🕒 When Should You Start Preparing for Employment? A Timing Strategy for Foreigners in Korea
Hello! This is KOWORK, a career platform for foreigners in Korea.
If you're aiming to find a job in Korea, you might be wondering, "When should I start preparing?" The key to successful employment lies in timing. In this article, we'll guide you through a step-by-step timing strategy for foreigners preparing for employment in Korea.
🕰️ Step 1: 6–12 Months Before Graduation – Begin Basic Preparation
What to Do:
- Write your resume and learn essential elements.
- Start building your portfolio (especially for design/IT majors).
- Obtain certifications required for your desired job.
- Study Korean corporate culture and recruitment processes.
- Set your target job role (e.g., marketing, development, sales).
- Participate in networking events (offline events, recruitment briefings, etc.).
💡Kowork offers a resume guide tailored for foreigners! It provides easy-to-follow instructions on how to write a resume in the Korean style and what to include in each section. Preparing these in advance will make your application process smoother later on.
👉 Check Out the Kowork Resume Guide ✨📄
📌 Step 2: 3–6 Months Before Graduation – Start Active Job Search Preparation
What to Do:
- Join foreigner recruitment platforms like Kowork and complete your profile.
- Monitor and save job postings from companies of interest.
- Organize your resume, cover letter, and portfolio.
- Tailor your applications to match job postings.
- Prepare for common interview questions.
🎯 This phase focuses on gathering materials. Having your resume prepared ensures you can begin your job search immediately after graduation.
📌 Step 3: Immediately After Graduation to 3 Months – Apply for D-10 Visa & Focus on Applications
What to Do:
- Apply for the D-10 visa within 15 days after receiving your graduation certificate.
- Check job platforms daily and apply.
- Prepare for interviews after passing document screenings.
The D-10 visa is valid for up to 6 months per company and allows legal job-seeking activities in Korea. However, it can only be applied for with a graduation certificate and must be done within 15 days after graduation, so timing is crucial!
📍Tip: During graduation season, it can be challenging to make appointments at immigration offices. It's recommended to schedule your visa change appointment in advance!
📌 When Is the Best Time for Foreigners to Apply?
Note:
- Since the COVID-19 pandemic, recruitment trends have shifted to year-round hiring across large companies, SMEs, and startups.
- Foreign-exclusive recruitment often opens as rolling recruitment, so it's essential to check regularly!
| Period | Characteristics |
| March–June | Major recruitment season for large and mid-sized companies |
| September–November | Fall hiring season, many multinational companies recruit |
| Year-round | IT/startups and positions that prefer foreign candidates |
| Period | Characteristics |
| February - March | First half of the year: Large corporations |
| August - September | Second half of the year: Large corporations |
| Rolling recruitment | Primarily IT/startups, positions that favor foreigners |
💡 KOWORK Can Help You!
Job preparation can be challenging and overwhelming when done alone.
Kowork provides resume guides, visa information, recommended companies, and recruitment consulting all in one place. If you're preparing now, start faster and more accurately with the Kowork platform!
