A Phenomenological Exploration of Individual and University Supports Affecting U.S. International Students’ Job Searches

• Published in: Journal of career development Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 390 - 407
• Main Authors: Rapp, Hannah, Chen, Dong, Wu, Yi-jung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.06.2024; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: job search; networking; higher education institutions; career services; career development; U.S. international students
• ISSN: 0894-8453; 1556-0856; 1573-3548
• DOI: 10.1177/08948453241249165

The present study explores the individual and university supports of U.S. international students during their job searches. Twenty-eight international students (93% Asian, 7% African; 57% female) from a U.S. Midwest public university participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews in Spring 2021 regarding their U.S. job search experiences. All 28 participants (64% graduate students) were within one year of their graduation date. A transcendental phenomenological approach was employed to conduct a thematic analysis. Lower-order themes that significantly contributed to international students’ successful job searches in the US were organized into individual and institutional-level supports and collated into six key themes: (a) early planning for post-graduation; (b) networking; (c) in-demand majors and degree levels; (d) university-industry connections; (e) personalized department support; and (f) campus career services. Based on these findings, several implications for career development research, theory, and practice are discussed.