Older jobseekers can get a job with lower expectations

Mr. Kim, 52, majored in trade at a college in Busan and started to work at Ssangyong in 1988. After working as a trader for about a decade, he faced the first challenge. He had to quit his job when the company was hit hard by the 1998 Asian financial crisis. A little later, he joined Hydis, an LCD maker. But he had to leave the company again last year because the company went into restructuring after it was taken over by a foreign company.

Few jobs were available to those in their 50s who have only an overseas trade career without a specific technical skill like Mr. Kim. He went to a job center for older jobseekers at the Korea International Trade Association in September last year. He sent out his resumes for about a year but he failed. He once considered starting a business but he could not give up his 20-year long career. Finally, he was employed by a small medical company in a position based in Japan in June this year. Kim said, “I’ll do my best with my past experience at a trade company.”

Getting a new job is a big challenge for middle-aged or older jobseekers. Many employers shun hiring aged people because they believe that older workers are less capable and not adapt to corporate culture. In addition, older workers tend to ask for the level of compensation that they used to get from their former employers.

Jobseekers without a specific skill or career can easily get a job, if they lower their expectations. Roh Bok-deok, 61, a housewife, got a job four years ago. She works at Uniworld in Daegu, which is a subsidiary of Sudo Corporation, a fashion goods maker such as handkerchiefs, scarves, and gloves. It was certified as a social enterprise in 2011. It generated one billion won (942,000 US dollars) in revenue and 300 million won (282,800 dollars) in net profits last year.

Older workers like Roh account for up to 70% of the company’s 40 employees. They work eight hours a day and are paid 1.5 million won (1,414 dollars) including fringe benefits. Roh said, “I wanted to do something after my children got married. I’m glad that I can work at my age thanks to the company.” Yeo Dong-gu, the company’s director, 59, said, “Our company introduced healthier menus at the cafeteria and created an employee welfare fund for their children’s tuitions for older workers. We have a retirement age (60) but if employees are healthy, they can work longer.”

More social enterprises are popping up. New Senior Life, which changed into a social enterprise in 2011, is a company specialized in fashion for senior citizens. It produces clothing, manages models, and hosts events for older people under the slogan “A beautiful world with a sunset.” The company was established by Ku Ha-joo, 67, who built her career for more than 30 years as a fashion designer. She hosts a fashion show more than ten times a year with senior models aged 50 to 80. She said, “When I was looking for a new work after quitting my boutique, I thought about the convergence of fashion and the senior industry. Everybody including me is living a new life.”