Career Prospects and Job Search Intention of High-Skilled Foreign Students in Taiwan.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine a number of the most important abilities foreign students need, to find employment in Taiwan and measure how much each of these abilities affect the students’ perceived possibilities to find work after graduation. Quantitative research approach was used to test the effect of acculturation, networking behavior, career decision making self-efficacy and awareness of Taiwan’s labor policies have on the perceived career prospects of foreign students in Taiwan and their job search intention after graduation. The participants were foreign students enrolled in a degree program in Taiwan’s higher education system. A pilot test involving 47 participants was used to establish the validity of the survey questionnaire, which was the main instrument used to collect data for this research. Once the proper changes on the questionnaire were made after the pilot test, 206 participants, about 2% of the population of foreign students in Taiwan as of 2010-2011 participated in the study. Hierarchical regression was used to test the study hypotheses. The research found that awareness of Taiwan’s labor policies and career decision making self-efficacy positively influenced foreign students’ perceived career prospects in Taiwan, while acculturation and networking behavior increased their job search intention. The effect of perceived career prospects on foreign students’ job search intention in Taiwan was also proved.The purpose of this study is to examine a number of the most important abilities foreign students need, to find employment in Taiwan and measure how much each of these abilities affect the students’ perceived possibilities to find work after graduation. Quantitative research approach was used to test the effect of acculturation, networking behavior, career decision making self-efficacy and awareness of Taiwan’s labor policies have on the perceived career prospects of foreign students in Taiwan and their job search intention after graduation. The participants were foreign students enrolled in a degree program in Taiwan’s higher education system. A pilot test involving 47 participants was used to establish the validity of the survey questionnaire, which was the main instrument used to collect data for this research. Once the proper changes on the questionnaire were made after the pilot test, 206 participants, about 2% of the population of foreign students in Taiwan as of 2010-2011 participated in the study. Hierarchical regression was used to test the study hypotheses. The research found that awareness of Taiwan’s labor policies and career decision making self-efficacy positively influenced foreign students’ perceived career prospects in Taiwan, while acculturation and networking behavior increased their job search intention. The effect of perceived career prospects on foreign students’ job search intention in Taiwan was also proved.