ERIC Number: EJ1351955
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0305-7925
EISSN: EISSN-1469-3623
'I Changed My Strategy and Looked for Jobs on Gumtree': The Ecological Circumstances and International Graduates' Agency and Strategies to Navigate the Australian Labour Market
Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, v52 n5 p822-840 2022
Despite a significant number of international graduates staying in the host countries on post-graduation visas, their experiences in gaining access to the host labour market are less documented. This article addresses this critical but under-researched topic. It discusses the ecological circumstances impacting international graduates' participation in the Australian host labour market, including the temporality of their visas, employers' concerns, constraints of the market, time issue and bargaining position. Drawing on agency theory, the study shows two forms of agency enacted by international graduates in navigating the host market: needs-response agency, entailing their choice of field, persistence, and early job-seeking, and agency as becoming, entailing their professional identity development to become more employable. The study found the following common strategies adopted by international graduates: proactively explaining their work rights to employers, using alternative job search channels, reskilling, evidencing their professional skills, undertaking internships, networking and creating jobs for themselves and other peers. The study offered fresh insights into international graduates' career adaptive behaviours, job-seeking skills and career management skills.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Foreign Students, International Education, Labor Market, Job Applicants, Job Search Methods, Employment Potential, Career Development, Foreign Workers, College Graduates, Education Work Relationship
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A