International students' job search strategies in the oil and gas industry of Newfoundland and Labrador

Abstract

In light of the periodic skill shortage problems in the oil and gas industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, this study uncovered the job search strategies utilized by international graduate students in the oil and gas engineering and earth sciences programs enrolled at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. The study also identified factors influencing students’ choices of job search strategies and investigated the role of the Memorial University, as a higher education institution in the Province, in providing services and support in students’ career search process. The researcher used semi-structured interviews to collect data. The findings indicated that students used networking and online job searches the most to seek employment, followed by the career services offered by the University Career Centre (UCC). Students chose search strategies based on several factors: the type of job sought; the influence of peers and word of mouth; the industry of interest; previous work experience; and the role of the UCC, which is considered to be both a search strategy and influencing factor. Two themes emerged from the data analysis: a) job search as a planned project and b) students’ perceptions of the oil and gas labour market of the Province.