1. Chinese International Students’ Understanding of Career and Attitudes toward Career Counseling Yina Wang and Anne MacCleave Carleton University, Ottawa, May 26, 2009

2. Introduction  Policy to globalize Canadian higher education; Canadian campuses internationalized  Chinese international students =23% of full time visa students (AUCC, 2007)  Universities offer counseling and non academic support  These services are underutilized (Popadiuk & Arthur, 2004) (Popadiuk & Arthur, 2004)  Chinese international students who are stay-oriented or return- oriented have career concerns

3. Purpose of Study  To explore Chinese international students’ understanding of career and attitudes to seeking help from career counseling services  Qualitative inquiry situated in a social constructionist theoretical framework  (Career is constructed subjectively or intersubjectively, it is ever-changing and dynamic, people construct careers from multiple perspectives connected to context, culture and history)

4. Literature Review: Meanings of Work, Job and Career  Work is “purposeful mental, physical, or combined mental-physical activity that produces something of economic value …may produce service to others as well as a material product” (Tolbert, 1980, p.32)  Job means making money to secure survival needs (MacMillan, 2007)  Career embraces notions of development and logical progression, requires more emotional investment and attachment and encompasses lifestyle including leisure activities (Adams et al., 1998; MacMillan, 2007)

5. Literature Review: Ever-changing Meaning of Career in China  (Ancient doctrine) Hierarchical structure of society)↓  (Founding of People’s Republic of China) An individual’s total contribution to communism and social improvement ↓  (After 1980s) The means to an end with focus on money, security and survival needs ↓  (Trendy) Empowering, challenging experiences and a part of life

6. Literature Review: Attitudes Towards Career Counseling  Chinese believed to mistrust and avoid professional help owing to family-bound tradition  Chinese students may be unfamiliar with such services  Emotional Expression: Asian tradition values self-restraint (Leong & Hartung, 1997; Sue & Sue, 1990) but Arthur (2008) claimed that international students need to talk about their feelings

7. Literature Review: Attitudes Towards Career Counseling (Cont.)  Directive versus Non-directive counseling styles  Counselor Preferences: Professionalism thought to be important  Some prefer counselors with similar ethnic background; others prefer Anglo-American counselors

8. Methodology Participants: 8 international students from Mainland China enrolled in senior undergraduate studies in 3 Halifax universities (Snowballing technique) Participants: 8 international students from Mainland China enrolled in senior undergraduate studies in 3 Halifax universities (Snowballing technique) Three semi-structured interviews (3 to 4 hours) Criteria of Quality: Are themes plausible and authentic? Are participants’ unique voices evident? Is empathetic understanding of their needs and concerns enhanced? Is the account coherent and meaningful? Member checks of transcripts Are themes plausible and authentic? Are participants’ unique voices evident? Is empathetic understanding of their needs and concerns enhanced? Is the account coherent and meaningful? Member checks of transcripts

9. Theme 1: Multiple Comprehensions of the Meaning of Career versus Job and Work  Some had a functional view of career  Others addressed emotional and personality dimensions … part of identity  Differ in level of generality  One saw no difference: “They sound exact same meaning to me” (Qiang) “They sound exact same meaning to me” (Qiang)

10. Theme 2: Attitudes toward Career Counseling Services  Negative experience: Job agents charging high prices to find a job (Jessie)  Positive experiences: friend worked for a job placement agency (Linda)  Career counseling on campus – experience helpful (Mingming)

11. Theme 3: Diverse Needs and Preferences for Career Counseling and Counselors  Differ in preferences for counseling style  Differ in comfort level with sharing emotions and personal concerns  No consensus on career counselor preferences (characteristics or background)

12. Discussion  All were somewhat concerned/bewildered about upcoming career choices –reflected a sense of responsibility and thoughtfulness  Dualist notions of collectivism versus individualism oversimplify complex phenomena  Participants expressed confusion and misunderstanding about accessibility and expense of career counseling services. When informed, they showed an interest

13. Implications  Cross-cultural research should keep current with social and cultural changes  Do not generalize Chinese international students as a unified group of people  Introduce career counseling services at orientation programs held several times during the year  Counselors should see themselves as mentors and role models

14. A Final Quote  I think, for the foreigners, we all have the Asian face – we have black hair and black eyes. They think we are Asian or Chinese. They think Asian people, or Chinese are all the same. But for the individuals in the group, we are different persons. (Mingming)