Due to COVID-19... Bank Hiring Comes to a Complete Stop

Unable to Announce First Half Public Notice and Schedule Delayed

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The hiring plans for new employees in the banking sector are being shaken due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Major commercial banks, which are about to begin their main first-half recruitment, are virtually at a standstill, unable even to post announcements.

According to the banking sector on the 2nd, Shinhan, Woori, and IBK Industrial Bank of Korea have not finalized their recruitment plans for the first half of this year.

Major banks usually post recruitment announcements by the end of February or at the latest in March or April, followed by document screening, written exams, and interviews from May to July, but most banks have yet to post announcements.

Banking officials said in unison, "Due to COVID-19, we have not been able to set recruitment plans for the first half of the year," and "At this point, we do not know the number of hires either."

Shinhan Bank has not yet set specific recruitment plans or the number of recruits. Last year, the bank posted a recruitment announcement on April 25 and selected 350 new employees, but it is uncertain when they will post an announcement this year.

Woori Bank is also planning to monitor the COVID-19 situation. Normally, they would prepare recruitment plans within this month and post announcements around April, but only internal discussions are ongoing with no progress. The bank hired 300 people in the first half of last year.

IBK Industrial Bank of Korea is in the same situation. Last year, the bank accepted applications from February 28 to March 15, but this year it has not even posted an announcement. It is known that the recruitment process will proceed once COVID-19 calms down. The bank hired 220 people in the first half of last year.

If the COVID-19 situation does not subside, there is even a possibility that nearly 1,000 new hires in the banking sector could be postponed indefinitely. In the worst case, first-half recruitment could be canceled. Banks are perceived as "dream workplaces" or "divine workplaces" because of their high wages and stability comparable to public enterprises. Recruitment in the banking sector is always a top concern for job seekers.

An official from a commercial bank said, "With even civil service exams being postponed, we cannot rashly set recruitment schedules," and added, "It is frustrating not knowing what lies ahead."

NH Nonghyup Bank, which conducts open recruitment together with the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, is also experiencing difficulties. The written exam scheduled for the 9th of last month was postponed once and held on the 23rd. The results of the written exam were announced on the 28th, but the interview schedule has not been set. An NH Nonghyup Bank official said, "The interview schedule has not been decided yet," and "We informed the written exam passers that the interview schedule will be notified once the COVID-19 situation settles." NH Nonghyup Bank plans to hire 280 people this first half.

KB Kookmin Bank and Hana Bank are only conducting recruitment in the second half of the year. Last year, the two banks hired 500 and 400 people respectively (including occasional recruitment) in the second half.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.