A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
International Graduates’ Exercising of Agency for Employability : A Decade-Long Journey (2022)

Lau, J. (2022). International Graduates’ Exercising of Agency for Employability : A Decade-Long Journey. In T. L. H. Nghia, B. C. Bui, J. K. Nachatar Singh, & V. N. Lu (Eds.), Graduate Employability Across Contexts : Perspectives, Initiatives and Outcomes (pp. 309-325). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3959-4_16

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Lau, Josephine

Parent publication: Graduate Employability Across Contexts : Perspectives, Initiatives and Outcomes

Parent publication editors: Nghia,Tran Le Huu; Bui, Binh Chi; Nachatar Singh, Jasvir Kaur; Lu, Vinh N.

ISBN: 978-981-19-3958-7

eISBN: 978-981-19-3959-4

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 03/09/2022

Pages range: 309-325

Number of pages in the book: 939

Publisher: Springer

Place of Publication: Singapore

Publication country: Singapore

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3959-4_16

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/83744

Abstract

Different factors drive students to pursue overseas study, such as better employment opportunities. Employability is used to describe the qualities needed for obtaining employment. It is an “active social process,” as one’s capitals and career identity transform with the labor market and job obtained. Using an open-ended questionnaire with five international graduates who pursued master’s level study a decade ago, this chapter investigates their enacted employability agency and related hindrances upon graduation. It also explores how the relations between the overseas study, their employability agency, and their present career. International graduates deployed various forms of capital when searching for employment in their home and host countries, and also when coping with personal and structural hindrances. Important aspects of exercising employability agency include the utilization of different capitals and social networks in the labor market, in addition to staying perseverant and flexible in coping with hindrances. Recommendations on bridging expectations and skills with the labor market are made in this chapter.

Keywords: academic degree holders; international mobility; labour market; access to employment; placement (work); career development; social capital; social networks; human agency

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 2