Career adaptability and active job search behavior of Korean older workers

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of the attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help between career adaptability and active job search behavior of older workers in South Korea. Design/methodology/approach - From a review of related literature, six study hypotheses were developed to test the structural relationship between the variables. Findings - This study identified that attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help mediated the relationship between career adaptability, the value of career coaching and active job search behavior. Practical implications - A successful job search requires the use of substantial self-control and self-regulation skills, and there can be effective training in all these skills of self-disciplining when older workers can find a high level of value from career coaching programs. Originality/value - Despite the growing popularity of career support programs, the quality of career coaching programs and participants’ perceived value toward them are critical to illicit positive outcomes of such programs. This study supports this premise by revealing a structural relationship between career adaptability, perceived value of career coaching, attitudes toward seeking professional career help and active job search behavior.