SK hynix’s Half-Day Interview Tests AI Use Alongside Job Expertise

Updated October 5, 2026. Scope: SK hynix’s announced South Korean entry-level technical and office recruitment process.

SK hynix’s “half-day AI interview” is not simply a long conversation with an AI interviewer. It is an extended assessment combining practical tasks and interviews, including a job-scenario exercise in which candidates use a large language model (LLM). The company also operates A!SK, an online AI video interview; the two should not be treated as interchangeable.

The half-day format was announced for the recruitment round accepting applications August 20–26, 2026. It replaces interviews previously lasting roughly 20–30 minutes and is intended to assess job expertise, AI application, logical thinking and humanities-related understanding. That announced application window has ended; it is not a current invitation to apply. (SK hynix’s July announcement, in Korean)

What SK hynix has described

SK hynix’s August recruiting-event account gives more detail than the initial announcement. It lists these assessment components:

Component	What SK hynix describes
Problem-solving presentation	Completing a job-scenario task using an LLM through an AI editor on a PC supplied at the interview venue
In-depth interview	Questions probing candidates’ experience and research
Group discussion	A humanities-based topic without a single correct answer
Video interview	A remote video interview listed alongside the other components

These are employer-described components, not a guaranteed timetable for every vacancy. The account does not establish that all components happen consecutively in the same room or session. (SK hynix’s August recruiting-event account, in Korean)

The application changes matter too: SK hynix said it would replace traditional self-introduction questions with a new form describing AI-use capability and semiconductor job expertise. “No traditional self-introduction” therefore does not mean “no written evidence required.” (July announcement)

How this differs from A!SK

SK hynix says it has operated A!SK since the second half of 2025, describing it as an AI-powered video interview intended to help candidates demonstrate logical thinking, problem-solving, passion and potential. Those are the company’s stated aims—not published proof of predictive accuracy or fairer hiring outcomes. (Talent hy-way announcement)

The official Talent Hub describes A!SK as an online video interview before the in-person interview. It also says interview formats vary by position and that further details are provided separately. Your vacancy notice and interview invitation should therefore determine your preparation and schedule. (Talent Hub recruitment process)

These public descriptions do not provide a detailed scoring rubric, score weights, rejection thresholds or a clear account of how automated scores influence final decisions. They do not establish facial-expression scoring or fully automated rejection. Do not build your preparation around either assumption.

How to prepare

Prepare to demonstrate a defensible working process, not just deliver a polished answer. The following is preparation advice, not SK hynix’s disclosed marking scheme.

1. Build two evidence-rich examples. Choose one showing semiconductor or role-specific knowledge and one showing useful AI application. For each, explain the problem, constraints, your contribution, verification method and actual result. If the work was academic or a personal project, label it accurately; do not imply production experience.

2. Practise an AI-assisted task from start to finish. Use a nonconfidential scenario relevant to the role. Define the problem before prompting, inspect the model’s output, check assumptions and explain what you accepted, changed or rejected. Practise delivering a short presentation that separates AI suggestions from your own conclusions.

For example, with a hypothetical yield-analysis exercise, explain what data you would need, how you would test a proposed cause and what evidence would disprove it. This is a practice scenario—not a reported SK hynix interview question.

3. Prepare to defend your experience. Revisit project choices, failed approaches and technical trade-offs. You should be able to explain why you chose a method, what its limitations were and what you would change with better data.

4. Practise discussion, not just speeches. For an open-ended group topic, work on clarifying assumptions, responding to others and disagreeing with reasons. For video practice, prioritize clear, specific answers rather than treating a mock tool’s score as a hiring prediction. See our guide to using AI mock interview tools.

What to ask before attending

Ask the recruiter to confirm:

• Which components apply to your role, and whether A!SK is scheduled separately.
• The expected duration, breaks, presentation time and interview language.
• Which AI editor and model are supplied, and whether internet access, notes or outside tools are permitted.
• What work and recordings are retained, who reviews them and how AI contributes to assessment.
• The contact for accessibility adjustments or technical problems.

Do not assume that permitted LLM use in the supplied-PC task authorizes outside AI assistance throughout the process.

The hackathon is a separate route

The planned fourth-quarter hackathon now has announced dates: its registration window was September 21–28, with the final scheduled for November 11, 2026, at COEX in Seoul. SK hynix says outstanding finalists may receive recruitment fast-track opportunities—not guaranteed jobs. As of this update, the announced registration window has ended. (September hackathon announcement, in Korean)

For HR teams, the useful distinction is between testing a candidate’s ability to use AI and using AI to assess the candidate. An assessment can do both, but each needs its own explanation: what job behavior is being tested, how it is rated and who makes the decision. A longer interview is not, by itself, evidence of a better assessment; use a hiring-AI validation checklist before copying the format.