South Korea's SK hynix drops degree requirements for new hires
· UPIJune 17 (Asia Today) -- South Korean chipmaker SK hynix said Wednesday it had eliminated college degree requirements for entry-level applicants as the company shifts its hiring focus from academic credentials to practical skills and growth potential.
The new policy applies to the company's rolling recruitment campaign that began Wednesday.
SK hynix plans to hire hundreds of new employees across major areas, including semiconductor design and other technical positions.
Previous job postings required applicants to hold at least a bachelor's degree from a four-year university. Those requirements have been removed.
Applicants will instead be evaluated on their experience, job-related abilities, potential for development and compatibility with the company's workplace culture, SK hynix said.
The company said candidates may apply and be selected regardless of their educational background as long as they demonstrate the capabilities required for the position.
"The competitiveness of future talent in a rapidly changing AI environment cannot be explained solely by a particular degree or standardized qualifications," an SK hynix official said.
The company said it changed its hiring standards to identify candidates capable of solving complex problems creatively and responding quickly to technological change.
The policy reflects SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won's view that the qualities required of workers are changing in the artificial intelligence era.
Chey has emphasized three abilities he describes as "muscles" needed by future workers.
They include a "thinking muscle," or the ability to ask independent questions and examine the essence of a problem, and an "adaptation muscle," which allows people to respond quickly to new technologies and changing environments.
The third is an "empathy muscle," referring to the ability to understand different perspectives and collaborate flexibly with others.
The company's decision could influence hiring practices elsewhere in South Korea, where university degrees and school prestige have traditionally played significant roles in recruitment by large corporations.
SK hynix has also become one of the country's most sought-after employers as demand for high-bandwidth memory used in AI computing has strengthened the company's earnings and global standing.
In a survey released in March by South Korean employment platform Saramin, SK hynix ranked first among large companies where respondents said they most wanted to work.
The survey of 2,304 adults found that 20% selected SK hynix, ahead of Samsung Electronics at 18.9%.
It was the first time SK hynix had taken the top position in the survey, according to Saramin.
SK hynix said the removal of degree requirements is intended to broaden its talent pool and identify candidates whose abilities may not be reflected by conventional academic qualifications.
Applications for the current recruitment round will be accepted through Tuesday.
-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260617010006008