Background
For decades, Korean conglomerates hired graduates through huge twice-yearly open recruitment rounds and assigned them to jobs afterward. As industries changed faster, the model grew inefficient. In February 2019, Hyundai Motor Group became the first of the top ten groups to scrap seasonal hiring. LG (2020), KT, and SK (2022) followed. By the 2020s, employer surveys found rolling hiring had overtaken open recruitment for new graduates.
Versus open recruitment
Open recruitment selects large cohorts at set times and places them later. Under rolling recruitment, individual departments hire small numbers for defined roles. Relevant experience and readiness to contribute immediately matter more, which favors candidates with internships or prior work. Posting windows are short and often say "closes when filled," so popular openings can shut without warning.
How to prepare
Set alerts on target companies' career sites. Keep a master cover letter and career statement ready so you only need to tailor them per role. Many rolling processes skip aptitude tests in favor of assignments and interviews, so build portfolio projects.
FAQ
- Do rolling processes hire new graduates?
- Yes, but they often favor those with internships or experience.
- When are postings most common?
- Year-round, with more in January–March and August–October.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26
References
- 현대자동차그룹. (2019. 2.). 신입사원 정기공채 폐지 및 상시채용 전환 발표.
- 한국경영자총협회. (2023). 신규채용 동향 조사.
- 고용노동부 고용24 채용정보. https://www.work24.go.kr