Understanding and Responding to the Career Counseling Needs of International College Students on U.S. Campuses

Abstract

The authors believe that international students, increasingly visible on U.S. campuses, tend to confront unique career development challenges and often experience heightened vocational difficulty. In this article, the authors present 3 themes regarding international students' career needs derived from the current literature: career placement needs, individual factors mediating international student career needs and barriers, and help-seeking behaviors. Implications for college counseling professionals and suggested future research directions are discussed. Call

Revisão Sistemática da Literatura Sobre Características de Intervenções em Carreira

“…Mulheres mães privadas de liberdade apresentam necessidades relacionadas à educação continuada e treinamento vocacional (Laux et al, 2011). Estudantes universitários estrangeiros demandam estratégias para colocação professional, para lidar com fatores individuais que interferem nas barreiras percebidas na carreira e estratégias para busca de ajuda (Crockett & Hays, 2011). A partir dessas evidências, verifica-se que pessoas que compõem grupos diferentes apresentam demandas de carreira diferentes.…”

decision-making process inherent with hiring career counselors who advise international students

“…While scholars agree that the level of acculturation impacts the experience international students have in navigating their career development in the U.S., a variety of approaches have been taken to explore the impact. Research shows that students who have reached a higher level of acculturation are better able to assess their career development needs than those who exhibit lower acculturation levels (Baruch, Budhwar, & Khatri, 2007;Crockett & Hays, 2011;Heggins & Jackson, 2003). This is supported by the research of Reynolds and Constantine (2007) who studied 261 international college students from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and found that higher levels of acculturation stress lead to lower levels of career outcome expectations.…”

“…International students come to study in the U.S. with a unique set of needs and expectations that include stressors above and beyond the common challenges generally experienced by college students (Crockett & Hays, 2011;Leong & Sedlacek, 1989;Reynolds & Constantine, 2007;Tidwell & Hanassab, 2007). To better understand these needs and expectations, it is important to consider the acculturation factors that influence the experiences of international students.…”

“…In general, there is a stigma towards the use of counseling with many cultures outside of the U.S., which is intensified by a reluctance to disclose information (Crockett & Hays, 2011;Reynolds & Constantine, 2007;Yang, Wong, Hwang & Heppner, 2002). While academic counseling is more accepted, career advising is viewed more in line with therapeutic counseling and thus is not widely accepted by international students (Crockett & Hays, 2011).…”

“…Leaders in career development offices must respond to the needs and expectations of this student population who are often paying full-tuition and fees with little to no financial aid (Crockett & Hays, 2011;Spencer-Rogers, 2000). This demands that higher education administrators and career development practitioners dedicate themselves to research to develop the policies and resources in support of international students and their needs while on campus.…”