SK Hynix has launched efforts to recruit new talent alongside new technology development to secure semiconductor leadership. The company paid a record bonus of 2,964% of base salary last year thanks to the semiconductor boom, and this year's applicant pool is expected to surge.
According to industry sources on the 10th, SK Hynix began its first-half new employee recruitment process. The company is accepting applications through the 23rd from holders of four-year bachelor's degrees or higher, including prospective graduates. Candidates who pass the document screening will undergo the SK Competency Test (SKCT) and AI video interview (A!SK) next month, followed by final interviews in May. Successful candidates will join the company in July or August.
The company plans to hire several hundred employees. Recruitment covers 26 job categories including design, devices, production technology, and R&D processes, with work locations in Icheon, Cheongju, Bundang, and Seoul. Starting this year, English job descriptions have been introduced for all positions, making it easier for overseas talent to apply.
Last month, SK Hynix announced a new recruitment strategy called "Talent Highway." The plan aims to expand from experience-focused hiring to a year-round recruitment system that includes new graduates, broadening contact points between the company and talent to quickly secure top candidates from local to global markets.
Industry observers expect this year's application competition to be particularly intense after SK Hynix set last year's employee bonuses at record levels. Last month, the company paid a Profit Sharing (PS) bonus of 2,964% of base salary. Base salary is one-twentieth of annual salary. An employee with an annual salary of 100 million won received 148.2 million won in bonuses. Some forecasts suggest operating profit, which funds bonuses, will more than triple from last year's 47 trillion won to over 150 trillion won this year, driven by AI memory demand.
Recent offline SK Hynix recruitment sessions have already been packed with prospective applicants. Since the 4th, SK Hynix has held recruitment sessions touring 11 major regional universities, offering one-on-one consultations by job function. At Chungbuk National University's Gaeshin Cultural Center in Cheongju, where a session was held the previous day, approximately 400 people attended—double the 200 who had pre-registered. With insufficient seating, students listened while standing or sat on the floor. Questions poured in about specific hiring requirements such as required GPA and organizational culture.
