The Only Open Recruitment Among the 4 Major Groups... GSAT 'Samsung Exam' to be Held in the Second Half

Samsung Electronics and 18 Affiliates Open New Graduate Recruitment
"Providing Fair Employment Opportunities... Practicing 'Talent First'"

Samsung announced on the 27th that it conducted the Samsung Aptitude Test (GSAT), a written exam for the second half of the year’s new college graduate open recruitment, over two days starting from the 26th. The company’s policy is to secure outstanding talent through open recruitment based on the management philosophy of 'Talent First.'

On the 19th, Samsung Electronics supervisors conducted a preliminary assembly for examinees at the Samsung Electronics Human Resources Development Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

The affiliates that administered the GSAT include Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDI, Samsung SDS, Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis, Samsung C&T, Samsung Heavy Industries, Samsung Engineering & Construction, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Samsung Card, Samsung Securities, Samsung Medical Center, Hotel Shilla, Cheil Worldwide, S-1 Corporation, and Samsung Welstory, totaling 19 companies.

Samsung began the new graduate open recruitment process last month by accepting applications. After the online GSAT, candidates will go through interviews, hiring, and health checkups before final selection. Samsung explained that the GSAT evaluates comprehensive thinking skills that can flexibly solve given situations rather than fragmented knowledge. The GSAT was conducted by affiliate, divided into morning and afternoon sessions.

Since 2020, Samsung has been conducting the GSAT online. Applicants can take the test using a PC or smartphone from an independent location.

Samsung was the first in Korea to introduce open recruitment and is currently the only company among the four major groups (Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, LG) that still implements open recruitment. Since introducing the new employee open recruitment system in 1957, the first in Korea, Samsung has maintained the system for 67 years, creating large-scale employment. Based on the 'Talent First' management philosophy, Samsung has strived to secure outstanding talent through open recruitment and to establish a fair personnel system that excludes academic background, gender, and nationality.

A Samsung official stated, "Samsung provides transparent and fair opportunities without discrimination based on gender or academic background through open recruitment and practices an ability-centered open hiring culture."

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong has emphasized that creating quality jobs is the duty of business leaders. The number of Samsung Electronics’ domestic employees increased from 105,257 at the end of 2019 to 113,485 at the end of 2021, 124,804 at the end of last year, and 128,169 by the end of the first half of this year.

Samsung achieved its plan announced in 2018 to hire 40,000 people over three years. In May 2022, it set a goal to hire 80,000 new employees by 2026. To provide quality jobs, Samsung operates programs such as the Samsung Youth Software Academy (SSAFY), which offers free software education and employment support services, and 'Samsung Hope Bridge 2.0,' which supports the economic independence of youth preparing for self-reliance.

A Samsung official said, "Samsung will continue to innovate its recruitment and personnel systems to fairly select outstanding talent and enable employees to fully demonstrate their abilities and grow into even more exceptional talents."