Hiring Experienced Solar Power Specialists... Accelerating Talent Acquisition for New Businesses like 'Carbon Neutrality'

Establishing Carbon Neutrality Expert Team and Hiring Research Personnel
Operating Excellent 'Experienced and New Graduate' Recruitment Track

Shipbuilding Industry Resumes Hiring After Large-Scale Restructuring

Selecting New Hires as 'Immediately Deployable Talent'

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] As companies strengthen their policies for hiring experienced workers on an as-needed basis rather than open recruitment for new graduates, they are accelerating the acquisition of skilled workers in new businesses such as solar materials and carbon-neutral technologies.

According to the industry on the 7th, this year's hiring trend among large corporations can be summarized as 'industrial restructuring' and 'as-needed recruitment.' Some large corporate affiliates are separately operating recruitment processes for experienced workers with less than three years of service. This is to secure talent who can immediately demonstrate job competencies, strengthen risk management, and implement rapid management strategies.

First, Hanwha Solutions announced on the 4th that it plans to hire double-digit numbers of experienced workers, mainly PhD-level personnel, in the fields of 'solar materials,' 'carbon-neutral technology,' and 'engineering component material development.' The focus is on expanding research and development (R&D) in eco-friendly energy and materials and promoting new businesses. A Hanwha Solutions official said, "We will continuously secure key talent to strengthen our competitiveness in global markets and future businesses."

In the case of SK Group, the group-wide new graduate recruitment has been abolished, and each affiliate conducts recruitment independently. SK Innovation, SK On, and other five SK Innovation affiliate business companies announced their new graduate recruitment plans on the 3rd, stating they will strengthen 'job-specific recruitment.' After two months of document screening, written tests, and interviews, the final successful candidates will be announced around the end of June, with interviews conducted according to the characteristics of each business company and job role. An SK Innovation recruitment official said, "We will focus on hiring personnel who have the technology and global competitiveness to promote eco-friendly and new businesses and can immediately perform their duties." Another SK Innovation official said, "Each affiliate will lead the 'Carbon to Green' strategy and increase hiring in all areas, including eco-friendly business for net zero (carbon neutrality) promotion and circular economy establishment. In particular, SK On, SK Geocentric, and SK Lubricants will increase hiring in most fields, including R&D personnel." An LG Chem official also said, "This year, we will hire talent focusing on the three new growth engines: eco-friendly materials, battery materials, and new drugs."

As the heavy chemical industry, known as a so-called 'high carbon-emission' sector, drives industrial restructuring, hiring trends are rapidly changing. More companies are implementing strategies to increase hiring in related fields after establishing organizations related to eco-friendly industrial restructuring. Hyundai Steel launched the 'Carbon Neutral Promotion Team' and 'Low Carbon Process Research Lab' at the end of last year to oversee the company's carbon-neutral strategy. A Hyundai Steel official said, "As these organizations serve as a bridge between carbon-neutral technology and production, we plan to continuously hire general and research staff responsible for strategy planning, execution, and R&D."

Even shipbuilders, which had to reduce more than 10,000 employees due to large-scale restructuring in 2016, are cautiously resuming hiring amid a boom in orders for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. Hyundai Heavy Industries has restarted hiring production technology positions for the first time in seven years. A Samsung Heavy Industries official explained, "Hiring is still a burden, and the shipbuilding industry is just taking its first steps regarding recruitment expansion." A Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering official said, "We are securing R&D and engineering personnel in the smart ship field. Avikus, a Hyundai Heavy Industries Group affiliate specializing in autonomous ships, plans to hire talent in computer vision, navigation control, vision recognition, deep learning, and autonomous navigation systems during the first half of the year to secure autonomous navigation technology experts."

Regardless of the industry, there is also a noticeable movement to secure excellent 'mid-career new graduates' early. SK Hynix and SK Telecom operate a 'Junior Talent' system that separately hires only experienced workers with less than three years of experience. Dongkuk Steel operates a 'Junior Employee System' that hires fourth-year university students about to graduate. A Dongkuk Steel official explained, "This system hires fourth-year university students about to graduate to ensure employment stability and converts them to regular employees immediately after graduation. It guarantees regular employment conversion and encourages students to focus more on their studies."

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