995. The company has also led the introduction of new programs such as the university internship system in 2005.

Subsequently, Samsung introduced the GSAT to evaluate applicants’ comprehensive abilities rather than relying on fragmented memorization-based written exams. Samsung plans to maintain the online exam format initiated during COVID-19 to reduce social costs associated with large-scale on-site testing and to enhance convenience for test takers.

In August, Samsung announced a massive investment plan worth 240 trillion KRW and pledged to directly hire 40,000 people over the next three years. The company expects that, in addition to direct hiring, the large-scale investment will generate approximately 560,000 jobs through induced employment effects.

While major conglomerates are shifting from open recruitment to on-demand hiring, Samsung is the only one among the top five groups to maintain the open recruitment system.

Samsung stated, "We will fulfill our social responsibility as a leading company by guaranteeing open recruitment opportunities for youth and providing stable, quality jobs. We plan to continue maintaining open recruitment to ensure stability and predictability in the domestic hiring market."