I’m Kayla. I’m a real person. I wanted a job at Kia because, well, I liked the EV6. It felt fresh. So I used the Kia Careers site, applied to real roles, did interviews, and even did a test task. Here’s the play-by-play. The good, the bad, and the “wait, what?”
(If you’d like to see the step-by-step diary version with every screenshot and email receipt, I tucked that away in a longer read here: I Tried Kia Careers—So You Don’t Have To, But Maybe You Should.)
Quick note: this is my real experience from last year in Southern California. Yours may look a bit different, but the bones should be similar.
First Lap: Finding Roles That Made Sense
The site looks clean. Big photos. Clear sections. But I care about filters. Do they work fast?
- I searched “Marketing” and picked “Irvine, CA.”
- I found “Social Media Specialist” and “Product Communications Coordinator.”
- I also saw “Dealer Training Specialist” under Field Ops.
The job pages were easy to read. Most had a salary range, which I liked. (It’s California, so that tracks.) Some had long lists of “nice-to-haves.” That was fine. The stuff I needed was up top: team, location, travel, and hybrid note.
You know what? On my phone, the site ran smooth. On my laptop, it loaded even faster. But there’s a twist once you try to apply.
The Apply Flow: Smooth… Until It Isn’t
I used Chrome on a MacBook Air. I uploaded my resume as a PDF. The system parsed my info pretty well. It got my job titles right. Dates? Not so much. I had to fix a few lines.
- It asked for a portfolio link. Good for creative folks.
- Cover letter was optional. I still wrote one. Short and tight.
Here’s the thing. The form times out after a bit. I got kicked once while editing my work history. I had to retype a section. Not a big deal, but still annoying. Also, it asked me to enter stuff that was already on my resume. That felt old-school.
Time from submit to confirmation email? Two minutes. The email was simple and clear.
Real Timeline: What Actually Happened
- March 14, 10:12 a.m.: Applied to Social Media Specialist.
- March 14, 10:14 a.m.: Got the confirmation email.
- March 18: Status changed to “Under Review.”
- March 27: Recruiter call invite for March 29.
- April 5: Video panel with two team members.
- April 19: “Not selected” email for that role. Stingy, but fair.
- April 22: New call for Product Communications Coordinator.
- April 25: Writing task due in 48 hours.
So no ghosting on those two. But I did apply to Dealer Training Specialist and never heard back. The portal still says “In Process.” It’s been months. That’s the part that makes you sigh.
Interviews: Real Questions I Got
Screen 1: Phone call, 30 minutes. Friendly tone.
- Why Kia, and why now?
- Talk about a campaign you shipped.
- How do you report on social metrics to a VP?
- What’s your comfort level with tight deadlines?
Panel: Microsoft Teams, 45 minutes.
- How would you handle a product rumor?
- Walk us through a time you fixed a messy process.
- What’s one thing Kia does well in social? One thing to improve?
They asked thoughtful things. They wanted real stories. I used STAR format without calling it that. Keep your answers short, then add detail if they ask.
Because these roles touch public- and private-facing channels alike, I made sure I could speak to how direct messaging culture has evolved—including the less-than-PG side of it. For a quick refresher on how sexting went from taboo SMS threads to disappearing snaps, check out the illustrated timeline in this deep-dive history of sexting, which breaks down shifting user behaviors that brand teams need to monitor when crafting digital communication guidelines. To see how those online norms spill into real-world nightlife, the boots-on-the-ground overview of Bloomington’s late-hour dating scene at One Night Affair’s USA Sex Guide – Bloomington lays out venue vibes, etiquette tips, and red-flag behaviors marketers should clock when calibrating tone for adult audiences.
The Test Task: Yep, They Gave Me Homework
For Product Communications Coordinator, I got a small task:
- Draft a 150-word product blurb about the EV9 for a press kit.
- Create 3 Instagram captions for a weekend reveal.
- Note one risk and one backup plan for a late spec change.
I made the captions in Canva to see spacing. I kept the tone clean and clear. I sent it in 24 hours. They replied fast and said thanks. That was nice. I didn’t get that role either, but I got solid feedback: “Strong voice; tighten the data sources and add sources for claims.” Fair.
Culture Vibe From My Touchpoints
No, I didn’t work there full-time. But here’s what I felt from calls, emails, and one on-site loop at Irvine:
- The campus is modern, easy parking, and quiet halls.
- I saw a couple display cars near the lobby. It made me smile.
- Dress code felt smart casual. Not stiff.
- The team talked about cross-team work with design and legal.
- I asked about hybrid. They said three days on-site for most corporate roles. That could change, but that’s what I was told.
People were kind. No trick questions. They liked clear writing and clean decks. If you speak car, that helps. If you don’t, learn fast. It’s fine.
For an even wider lens on life inside Kia Motors, you can skim the employee perspectives aggregated on sites like Indeed and Glassdoor. Those first-hand notes span multiple departments and locations, so they’re handy if you’re trying to gut-check culture fit before applying.
What Worked Great
- Clear job pages with ranges on many roles
- Fast confirmation emails
- Recruiters who actually read my resume
- Real feedback on my writing task
- Smooth mobile site
What Bugged Me
- Form timeouts; edits didn’t always save
- Duplicate fields after resume upload
- Vague portal statuses (“In Process” forever)
- One role with no reply ever
- Scheduling took a week and change between rounds
For a side-by-side comparison with another luxury automaker’s hiring hoops, you can peek at my unfiltered review of Audi Careers—different badge, similar bumps.
Tips If You’re Gearing Up
- Keep your resume one page. Use action verbs and numbers.
- Save it as a PDF. The parser likes it better.
- Tailor your top three bullets to match the job.
- Prep one short story on speed, one on teamwork, one on a miss you fixed.
- Read recent Kia product news. EV9, EV6, safety awards, that stuff.
- Visit a dealer on a Saturday. Listen to real buyer questions. Use that insight in interviews.
- For creative roles, bring a tiny deck. Five slides. Show before/after. Show outcomes.
Tiny extra: if you’re doing a test task, add a one-slide “assumptions” page. It saved me from guessing wrong.
For another real-world look at how organizations source and evaluate talent, check out the hiring playbook behind the CareerBuilder Challenge, which breaks down recruiting workflows in a totally different industry. If aviation is more your speed, I also chronicled a stint with the regional carrier in my SkyWest Airlines deep dive.
My Verdict
Kia Careers felt thoughtful, but a bit clunky in spots. The people side was strong. The portal felt like it needed a tune-up. Think quick engine with a sticky shifter.
Would I apply again? Yep. I would. I didn’t land those two roles, but the process was fair, and I learned where I fit. If you want brand work with real reach, and you like cars even a little, give it a shot.
Score from me: 8/10 for people, 6/10 for the portal, 7/10 overall. If they fix the timeouts and the status updates, it’s an easy 8.5.
And hey, if you get the call—breathe, smile, and keep your answers crisp. You’ve got this.