A qualitative exploration of initial career orientation construction during the school-to-work transition

Abstract

Purpose – This exploratory research addresses the limited understanding of how international graduates construct their career orientations during the school-to-work transition (i.e. the initial transition into work, sometimes also referred to as the university-to-work transition). It aims to unravel how these orientations emerge and evolve in the context of international mobility. Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on a one-year qualitative longitudinal study with 25 Chinese graduates educated in the Netherlands, we collected data through a series of in-depth interviews conducted during the school-to-work transition. We apply temporal thematic analysis to investigate career orientation construction over time. The analysis combines within-case and between-case comparisons to identify individual career orientation development and turning points and to distinguish the similarities and differences between individuals. Findings – We reveal that these graduates engage in a three-phase process of career orientation construction: (1) constructing, (2) assessing and (3) recalibrating. Within this process, we identify three patterns in how graduates shape and navigate their career orientation development: (1) steady, (2) gradual and (3) stalled. These patterns are shaped by both personal values and contextual factors, including cross-cultural transitions, social influences and unexpected events. Our findings uncovered two mechanisms underlying career orientation construction: self-validation and social validation, which help transform uncertainty into opportunities for learning and growth in their career development. Originality/value – This study extends the literature on career orientations by advancing a processual understanding of how orientations are constructed, assessed and recalibrated during the school-to-work transition. It further highlights the importance of multi-layered contextual factors in constructing international graduates' career orientations and guiding their career management and development during the transition. In addition, it provides practical insights for career professionals and international graduates.