Korean Job Discussion Forums

NohopeSeriously · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 4:00 am Post subject: Age and the start of your career

In Canada, people usually get their first job at the age of 23 or 24. For people who have gone through vocational programs. around 21-22.

But look at Korea. People (both male and female) usually get their job at the age of 25-26 on average in 2008. (related source: http://nicetkv.tistory.com/entry/%EC%B2%AB-%EC%A7%81%EC%9E%A5-%EC%9E%85%EC%82%AC-%EB%82%98%EC%9D%B4-10%EB%85%84%EC%A0%84-247%EC%84%B8-%E2%86%92-264%EC%84%B8%EB%A1%9C-%EC%A6%9D%EA%B0%80 )

But Korean men usually get their first job when they're 27-28 all due to the compulsorily military service.

How about other countries?

DorkothyParker · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Location: Jeju

Career or job? In America, I thought most of us got our first job at 16. Then you get a non-food related job around 18 or 19.
I know people who worked their way into a position that requires a tie after being in a company that required khakis for a year or two (some with degrees, some without). Is that a career? What is a career?

NohopeSeriously · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 5:01 am Post subject:

NohopeSeriously · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 5:03 am Post subject:

And.....

1. Job in North American definition: Full-time job and/or part-time job
2. Job in Korean definition: only Full-time job

DorkothyParker · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Location: Jeju

Oh. Well don't most people work full-time through college?
I'd say all my friends were full-time in college or before. Maybe 20 or so?

NohopeSeriously · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 5:13 am Post subject:

Hokie21 · Joined: 01 Mar 2011

After my Freshman year at Virginia Tech my family moved overseas and I started a summer paid internship with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. I did this for two summers and once I graduated at aged 22 I took a job as a pharma rep. About a year and a half ago I got laid off as did half our territory and accepted a severance package and spent last year traveling the globe. With the economy in the US still crap I decided to head over to Korea to work for a year to make some cash and wait out the job market. Haven't decided if I'll return to the US next year when the contract is up or if I'll head down to Australia for work (dual citizenship).

NohopeSeriously · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 6:11 am Post subject:

I worked full-time during my undergrad when I was 20 as a first year student. But yeah, I felt like an old person. Confused

SinclairLondon · Joined: 17 Sep 2010

22, 25 and now 30. Probably start another career around 33.

Koreadays · Joined: 20 May 2008

it's never to late to start a new career.
I know so many people who have changed careers in their 30's 40's even 50's and are doing very well..

go back to school, 2 year skill. then re enter the market.
I believe you have an advantage over the young guys because you are older and wiser and more responsible. so getting promoted seems easier.
well was in the case of my friends.
I have a couple friends who were in sales for 15 years. then at age 38 decided to go into IT. not even knowing how to turn on a PC let alone network systems. after 2 years of training he got a job in a company networking system, 1 year later promoted, then another year applied for a management position with a bank, networking their systems, and got the job and now makes over 150K a year with full benefits..
hahahahaha this is a guy who didn't even have email in 2001! didn't even own a pc until 2004 and didn't even know how to turn it on pretty much!

IT is in HUGE demand...

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

robot · Joined: 07 Mar 2006

litebear · Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Holland

Globutron2 · Joined: 21 May 2011 Location: Bucheon

Teaching in Korea was my first job. Ever.