Job-seeking Experiences Research Articles

Does Information Improve the Experience of Pursuing Labor Migration? Evidence from a Field Experiment in Pakistan

A large literature on international labor migration explores how to improve low-skilled migrants’ experience of pursuing and obtaining overseas employment. Much of this scholarship focuses on describing and mitigating difficult, and sometimes exploitative, conditions in the host country. Scholars have paid less attention to factors in home countries that may affect aspiring migrants’ experience of looking for overseas work. We help address this gap by conducting a field experiment in the high out-migration country of Pakistan to examine whether receiving new information about employment brokers and overseas opportunities improves aspiring migrants’ subjective and objective experience of the job-seeking process. After analyzing the effects of information on those who lack alternative sources of information, we report mixed findings. These highlight the need to think carefully about ways to improve aspiring migrants’ job-seeking experiences, especially with regard to the common assumption that if low-skilled migrants simply “knew more” — that is, had more relevant and accurate information — they would not allow themselves to have negative migration experiences; our findings suggest this is not necessarily always the case.

Job-Seeking Experiences of Trans Adults in South Korea

ABSTRACT Being trans is stigmatized and can make it difficult to fit into the job market in South Korean society. This study explored trans individuals’ job-seeking experience and the impact of gender identity on their career choices and development using a qualitative approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 trans adults with job-seeking experiences who were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling in South Korea. Ten subthemes were identified in three overarching themes: (a) limiting myself in job search; (b) challenges in the job application and interview process; and (c) having a desire to build a meaningful career. Participants limited their choices for employment in favor of gender-neutral jobs or trans-inclusive work environments. In the job-seeking process, they faced challenges due to society’s rigid binary gender roles and the negative stereotypes about trans identities. Despite stress and identity-related conflict, participants expressed a desire to overcome challenges, build a meaningful career, and flourish at work without compromising their gender identity. This study highlights the experiences of trans individuals in their job-seeking journey. Psychosocial interventions and career support services could help trans individuals in the job-seeking process by identifying their unique challenges to employment and providing assistance to cope with stigma and oppression.

‘I really want to work for me to feel good myself ‘: Health impacts of employment experiences for women from refugee backgrounds in Australia

Work is an important social determinant of health. However, people from refugee backgrounds face various barriers to employment and women especially have significantly lower levels of employment. Many refugees also work in jobs with poor conditions. Given the higher risk of poor health for refugees more generally, the impact of employment experiences on health is an important area of investigation. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 42 refugee women, this paper explores health effects of job seeking and employment experiences. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Women reported difficulties securing work and most were unemployed, which had a negative effect on mental health. Once in work, employment was found to promote wellbeing through a sense of identity and contribution, as well as extending social networks. However, almost all employed participants were working in precarious employment conditions. In terms of mental health, participants reported negative effects from exploitation and discrimination. Exposure to toxic chemicals and poor working conditions were reported as particularly detrimental to physical health. Women were reluctant to complain about poor working conditions, citing a lack of awareness of procedures, fear of losing employment, and concerns about implications for immigration status. Overall, the study highlighted significant barriers to women securing work generally, particularly work that was health promoting. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for policy and practice.

Employability of technology and livelihood education graduates

<span lang="EN-US">This paper examines the job-seeking experiences of the 2019 Bachelor of Technology and Livelihood Education (BTLE) graduates from a teacher education university. Identifying these graduates’ employability is vital to the field of educational research, particularly in determining the impact of a higher education institution’s BTLE program. Employing quantitative research design through a survey of 50 graduates, this research revealed that great majority of them have been employed, with majority securing education-related jobs within a year after graduation, while some having chosen careers unrelated to their pre-service education. Strategies for job search and reasons for job offer acceptance vary from traditional, economic concerns, to complexities of work opportunities and requirements. They have also reported that the pre-service courseworks they undertaken have, to a great extent, relevance to the improvement of their skills in problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, human relations, knowledge/technical, leadership, research, and information technology thus making it aligned with current employment and/or self-employment demands. Apart from presenting the reasons of their employment acceptance and post-college education undertakings, this paper also outlines the challenges in securing employment. Thus, such issues forwarded by the paper, arising from academic training vis-à-vis actual industry works, are strong points for pre-service BTLE program enhancements.</span>

Job Seeking and Daily Workforce Experiences of Autistic Librarians

Anecdotal accounts suggest that librarianship is a rewarding career for some autistic adults, though no empirical evidence exists to support such claims. Additionally, barriers may exist for autistic librarians, both in job seeking and in on-the-job experiences. As autistic adults are un- and underemployed more than their neurotypical peers, it is important to understand the role that libraries can play in supporting their employment. In this qualitative study, ten librarians with graduate degrees, who self-identify as autistic, describe their experiences in job seeking and daily working experiences in the library field through interviews in multiple formats. Results indicate issues around disclosure and accessibility, and that librarians thrive when their skills are prioritized and when they feel like they are helping or doing meaningful work. Additionally, these librarians find their way into the profession through exposure to libraries and take comfort in working with like-minded people. Finally, autistic librarians in this study describe the hope that hiring managers and library supervisors have at least some knowledge and understanding of autism, along with the willingness to learn more.

The job-seeking experiences of migrants and refugees in the Australian construction industry

ABSTRACT International migrant and refugee numbers are at record levels and continue to grow. The construction industry is a major source of potential employment for migrants and refugees and emerging social and sustainable procurement policies in many parts of the world are also requiring construction supply chains to employ refugees and migrants as a condition of public sector contracts. However, there is virtually no research into the barriers that refugees and migrants face in seeking decent employment in the construction sector. Addressing this important gap in knowledge an exploratory survey of refugees' and migrants' job-seeking experiences in the Australian construction industry is presented. Results show that by far the greatest barrier to employment is lack of construction industry experience, followed by poor recognition of previous skills and experience. Recent migrants and refugees and those with the greatest previous experience of working in construction face the greatest barriers in finding decent work. Men from an Arabic background also experience greater difficulties than other cultural groups. It is recommended that policy-makers develop more initiatives to provide work experience and engage with construction employers about the challenges which refugees and migrants face in finding work in construction.

Exploring the workforce experiences of autistic librarians through accessible and participatory approaches

Understanding job seeking and workforce experiences of autistic adults in librarianship may help to create more inclusive practices in the field. However, the topic largely remains unexplored. This may be in part due to traditional research practices that do little to encourage meaningful participation from autistic adults. Ten interviews were conducted with autistic librarians in professional and paraprofessional roles about their workforce experiences, using inclusive, accessible measures and providing options for communication and participation. Findings reveal common themes for autistic librarians in the workforce, and also lead to implications for research involving members of the population. Based on findings, guidelines for future research are presented. By moving toward a more accessible, participatory research approach, qualitative studies can gain a better understanding of participants' lived experiences while producing work with practical implications for members of the population itself.

Gender matters in career exploration and job-seeking among adults with autism spectrum disorder: evidence from an online community

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the role of gender in career exploration and job-seeking experiences among adults with autism.Methods: The study drew on qualitative content analysis of 714 randomly sampled posts (357 by women and 357 by men) from an online autism forum. The stages of considering work: contemplation, preparation, and action informed the analysis.Results: The analysis showed several similarities and some differences. In the initial stage of deciding whether or not to seek employment, low self-esteem, rejecting paid employment as a life goal, fear of losing disability benefits and parental overprotection influenced both genders. Gender role and family responsibilities further constrained women. In the stage of defining career goals, common issues included the need for autism-tailored career-matching tools and sector-specific guidance, and lack of self-employment support. Women were further limited by assumptions about stereotypical jobs to which they should aspire. In the job search stage, overly specific job descriptions, a lack of social networks, and transportation barriers influenced both genders. While women talked more frequently about unfavorable experiences in employment support services, men recounted more difficulties with job applications and interviews.Conclusion: Gender-sensitive vocational approaches are needed to assist adults with autism throughout the career decision-making process.Implications for rehabilitationVocational psychologists, clinicians, and policymakers should help to overcome the psychological, social, and financial reasons that may lead adults with autism to decide not to pursue paid work.To assist in setting career goals, vocational specialists need to be aware of the challenges facing adults with autism across various employment sectors and provide them with tailored career-matching tests and tools.Vocational rehabilitation specialists and educators should encourage women with autism into non-traditional areas of employment.Vocational rehabilitation services should empower both males and females with autism by encouraging negotiation and self-advocacy, promoting autism-focused programs, and reducing paperwork and processing time.Vocational rehabilitation specialists should tailor their practice to the gender-specific needs of adults with autism throughout their career decision-making process.

The Job Seeking Experiences of International Graduates in the Host Country: Australia’s Lost Opportunity?

This paper examines the job seeking experiences of international graduates in attempting to obtain meaningful work in their university education host country. Qualitative feedback on the specific job seeking barriers and experiences in the host country after graduating were provided by 696 respondents. The findings suggest that the specific barriers to finding employment were their visa status, lack of work experience and perceived discriminatory practices of potential employers and/or their agents. The study also suggests that the discriminatory employment experiences of international university graduates demonstrate a lack of congruence between the concept of best fit in hiring decision making and a culturally diverse Australian labour market. Not only do the current practices limit the source of potential highly educated, skilled and culturally aware employees into the labour market of the host country, it also severely compromises an organisation’s ability to achieve workplace diversity; a strategic outcome necessary to compete within a highly competitive global economy.

The job-seeking experiences of resourceful female immigrants and the impact on their self-efficacy beliefs

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article is to examine how resourceful, job-seeking immigrant women in Norway perceive that the competences and education they acquired from their home country are received in Norway and how their job-seeking experiences influence their work-related self-efficacy and identity. The study is based on 26 in-depth interviews with female immigrants aged 25–67 years from 21 different countries, mostly non-Western. They have lived in Norway for an average of six years. They have clear career ambitions, have deliberately acted to achieve their goal, and are highly active in job seeking, and most of them obtained higher education in their home country. The interviewees exert considerable effort in seeking work, but their efforts are not fruitful. They experience a downgrading of their education, as well as their competences, from their home country. Because their active efforts have not led to work, they have nearly given up trying to gain entry into the Norwegian workforce, and their self-efficacy beliefs and identity regarding having a professional career are weakened. Their affiliation and position conflict with both what they expected to achieve and workfare in Norwegian society; their competences from their home countries are not perceived as valuable in terms of Norwegian expertise and employee qualities.

Spotlight on equality of employment opportunities: A qualitative study of job seeking experiences of graduating nurses and physiotherapists from black and minority ethnic backgrounds

BackgroundThere is growing attention in the UK and internationally to the representation of black and minority ethnic groups in healthcare education and the workplace. Although the NHS workforce is very diverse, ethnic minorities are unevenly spread across occupations, and considerably underrepresented in senior positions. Previous research has highlighted that this inequality also exists at junior levels with newly qualified nurses from non-White/British ethnic groups being less likely to get a job at graduation than their White/British colleagues. Although there is better national data on the scale of inequalities in the healthcare workforce, there is a gap in our understanding about the experience of job seeking, and the factors that influence disadvantage in nursing and other professions such as physiotherapy. AimThis qualitative study seeks to fill that gap and explores the experience of student nurses (n=12) and physiotherapists (n=6) throughout their education and during the first 6-months post qualification to identify key experiences and milestones relating to successful employment particularly focusing on the perspectives from different ethnic groups. ParticipantsParticipants were purposively sampled from one university to ensure diversity in ethnic group, age and gender. MethodsUsing a phenomenological approach, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted at course completion and 6 months later. ResultsTwo main themes were identified. The ‘proactive self’ (‘It’s up to me’) theme included perceptions of employment success being due to student proactivity and resilience; qualities valued by employers. The second theme described the need to ‘fit in’ with organisational culture. Graduates described accommodating strategies where they modified aspects of their identity (clothing, cultural markers) to fit in. At one extreme, rather than fitting in, participants from minority ethnic backgrounds avoided applying to certain hospitals due to perceptions of discriminatory cultures, ‘I wouldn’t apply there ‘cos you know, it’s not really an ethnic hospital’. In contrast, some participants recognised that other graduates (usually white) did not need to change and aspects of their identity brought unsolicited rewards ‘if your face fits then the barriers are reduced'. ConclusionsThe findings indicate that success in getting work is perceived as determined by individual factors, and fitting in is enabled by strategies adopted by the individual rather than the workplace. Demands for change are more acute for graduates from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. This is an issue for healthcare organisations seeking to be inclusive and challenges employers and educators to acknowledge inequalities and take action to address them.

‘Getting in and fitting in’: an exploration of jobseeking experiences of newly qualified nurses and physiotherapists from ethnic minority groups

‘Getting in and fitting in’: an exploration of jobseeking experiences of newly qualified nurses and physiotherapists from ethnic minority groups

A Tale of Sea Turtles: Job-Seeking Experiences of Hai Gui (High-Skilled Returnees) in China

A key feature of contemporary globalization is the increasing mobility of high-skilled talent. While for many countries in the developing world the loss of such individuals represents a longstanding concern, countries such as China have now developed key policies to harness their overseas talent. The article examines the job-seeking experiences of a key group of high-skilled returnees, after taking advanced degrees in Australia, discussing the outcomes in terms of salaries and length of time to secure employment, as well as analysing their advantages and disadvantages relative to their domestic peers. On the basis of survey and interview data, the views of both returnees and employers are canvassed, as also issues of re-integration and Chinese networks and values.

A College Student's Job-Seeking Experiences

The following is an account of one of my job-seeking experiences as a class of '89 college student—one among the first batch of graduates not guaranteed a job allocation. Although I know that human beings' joys and sorrows are not interjoined and experiences that affect me most profoundly may appear insignificant in other people's eyes, I would like to note down this one as a last memento of the termination of my college existence.

Kinship and Classrooms: An Ethnographic Perspective on Education as Cultural Transmission

Schwartz, P. and J. Lever 1973 in the male world of higher education. Pp. 57-77 in A. S. Rossi and A. Gilderwood (eds.), Academic Women on the Move. New York: Russell Sage. Sennett, R. 1978 The Fall of Public Man: On the Social Psychology of Capitalism. New York: Vintage. Silverstone, R. and A. Ward (eds.) 1980 Careers of Professional Women. London: Croom Helm. Stiehm, J. H. 1981 Bring Me Men and Women: Mandated Change at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Wallston, B. S., M. A. Foster, and M. Berger 1978 I will follow him-myth, reality, or forced choice: Job-seeking experiences of dualcareer couples. Psychology of Women Quarterly 3:9-21. Walsh, M. R. 1977 Doctors Wanted: No Women Need Apply: Sexual Barriers in the Medical Profession, 1835-1975. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

I Will Follow Him: Myth, Reality, or Forced Choice—Job-Seeking Experiences of Dual-Career Couples

Recent PhDs in psychology and biological sciences with spouses who were also professionals were surveyed; the focus was on their joint job-seeking. Couples frequently described egalitarian decision rules. But traditional patterns were also evident, particularly among the biological-science sample. Egalitarianism decreased in the actual job decisions made, but here the traditional alternative was frequently cited as a forced choice. Responses to simulations showed egalitarian decisions to be common under low constraint conditions. Constraints such as the need for a job and time pressure produced more nonegalitarian decisions. However, under these hypothetical conditions, the constraints were as likely to produce nontraditional as traditional following. It is suggested that the high traditionality of actual job decisions is, at least in part, a result of institutional constraints.