Korea Federation of SMEs to hire 26 new staff, expanding intake by 30%

The Korea Federation of SMEs plans to expand its new hire intake for 2027 by 30 percent, raising the number from 20 to 26. The federation is also overhauling its written examination to introduce a job competency assessment and broadening the range of IT certifications that earn applicants bonus points, as part of efforts to build a workforce suited to the AI era.

The federation announced Monday it will hold open recruitment for 26 entry-level (Grade 5) positions. The roles are general administrative posts, and anyone without disqualifying grounds under the federation's personnel regulations may apply.

The written examination will drop its essay component in favor of a job competency assessment. Applicants may choose one of two subject tracks — business and economics, or digital and industrial technology — allowing the federation to evaluate practical ability across candidates with different academic and professional backgrounds.

The list of certifications that earn bonus points will also grow. IT qualifications — including the Engineer Information Processing and Big Data Analysis Engineer certificates — will be added to the existing list, and bonus points for up to two certifications may be combined. The change is intended to attract candidates with strong digital and data skills.

Recruitment will follow an internship-to-hire model for full-time Grade 5 positions. Those selected will complete an approximately 11-week, hands-on internship in operational departments. Top performers will be offered permanent employment in May 2027.

"We are looking for people with the passion and sense of responsibility to think through and solve the real challenges facing small and medium-sized enterprises," said Park Kyung-mi, head of the federation's human resources division. "We hope candidates who can drive new change for SMEs through data-driven thinking and digital capabilities will apply."

Applications will be accepted from Friday through Nov. 27. Full details on the recruitment schedule and each stage of the selection process are available on the federation's dedicated job application site and official website.