Uncertain Bank Recruitment Amid COVID-19 Resurgence... Remote Hiring Likely to Become the Norm

From the 26th to 28th, a non-face-to-face job fair with participation from over 50 financial companies

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] As the cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originating from Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul rapidly spreads, the regular recruitment in the banking sector for the second half of the year has become even more uncertain.

According to the banking sector on the 17th, commercial banks have not yet finalized their regular recruitment plans for the second half of the year. Typically, around August, banks set their recruitment plans for the second half and begin preparations, but this year, due to the spread of COVID-19, major domestic commercial banks have not been able to finalize not only the recruitment schedule but also the scale and method. Banks that were planning to finalize specific schedules and scales around September are now facing deeper concerns due to fears of a resurgence of COVID-19, especially centered in the metropolitan area.

Among the five major domestic banks, NH Nonghyup Bank was the only one to conduct a large-scale new employee open recruitment in the first half of the year. Because of this, there were high expectations that banks which postponed new employee recruitment in the first half would begin full-scale hiring in the second half once the COVID-19 situation calmed down.

The general atmosphere in the industry is that even if banks conduct second-half recruitment on a scale similar to last year, there is a high possibility of changes in the recruitment method. Due to the resurgence of COVID-19, the possibility of using non-face-to-face methods for on-demand recruitment is increasing, replacing the traditional recruitment method where candidates gather in groups to take written exams.

The recruitment fair, scheduled from the 26th to the 28th of this month, involving about 50 financial companies including commercial banks, will also actively utilize non-face-to-face methods. Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, Hana Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, and NH Nonghyup Bank plan to conduct non-face-to-face interviews during the fair for about 2,300 candidates who excelled in the artificial intelligence (AI) competency assessment.

Banks are already actively using non-face-to-face methods for small-scale on-demand recruitment and new employee training, creating an environment where non-face-to-face recruitment is feasible. IBK Industrial Bank of Korea has been conducting the first four weeks of its six-week new employee training online from the 3rd of this month until September 10th. Unique programs such as online physical activities and virtual company dinners are also being conducted entirely through non-face-to-face methods.

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