Thousands Vie for Hyundai Factory Jobs

Hyundai's website crashed Thursday when tens of thousands tried to apply for some 400 factory jobs the automaker advertised in its first major recruitment drive in a decade.

More than 10,000 applicants accessed the website less than an hour after the recruitment page went live at 9 a.m., and up to 19,000 people were listed as waiting to access the page until it crashed.

The assembly-line jobs tempted even white-collar workers in other major conglomerates because of the famously high wages and lifelong perks.

The automaker is recruiting 400 factory workers in the first half of this year and another 300 either in the second half or next year. There is no official age limit or gender preference and only a high school diploma is required.

Applications will be accepted until March 12, and candidates go through interviews, job aptitude tests and written exams. The final candidates will be announced in July before the new workers are trained and assigned to their assembly lines in the fall. More than 100,000 applications are expected.

When affiliate Kia hired 100 factory workers last year, 49,432 people applied.

A Hyundai Motor staffer said, "We intend to proceed in a fair and transparent manner."