International Students’ Emotional Experiences and Reactions During the Transition to Employment

Attention to the emotional aspects of international students' career development and transition experiences has been overshadowed by education as a pathway for improving future employment. This secondary analysis study aimed to understand the emotional experiences and reactions of international students as they transitioned from university to employment. This study considered the multi-system influences that elicit emotional experiences and ways of coping. Interviews with 35 international students, in their first-year post-graduation, surfaced a range of emotional experiences that they associated with their coping strategies to gain employability and job search skills. The analysis highlighted three main themes related to international students' emotional experiences and reactions: (a) 'navigating warning signs and detours without a map;' (b) 'adapting to travelling solo and missing travel companions;' and (c) 'letting go of the destination and cultivating trust and hopefulness in the journey'. Implications for career support and future research are discussed.