Group Career Counselling for International Students: Evaluation and Promising Practices

Authors

  • Snježana Linkeš University of Western Ontario
  • Fredrick Ezekiel University of Western Ontario
  • Ashleigh Lerch University of Western Ontario
  • Ken N. Meadows University of Western Ontario

Keywords:

career counselling practice, process & outcomes, career assessment, group counselling, undergraduates and early adults

Abstract

Similar to trends in universities across North America, Western University has seen a 134% increase in international student enrolment from 2009-2017. Enrolment increases have corresponded with increased demand for career services to meet the unique needs of international students. Group career counselling for international students wishing to secure employment in Canada was piloted as a scalable program to meet increasing demands. Participants demonstrated significant improvements in their career development process, including improved cultural adjustment, self-understanding, job search strategies, and interview anxiety. Through this study, we present a promising, evidence-based, scalable model to meet growing career development  demands among international students

References

Arthur, N. (2003). Critical incident methodology in research on cross-cultural transitions. In L. Moxham, K. M. Douglas, T. Dwyer, S. Walker, J. Wooller, & M. W Cornelius (Eds.), Discovery: Discovering research, discovering teaching & learning, discovering self: 2003 Women in Research Conference (pp. 1- 10). Rockhampton, Australia: Central Queensland University.

Arthur, N. (2007). Career planning and decision-making needs of international students. In H. Singaravelu & M. Pope (Eds.), A handbook for counselling international students in the United States (pp. 37–56). Alexandria, VA: American Counselling Association.

Arthur, N. (2008). Counselling international students. In P. Pedersen, J. G. Draguns, W. J. Lonner, & J.E. Trimble (Eds.), Counselling across cultures (6th ed., pp. 275–290). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. https://doi. org/10.4135/9781483329314.n16

Arthur, N., & Flynn, S. (2011). Career development influences of international students who pursue permanent immigration to Canada. International Journal of Education and Vocational Guidance, 11, 221–237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-011-9212-5

Arthur, N., & Flynn, S. (2012). International students’ views of transition to employment and immigration. Canadian Journal of Career Development, 12, 28–37.

Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. (2012). Canadian universities and student mobility. Ottawa, Canada.

Berry, J. W. (2001). A psychology of immigration. Journal of Social Issues, 57, 615–631. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00231

Berry, J. W. (2008). Globalization and acculturation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 32, 328–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2008.04.001

Bowman, S. L., & Evans, G. L. 2006). Career counselling with visible recognizable racial and ethnic minority groups. In D. Capuzzi, & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.). Career counselling: Foundations, perspectives, and applications (pp. 421-444). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Carr, J. L., Koyama, M. M., & Thiagarajan, M. (2003). A women’s support group for Asian international students. Journal of American College Health, 52(3), 131-134.https://doi.rg/10.1080/07448480309595735

Chen, C. P. (1999). Common stressors among international college students: Research and counselling implications. Journal of College Counselling, 2, 49–65. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1882.1999.tb00142.x

Citizenship and Immigration Canada. (2009). Facts and figures 2008—immigration overview: Permanent and temporary residents. Retrieved from: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/research-stats/facts2008.pdf

Corey, G. (2004). Theory and practice of group counselling (6th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Diemer, M. A., & Ali, S. R. (2009). Integrating social class into vocational psychology: Theory and practice implications. Journal of Career Assessment, 17, 247-265. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072708330462

Dipeolu, A., Kang, J., & Cooper, C. (2007). Support group for international students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 22(1), 63-74. https://doi.org/10.1300/J035v22n01_05

Flores, L. Y., Lin, Y., & Huang, Y. (2005). Applying the multicultural guidelines to career counselling with people of color. In M. C. Constantine & D. W. Sue (Eds.). Strategies for building multicultural competence in mental health and education settings (pp. 73-90). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Government of Canada. (2016, March 15). Stay in Canada after graduation. Retrieved from: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/work-postgrad.asp

Johnson, L. R., & Sandhu, D. S. (2007). Isolation, adjustment, and acculturation issues of international students: Intervention strategies for counselors. In H. Singaravelu & M. Pope (Eds.), A handbook for counselling international students in the United States (pp. 137–154). Alexandria, VA: American Counselling Association.

Lee, J., Koeske, G. F., & Sales, E. (2004). Social support buffering of acculturative stress: A study of mental health symptoms among Korean international students. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 28, 399–414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2004.08.005

Leung, S. A. (2007). Returning home and issues related to reverse culture shock. In H. Singaravelu & M. Pope (Eds.), A handbook for counselling international students in the United States (pp. 137–154). Alexandria, VA: American Counselling Association.

Ma, P. W., & Yeh, C. J. (2010). Individual and family factors influencing the educational and career plans of Chinese and immigrant youths. The Career Development Quarterly, 58, 230-245. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-0045.2010.tb00189.x

McCarthy, J., & Goffin, R. (2004). Measuring job interview anxiety: Beyond weak knees and sweaty palms. Personnel Psychology, 57(3), 607-637. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.17446570.2004.00002.x

McMullen, K., & Elias, A. (2011). A changing portrait of international students in Canadian universities. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/2010006/article/11405-eng.htm.

Moely, B., Mercer, S., Illustre, V., Miron, D., & McFarland, M. (2002). Psychometric properties and correlates of the Civic Attitudes and Skills Auestionnaire (CASQ): A measure of students' attitudes related to service learning.Michigan Journal of Service Learning, 8(2), 15-26.

Mori, S. (2000). Addressing the mental health concerns of international students. Journal of Counselling & Development, 78, 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2000.tb02571.x

Niles, S. G., & Harris-Bowlsbey, J. (2009). Career development interventions in the 21st century (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

OECD (2011). Education at a glance 2011: Highlights. Paris, France. OECD. Retrieved from http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/education-at-a-glance-2011_eag_highlights-2011-en

Oberg, K. (1960). Cultural shock: Adjustment to new cultural environments. Practical Anthropology, 7, 177–182.

https://doi.g/10.1177/009182966000700405

Pedersen, P. (1991). Counselling international students. The Counselling Psychologist, 19, 10–58.

Pedersen, P. (1995). The five stages of culture shock. Westport, CT: Greenwood.

Popadiuk, N. E., & Arthur, N. M. (2004). Counselling international students in Canada. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 26, 125–145. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ADCO.0000027426.05819.44

Popadiuk N. E. & Arthur N. M. (2014). Key relationships for international student university-to-work transitions. Journal of Career Development, 41(2) 122-140. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894

Pyle, K. R. (2007). Group career counselling: Practices and principles. Broken Arrow, OK: National Career Development Association.

Reynolds, A. L., & Constantine, M. G. (2007). Cultural adjustment difficulties and career development of international college students. Journal of Career Assessment, 15, 338-350. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072707301218

Rottinghaus, P. J., Day, S. X., & Borgen, F. H. (2005). The Career Futures Inventory: A measure of career-related adaptability and optimism. Journal of Career Assessment, 13(1), 3-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072704270271

Sangganjanavanich, V. F., Lenz, A. S., & Cavazos, J. (2011). International students’ employment search in the United States: A phenomenological study. Journal of Employment Counselling, 48, 17–26. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1920.2011.tb00107.x

Shen, Y., & Herr, E. L. (2004). Career placement concerns of international graduate students: A qualitative study. Journal of Career Development, 31, 15–29. https://doi.g/ 10.1177/089484530403100102

Singaravelu, H., & Pope, M. (2007). (Eds.). A handbook for counselling international students in the United States. Alexandria, VA: American Counselling Association.

Spencer-Rodgers, J. (2000). The vocational situation and country of orientation of international students. Journal of Multicultural Counselling and Development, 28, 32–49. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1912.2000.tb00226.x

Zunker, V. G. (2006). Career counselling: A holistic approach (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson.

Downloads

Published

2018-09-17

How to Cite

Linkeš, S., Ezekiel, F. ., Lerch, A., & Meadows, K. N. (2018). Group Career Counselling for International Students: Evaluation and Promising Practices. Canadian Journal of Career Development, 17(2), 45–58. Retrieved from https://cjcd-rcdc.ceric.ca/index.php/cjcd/article/view/78

Issue

Section

Articles