Abstract
Introduction. Employment plays an important role in vocational development. However, not many studies of job search among international students have been reported.Aim. The current study aims to examine the relationship between self-efficacy, behavioural intentions, and perceived discrimination in the field of job search (JS).Methodology and research methods. The authors used Social Cognitive Model of Career Self-management (CSM) as the theoretical background to explain the relationships among the constructs of self-efficacy, behavioural intentions and perceived discrimination in JS. The study was conducted in a Chinese cultural context (Taiwan) with a sample of 301 international students from Southeast Asian countries. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test the model about the relationships between the three variables in the study.Results and scientific novelty. The research findings show that self-efficacy strongly predicts behavioural intentions. Besides, self-efficacy partly mediates the influence of perceived discrimination on behavioural intentions. A quantitative research method was applied to investigate the population of international students, which has not been much reported in previous studies. This indicates that the influence of a contextual factor (e.g. perceived discrimination) on behavioural intentions is direct and indirect through self-efficacy.Practical significance. The research findings can be used by practitioners for enhancing self-efficacy and behavioural intentions as well as helping international students to cope with discrimination in the JS process.
Highlights
Employment plays an important role in vocational development
The research findings can be used by practitioners for enhancing self-efficacy and behavioural intentions as well as helping international students to cope with discrimination in the job search (JS) process
While most studies have primarily related to international students’ stress in terms of academic and psychological discipline such as adjustment [1, 2]; well-being [3]; or cross-cultural adaptation and social support [4,5,6], international students’ mobility [7, 8], etc., only few studies were conducted in Asian host countries related to the issues such as experiences and challenges faced by international students using “push-pull” theory and social capital theory [9, 10], acculturative stress and social connectedness, cross-cultural adaptation and dominant language [11, 12], motivations and negotiations about cultural differences [13]
Summary
Employment plays an important role in vocational development. not many studies of job search among international students have been reported. The scarcity of literature relevant to international students’ vocational development and psychology leaves a big research gap. It is essential to conduct studies related to international students’ vocational and psychological issues. International students may become new sources of workforce in many countries. They express a stronger desire for career development and more motivated to find jobs than local students in host countries [16]. In order to obtain jobs, they have to face particular concerns and difficulties in aspects of language, culture or discrimination when they start seeking work, especially finding jobs is becoming harder for them when employment opportunities has dramatically decreased in the aftermath of Covid-19 [17]
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