A record number of applicants are expected to take the Samsung Aptitude Test, a twice-yearly entrance exam aimed at hiring new employees for Samsung’s some 30 affiliates.

According to industry sources on Sunday, more than 110,000 people applied for the test that is scheduled to be held on April 12. The figure outpaced some 100,000 last year.

This year’s SSAT attracted more applicants compared to previous years as it is the last chance open to all applicants.

In a recent overhaul of its recruiting system, Samsung has decided to shortlist only those who pass the initial document evaluation, including an essay, from the second half of this year, while interviews are strengthened to better evaluate an applicant’s personality and on-site experiences.

“The whole process has become a cumbersome issue that requires considerable resources,” a Samsung executive added about the group’s pressure from the soaring number of applicants.

“More than three out of 10 jobseekers are believed to take the SSAT every year. It’s almost like a national test,” he said on condition of anonymity.

Samsung introduced the SSAT back in 1995 under the leadership of chairman Lee Kun-hee. Currently, some 200,000 people take the test every year held in big cities not just in Korea but also in the United States and Canada. After executive interviews in May, the finalists will be announced in June.

Samsung hires some 8,000 new workers each in the first and second half of the year. The group has not yet confirmed the number of recruits this year but it is expected to be slightly lowered across affiliates considering growing economic uncertainties, said another Samsung executive who wished to be unnamed.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)