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

Abstract

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.