Kia launches major second-half hiring drive across 30 divisions

Kia announced Tuesday that it will launch its 2026 second-half concentrated hiring campaign beginning Sept. 15.

The automaker said it will recruit both new graduates and experienced professionals on a large scale, focusing on future business areas. The drive will feature a new assessment format tailored to the AI era and a differentiated recruitment program reflecting Generation Z trends.

Kia is accepting applications across 30 divisions in total, covering production and manufacturing, IT, business and planning, management support, and research and development.

New-hire applicants must be expected graduates of four-year universities by February 2027, or hold a bachelor's or master's degree. Requirements for experienced-hire positions can be confirmed through individual job postings.

The application window runs Sept. 15 through Sept. 29 for new hires, and Sept. 23 through Oct. 7 for experienced hires.

The new-hire recruitment is the largest in at least three years and will be the first in the industry to include an "AI problem-solving" assessment stage. Candidates will be evaluated on their ability to analyze and resolve given problems using AI tools. The aim, Kia said, is to identify not merely candidates who can operate AI, but "human-AI collaborative talent" — people who can use AI as a partner in solving real problems.

In addition, Kia will run what it describes as the first recruitment pop-up store in the domestic hiring market to combine Generation Z trends with a brand experience. Ahead of the formal application period, the pop-up will be held Wednesday and Thursday at Cosiety in Seongsu, Seoul, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The venue will be filled with varied content designed to help applicants get a closer feel for Kia's organizational culture and job roles.

From 10 a.m. to noon on both days, Kia will hold an unconventional recruitment information session built around the "morning rave" concept, which has been gaining attention among Generation Z. A morning rave is an emerging party culture in which participants enjoy coffee and other non-alcoholic beverages to DJ music during morning hours. Kia has incorporated these elements into its traditional recruitment briefing so that applicants can learn about job opportunities in a relaxed and open atmosphere.

Additional programming will include an exhibition of personal statements from past successful applicants, group consultations with current employees, and job-role talks — all aimed at giving job seekers practical guidance.

"In an era where AI and humans solve problems together, Kia is looking for people who go beyond simply handling AI — talent who can collaborate with AI to create new possibilities," a Kia official said. "We hope many capable individuals who want to be part of Kia's new challenges will take an interest and apply."

Meanwhile, Kia has been actively stepping up its recruitment efforts, having conducted a second-half engineering hiring round in July.