Building careers abroad: Employability perceptions and capital formation of international graduates in Finland
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BUILDING CAREERS ABROAD: EMPLOYABILITY
PERCEPTIONS AND CAPITAL FORMATION OF
INTERNATIONAL GRADUATES IN FINLAND
Uni e si y o Jy äskylä
School o Business and Economics
Mas e ’s Thesis
2024
Au ho : Paige Shannon
Subjec : In e na ional Business and En ep eneu ship
Supe iso : Muhammad Su yan
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ABSTRACT
Au ho
Paige Shannon
Ti le
Building ca ee s ab oad: Employabili y pe cep ions and capi al o ma ion o
in e na ional g adua es in Finland
Subjec
In e na ional Business and En ep eneu ship
Type o wo k
Mas e ’s Thesis
Da e
17.5.2024
Numbe o pages
84 + 2
Abs ac
In e na ional g adua e employabili y is a highly discussed opic as mo e people
become in e na ionally educa ed. Theo e ically, he employabili y pe spec i e o
in e na ional g adua es emains ela i ely unexplo ed. To answe calls o
addi ional in e na ional g adua e employabili y esea ch and o ex end Bou dieu’s
heo y o capi al, capi al building and employabili y o in e na ional g adua es is
s udied h ough he Finnish con ex using he esea ch ques ion: “How is capi al
being o med h oughou he du a ion o in e na ional g adua es’ hos coun y
deg ees and how does his impac employabili y in Finland?” This empi ical
con ex is o in e es because in Finland, he e is a need o in e na ional g adua es
o con inue wo king in he coun y a e g adua ion. The e o e, he e is a
heo e ical and empi ical need o unde s and how in e na ional g adua es build
capi al h oughou hei deg ees o aid in hei employabili y.
Using 8 semi-s uc u ed in e iews, he in e ac ion be ween employabili y and
capi al building is s udied. Th ee pe cep ions o employabili y in Finland a e
iden i ied, including a lack o us in he job ma ke , ne wo k-d i en hi ing, and
unde employabili y. Findings also show ha cul u al and social capi al a e he
main ypes o capi al buil by in e na ional g adua es. To build capi al,
in e na ional g adua es use ou di e en mechanisms – cul u al in eg a ion,
building a ne wo k, de eloping job- ela ed compe encies, and exe ing in en ional
e o s – h oughou he du a ion o hei deg ees. As a esul o hese indings, a
new amewo k de ailing in e na ional g adua e capi al building and pe cep ions
o employabili y in Finland is p oposed, and p ac ical implica ions a e discussed o
sha e insigh s o solu ions ega ding in e na ional g adua e employabili y in
Finland.
Keywo ds: Employabili y, in e na ional g adua es, skilled mig an s, capi al
building, cul u al capi al, social capi al, economic capi al, symbolic capi al
Place o s o age
Jy äskylä Uni e si y Lib a y
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ 4
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES ............................................................................... 6
1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 7
1.1 Resea ch Gap ............................................................................................... 8
1.2 Con ex and Rele ancy ............................................................................... 9
1.3 S udy Con ibu ions ................................................................................. 10
1.4 Thesis S uc u e ......................................................................................... 11
2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ...................................................................... 12
2.1 Employabili y ............................................................................................ 12
2.1.1 De ini ion ........................................................................................ 12
2.1.2 De e minan s o Employabili y ................................................... 13
2.1.3 Human and Social Capi al ........................................................... 14
2.1.4 Syn hesis ......................................................................................... 14
2.2 Employabili y in he Con ex o In e na ional G adua es ................... 15
2.2.1 In e na ional G adua es ................................................................ 15
2.2.2 Unde employabili y ...................................................................... 16
2.2.3 In e na ional G adua e Wo k o ce In eg a ion ......................... 17
2.2.4 Skilled Mig an Capi al Building ................................................ 17
2.2.5 Syn hesis ......................................................................................... 18
2.3 Bou dieu’s Theo y o Capi al .................................................................. 19
2.3.1 Cul u al Capi al ............................................................................. 20
2.3.2 Social Capi al .................................................................................. 21
2.3.3 Economic Capi al ........................................................................... 22
2.3.4 Symbolic Capi al ............................................................................ 23
2.3.5 Syn hesis ......................................................................................... 23
2.4 Employabili y Th ough he Lens o Bou dieu’s Theo y o Capi al ... 24
2.4.1 The “Wha ” ..................................................................................... 24
2.4.2 The “How” ..................................................................................... 25
2.4.3 The “When and Whe e” ............................................................... 25
2.4.4 Syn hesis and Cu en Model In oduc ion ............................... 25
3 DATA AND METHODOLOGY ....................................................................... 27
3.1 Quali a i e Resea ch ................................................................................. 27
3.1.1 In e p e i e Quali a i e Resea ch ............................................... 28
3.1.2 Case S udy App oach ................................................................... 29
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3.1.3 In e iews ....................................................................................... 29
3.2 S udy Me hod & Da a Collec ion ............................................................ 30
3.2.1 Pa icipan C i e ia ........................................................................ 30
3.2.2 In e iew Guide and S uc u e .................................................... 31
3.3 Da a Analysis ............................................................................................. 33
4 RESULTS AND FINDINGS .............................................................................. 34
4.1 Pe cep ions o Employabili y .................................................................. 35
4.1.1 Lack o T us in he Job Ma ke ................................................... 38
4.1.2 Ne wo k-D i en Hi ing ................................................................ 42
4.1.3 Unde employabili y ...................................................................... 44
4.2 Types o Capi al......................................................................................... 47
4.2.1 Cul u al Capi al ............................................................................. 49
4.2.2 Social Capi al .................................................................................. 50
4.3 Capi al Building Mechanisms ................................................................. 51
4.3.1 Cul u al In eg a ion ...................................................................... 57
4.3.2 Building a Ne wo k ....................................................................... 58
4.3.3 De eloping Job-Rela ed Compe encies ...................................... 60
4.3.4 Exe ing In en ional E o s .......................................................... 62
5 DISCUSSION ....................................................................................................... 65
5.1 Theo e ical Implica ions ........................................................................... 65
5.2 P ac ical Implica ions ............................................................................... 69
5.3 Limi a ions ................................................................................................. 71
5.4 Addi ional Sugges ions o Fu u e Resea ch ........................................ 73
5.5 Conclusion.................................................................................................. 74
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 76
APPENDIX A ................................................................................................................ 85
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LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
TABLES
TABLE 1 Pa icipan In e iew P o ile................................................................. 32
TABLE 2 Pe cep ions o Employabili y ................................................................. 35
TABLE 3 Types o Capi al ..................................................................................... 47
TABLE 4 Pa icipan Capi al Building Ac i i ies ................................................ 52
TABLE 5 Capi al Building Mechanisms ............................................................... 52
FIGURES
FIGURE 1 Bou dieu’s Fo ms o Capi al .................................................................. 19
FIGURE 2 ”Wha , How, When & Whe e” Model .................................................. 24
FIGURE 3 Cu en Employabili y and Capi al Building F amewo k .................... 26
FIGURE 4 Da a S uc u e ...................................................................................... 34
FIGURE 5 In e na ional G adua e Capi al Building and Pe cep ions o Employabili y in
Finland F amewo k ......................................................................................................... 65
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1 INTRODUCTION
As he wo ld becomes mo e global, he discussion su ounding in e na ional g adua e
employabili y becomes inc easingly impo an . The numbe o in e na ional s uden s has
been on he ise, wi h OECD (2022) epo ing a 70% inc ease o in e na ional s uden s
be ween he yea s 2000-2021. In Finland alone, he numbe o in e na ional s uden s
inc eased 54% in one yea , om 4,595 s udy esidence pe mi s g an ed in 2021 o 7,060 in
2022 (Mig i, 2022). Howe e , hese in e na ional s uden s will no s ay s uden s o long,
as a e g adua ion hey will ansi ion o in e na ional g adua es and will become
a ailable o employmen . Acco ding o OECD (2022), in e na ional s uden s a e
ega ded as a g oup o “p e-in eg a ed” mig an s due o hei hos coun y deg ees and
amilia i y wi h he hos coun y. Due o his, his g oup becomes a aluable alen pool
o hos coun ies o e ain and employ ollowing hei g adua ion as hey a e iewed as
“ideal immig an candida es” (Han e al., 2022, p.163) by hos coun ies. Fo example, in
esea ch ega ding in e na ional g adua e e en ion in Canada (Esses e al., 2018), i is
no ed ha Canada iews in e na ional s uden s as he “ideal sou ce o skilled immig an s”
(p.2) and has made posi i e policy changes in o de o e lec his iew. Howe e ,
comple ing a deg ee in a hos coun y does no au oma ically gua an ee employabili y in
a hos coun y, as he e a e many o he ac o s a play which in luence an in e na ional
g adua e’s employabili y.
Employabili y is bo h an indi idual esponsibili y (Fuga e e al., 2004; Hillage & Polla d
1998) while also elian on ex e nal ma ke demands (Fo ie & Sels, 2003; Be n son e al.,
2006). In he skilled mig an con ex , ba ie s o employabili y ha e been esea ched
including liabili y o o eignness (Fang e al., 2013), skill pa adox be ween skilled
mig an s and locals (Die z e al., 2015), and ne wo k building (Al A iss & Syed, 2011). Fo
in e na ional g adua es in pa icula , employabili y ou comes a e impac ed a mic o,
meso (o ganiza ional), and mac o le els (Han e al., 2022). Wha con ibu es o
employabili y has been highly s udied and has esul ed in employabili y amewo ks
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(Hillage and Polla d, 1998; Fuga e e al., 2004; Sulli an and Al A iss, 2019). In hese
amewo ks, he concep s o human and social capi al a e included in wo models (Fuga e
e al., 2004; Sulli an and Al A iss, 2019) while he concep s o asse s and deploymen a e
p esen ed by Hillage and Polla d (1998). To ex end on hese concep s, Al A iss and Syed
(2011) s udied capi al building o skilled mig an s h ough Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al,
hus expanding on skilled mig an capi al esea ch which had p ima ily ocused on
human capi al alone. Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al b ings a en ion o o he o ms o
capi al in addi ion o economic, including cul u al, social, and symbolic capi al (Bou dieu,
2018a; Bou dieu, 2018b). Howe e , his heo y has no ye been used o s udy skilled
mig an s ex ensi ely, including in e na ional g adua es. As in e na ional g adua es
pa icipa e in capi al building h oughou he du a ion o hei deg ees, using Bou dieu’s
heo y o ex end he discussion on capi al building and employabili y would in u n
ex end he usage o his heo y in o new domains and con ex s.
Wi h nea ly hal o in e na ional s uden s planning o lea e Finland a e g adua ion
(YLE, 2023a), he s udy o employabili y and capi al building comes a a c i ical ime o
in e na ional g adua e e en ion in Finland. In his s udy, in e na ional g adua e
employabili y and capi al building is examined using he esea ch ques ion “how is
capi al being o med h oughou he du a ion o in e na ional g adua es’ hos coun y
deg ees and how does his impac employabili y in Finland”. This s udy ocuses on
in e na ional g adua es who ha e comple ed o a e in hei inal s age o comple ing
hei deg ee in Finland and ha e subsequen ly decided o s ay in Finland ollowing
g adua ion.
1.1 Resea ch Gap
While skilled mig an employabili y has been highly esea ched as a gene al g oup, a
dis inc ca ego y emains ela i ely unexplo ed: he pe spec i e o in e na ional
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g adua es. In e na ional g adua es a e hose who ha e s udied in and con inue o wo k
in hei hos coun y. Han, Gulanowksi, and Sea s (2022) p o ide a sys ema ic e iew
o in e na ional g adua e wo k o ce in eg a ion which d aws a en ion o he di e en
disciplines, hemes, and indings o li e a u e in his domain. Howe e , he
employmen and wo k o ce in eg a ion o in e na ional g adua es has no been
ex ensi ely s udied (Han e al., 2022), despi e i s complexi ies as i s own g oup. This
pe spec i e is unique as in e na ional g adua es a e no necessa ily new o a hos
coun y, bu hey do no possess he same bene i s as long- e m esiden s o ci izens.
This g oup has a dis inc ly di e en expe ience om bo h in e na ional s uden s and
highly skilled mig an s as hey ha e been in hei hos coun y o long enough o build
capi al, in eg a e, and gain an unde s anding o employabili y in he hos coun y. In
addi ion, he dis inc ca ego y o in e na ional g adua e has na ow speci ica ions o
ei he ha ing comple ed o ha ing nea ly comple ed hei hos coun y deg ees, a
dis inc di e ence om in e na ional s uden s who a e a a ious, unspeci ied s ages o
hei s uden li e. By u he explo ing in e na ional g adua es and answe ing calls o
addi ional esea ch in wo k o ce in eg a ion, his s udy will esea ch he in e sec ion o
in e na ional g adua e employabili y and capi al building.
1.2 Con ex and Rele ancy
Using Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al, employabili y and capi al building o in e na ional
g adua es, a subca ego y o skilled mig an s, can be s udied h ough he Finnish
con ex . The explo a ion o di e en o ms o capi al can p o ide a deepe
unde s anding o he capi al building ha akes place while an indi idual comple es
hei deg ee, as well as hei pe cep ions o employabili y in Finland. The Finnish
con ex is especially ele an as YLE (2023a) epo ed ha nea ly hal o su eyed
in e na ional deg ee s uden s s udying in Finland we e planning o lea e he coun y
a e g adua ion. This con e sa ion su ounding in e na ional g adua e e en ion in
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comple ed o a e nea ly inished comple ing hei uni e si y deg ees in a hos coun y.
Acco ding o OECD (2022), in e na ional s uden s a e ega ded as a g oup o “p e-
in eg a ed” mig an s due o hei hos coun y deg ees and amilia i y wi h he hos
coun y and due o his, in e na ional g adua es become a aluable alen pool o hos
coun ies o employ. As such, hei employabili y si ua ion is unique and u he
esea ch is called upon (Han e al., 2022).
2.2.2 Unde employabili y
One dimension o skilled mig an employabili y is unde employabili y.
Unde employabili y, o downwa d ca ee ansi ion, can be especially seen when
compa ing skilled mig an and local employabili y (Fang e al., 2013). Haj o e al. (2021)
no es how, o skilled mig an s, he inc ease o skills and educa ion does no mean
employmen will be easie o gain. While skilled mig an s a e echnically mo e
employable as hei skills and deg ees inc ease, hey a e s ill less likely o ind
employmen when compa ed wi h locals holding simila skills and quali ica ions (Die z
e al., 2015). This phenomenon, o he wise known as he skill pa adox, is especially
p e alen in Wes e n coun ies in o de o p o ec local o ‘na i e’ skills, and o he
me e eason ha high-skilled job compe i ion is compe i i e (Die z e al., 2015). Bo h
easons discoun o eign deg ees and skills, subsequen ly elimina ing mig an s om
high-skilled job compe i ions (Die z e al., 2015). This ac s an insu ance o na i e
deg ee holde s as i assu es he alue and s a us ha hei local deg ees signal in he
p o essional wo ld, in compa ison o o eign deg ees held by mig an s.
A ac o which can con ibu e o unde employabili y is he liabili y o o eignness,
o he wise known as hos coun y challenges and disad an ages aced by skilled mig an s
(Fang e al., 2013). Whe he i be h ough he o m o haza ds o disc imina ion o
haza ds o un amilia i y (Luo & Mezias, 2002), skilled mig an s can expe ience he
liabili y o o eignness h oughou hei employmen jou ney, beginning wi h hei job
sea ch (Ha cou e al., 2008). Fo his eason, i can be di icul o skilled mig an s o
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gain new capi al as well as deploy cu en capi al a ailable o hem. Ins ead, skilled
mig an s may need o u n o suppo wi hin hei hos coun ies o deg ee alida ion,
men o ship, language skills, o o he necessa y ac i i ies in o de o become mo e easily
ecognized by hos coun y employe s (Risbe g & Romani, 2022), and inc ease
employabili y and wo k o ce in eg a ion.
2.2.3 In e na ional G adua e Wo k o ce In eg a ion
A sys ema ic e iew conduc ed by Han, Gulanowski, and Sea s (2022) iden i ied 16 mic o,
meso, and mac o ac o s ha impac ed wo k o ce in eg a ion o in e na ional g adua es.
Cul u al knowledge, social ne wo k, and wo k expe ience we e amongs he eigh mic o
ac o s iden i ied which he esea che s no ed can impac wo k o ce in eg a ion and
employmen ou comes. The meso ac o s included ec ui men /selec ion p ac ices and
wo kplace no ms/expec a ions. Rec ui men and selec ion p ac ices we e iden i ied o
be signi ican p edic o s o g adua e employmen due o employe pe cep ions, while
wo kplace no ms and expec a ions we e iden i ied as a challenge which in e na ional
g adua es may ace when adjus ing o hos coun y wo kplaces. Finally, economic
condi ions, one o he iden i ied mac o ac o s, was ound o be a key in luence o
in e na ional g adua es’ decision o lea e o emain in hei hos coun y. While all ac o
le els p o ide insigh in o employabili y o in e na ional g adua es, an emphasis on
mic o ac o s will be conside ed in his p esen s udy h ough he discussion o capi al
building.
2.2.4 Skilled Mig an Capi al Building
Cu en capi al building li e a u e (e.g., Saksela-Be gholm e al., 2019; Pel oko pi & Xie,
2023) explo es how skilled mig an s build, main ain, and use capi al. Al A iss and Syed
(2011) s udied capi al mobiliza ion o skilled mig an s in he con ex o Lebanese
mig a ion o F ance. Using he esea ch ques ion “How do skilled mig an s om a
de eloping coun y mobilize di e en o ms o capi al in hei e o s o unde ake
in e na ional mobili y?” (p. 292), he s udy d ew a en ion o o he o ms o capi al
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in ol ed in capi al mobiliza ion, as opposed o o he s udies which had ocused
exclusi ely on human capi al (e.g., Al A iss, 2010; Beine e al., 2008). In his s udy, Al
A iss and Syed (2011) used Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al o s udy he di e en ways in
which skilled mig an s’ use hei capi al, while also using he heo y o unde s and he
in e connec edness o di e en o ms o capi al. Al A iss and Syed (2011) ound ha all
o ms o capi al – cul u al, social, economic, and symbolic – we e u ilized h oughou
in e na ional mobili y. Cul u al capi al was mobilized h ough academic quali ica ions,
p io knowledge o he hos coun y, and ob aining isas; Social capi al was mobilized
h ough pe sonal and p o essional ne wo ks; Economic capi al was mobilized h ough
economic suppo pe sonally and p o essionally; And symbolic capi al was mobilized
h ough he subjec i e and symbolic powe o each o m o capi al (Al A iss & Syed,
2011). Using Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al, in e na ional mobili y is unde s ood h ough
he lens o cul u al, social, economic, and symbolic capi al, and p o ides addi ional
explana ions on how skilled mig an s om de eloping coun ies use hei capi al when
aced wi h ba ie s h oughou hei in e na ional ca ee mobili y.
2.2.5 Syn hesis
In e na ional g adua es a e a subca ego y o skilled mig an s who possess a unique se
o ci cums ances and expe iences in e ms o employabili y. Due o hei leng h o ime
in hei hos coun ies, in e na ional g adua es ha e he abili y o build capi al o aid in
hei employabili y. Based on he abo e li e a u e on employabili y, as well as he
sys ema ic e iew o wo k o ce in eg a ion, di e en aspec s o employabili y and
capi al building ha e been iden i ied in he esea ch o skilled mig an s, speci ically
in e na ional g adua es. Based on he calls o u he esea ch on in e na ional
g adua e wo k o ce in eg a ion by Han, Gulanowski, and Sea s (2022), his s udy
ocuses on employabili y in he con ex o capi al building using Bou dieu’s heo y o
capi al.
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2.3 Bou dieu’s Theo y o Capi al
Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al, i s published in 1986, can be used o u he unde s and
and explo e he in e sec ion o capi al and employabili y. While economic capi al is
iewed as he p ima y o m o capi al, Bou dieu (2018a; 2018b) also in oduces he
p esence and e ec s o cul u al, social, and symbolic capi al, and i s ela i e ela ion o
economic capi al (See Figu e 1). In i s basic o m, capi al is desc ibed as he esul o
“accumula ed labo ” (Bou dieu, 2018a, p.15) (i.e., ime, skills, and esou ces) which
allows bo h indi iduals and g oups o con ol social ene gy. This plays a c ucial ole in
shaping he social wo ld, as social ene gy is gene a ed h ough he collec i e o ce o a
g oup, in his case being socie y. By unde s anding he di e en o ms o capi al –
economic, cul u al, social, and symbolic – h ough he g ea e con ex o socie y, i s
explana ion o he s uc u e and unc ioning o in e na ional g adua es can be be e
unde s ood.
FIGURE 1 Bou dieu’s Fo ms o Capi al
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2.3.1 Cul u al Capi al
Cul u al capi al e e s o asse s such as knowledge, cul u al goods, and socie al
ecogni ion which can be used as esou ces in he social wo ld (Bou dieu, 2018a).
Cul u al capi al is accumula ed o e ime and is di ided in o h ee s a es: embodied,
objec i ied, and ins i u ionalized. Embodied s a e e e s o an indi idual’s mind and
body as a esul o pe sonal in es men o ime and e o . The second is he objec i ied
s a e, an ex e nal o m o cul u al capi al which e e s o cul u al goods, objec s, and
media, such as pain ings o books. This o m o cul u al capi al is he only one o he
h ee which can be passed down o acqui ed ex e nally, a he han indi idually in es ed
in. Thi d is he ins i u ionalized s a e which is he o mal socie al ecogni ion o cul u al
capi al. Bou dieu (2018a) men ions ha his s a e o cul u al capi al has s anda dized
alue as i p o ides “legally gua an eed quali ica ions” (p.20). An example o o mal
ecogni ion o cul u al capi al in socie y is he ecogni ion o academic i les and
quali ica ions, such as Medical Doc o , Doc o o Philosophy, o Ju is Doc o , which a e
acknowledged and highly ega ded ac oss a ious socie al con ex s.
The impac o cul u al capi al ex ends beyond he indi idual. Bou dieu (2018a) also
explained how, due o indi iduals wi h highe cul u al capi al and hus powe , cul u al
capi al in o ms g ea e socie al as es and aes he ics, including d ess, speech, educa ion,
and in ellec . Due o his, Guillo y (1993) a gued ha cul u al capi al plays a key ole in
he es ablishmen o class s a us. Howe e , ega dless o how i ’s acqui ed, Bou dieu
(2018a) emphasizes ha cul u al capi al akes ime o acqui e and o o m. Whe he i be
h ough he in e nal ime in es men o lea ning o h ough he ex e nal acquisi ion o
cul u al goods, cul u al capi al is no ed o be an in es men ha only he in es o can be
p ima ily esponsible o , as pe sonal e o , lea ning, and socie al ecogni ion h ough
academic quali ica ions and i les canno be passed down.
Cul u al capi al in pa icula has been widely discussed and c i icized. Sulli an (2002)
a gued ha due o he concep ’s lack o clea de ini ion, cul u al capi al has been open o
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a ious in e p e a ions. This c ea es disc epancies be ween subjec a eas in he way hey
de ine and s udy he concep . Cul u al capi al and class s a us has been highly discussed
among schola s, speci ically ega ding he link be ween educa ional a ainmen and class
s a us (i.e., DiMaggio & Moh , 1985; DiMaggio, 1982; Guillo y, 1993; Bou dieu & Passe on
1990). Addi ionally, eminis schola s ha e had o dissec and de elop Bou dieu’s
cul u al capi al concep o align be e wi h eminis heo y due o and ocen ism
(Labe ge, 1995; Skeggs, 2004; McCall, 1992).
2.3.2 Social Capi al
Bou dieu (2018a) also discussed he concep o social capi al, which sheds ligh on being
a pa o a ne wo k and he associa ed po en ial esou ces and bene i s ha come wi h
doing so. Whe he i ’s a p ac ical, ma e ial, o symbolic ela ionship, ne wo k
membe ship p o ides membe s wi h suppo , knowledge, and ecogni ion (Bou dieu,
2018a). This membe ship gi es membe s c edibili y, wi h e en he me e men ioning o a
amily name, school a ilia ion, o poli ical pa y is enough o a gua an ee o capi al by
associa ion alone. Howe e , social capi al is no jus some hing ha is handed o ne wo k
membe s, bu a he some hing ha equi es in es men o main aining connec ions
h ough ime, ene gy, and economic capi al (Bou dieu, 2018a). Though he e is a
equi emen o con inuous e o , he bene i s o social capi al a e ins umen al in o ming
las ing connec ions which enable ne wo k membe s o gain aluable esou ces jus by
being a pa o he g oup. Howe e , ne wo k membe ship associa ion does no come
wi hou i s isks. As such, ne wo ks mus be ca e ul abou who is allowed access o he
g oup and he ules and condi ions equi ed o a ilia ion (Bou dieu, 2018a).
The unc ions o social capi al ha e been iewed di e en ly by many schola s. Simila o
Bou dieu, Coleman (1988) acknowledged ha social capi al is u ilized o a clea pu pose,
in which i is used as a esou ce o achie e goals. Howe e , Coleman (1988) iewed social
capi al as some hing ha impac s he collec i e g oup while Bou dieu iewed i as solely
impac ing an indi idual. Pu nam (1995) sha ed a simila iew as Coleman and expanded
22
on his de ini ion by including he aspec s o ne wo ks, no ms, and us . As social capi al
has been de ined in many di e en ways, Hawe and Shiell (2000, p. 873) ha e commen ed
ha
Social capi al is no “one hing”. I has ela ional, ma e ial and poli ical aspec s and
i may ha e posi i e o nega i e e ec s. I can e e o bo h dense and loose
ne wo ks and i akes on a di e en o m depending on whe he one is conce ned
wi h he indi idual and his o he immedia e g oup membe ship o he in e ac ion
be ween social ins i u ions.
Acco ding o Bou dieu’s concep ualiza ion, social capi al also has aspec s o powe
(Siisiäinen, 2000), especially when conside ing he possible in luence o ne wo k
membe ships and i s subsequen c edibili y. Due o his, Bou dieu’s ocus on indi idual
ad an ages di e s om la e schola ly de ini ions, such as om Coleman and Pu nam,
which ha e a mo e posi i e ou look on social capi al’s impac on he collec i e.
2.3.3 Economic Capi al
In e wined in he discussion o social and cul u al capi al is economic capi al, which can
be de ined as any hing ha can be con e ed in o money, including p ope y. Bou dieu
(2018a) d aws a en ion o economic capi al h ough he lens o economic heo y and i s
limi a ions, namely, how i o e looks social and cul u al capi al in a ou o pu ely p o i -
based exchanges. Fowle (2011) p aised Bou dieu o b inging a en ion o hese o ms
o capi al which we e o en o e looked. Though economic capi al can be conside ed he
ounda ional elemen o o he o ms o capi al, i alone canno explain he complexi ies
o he social wo ld, which is whe e cul u al and social capi al also play a c ucial ole.
Acco ding o Bou dieu (2018a), all o ms o capi al canno be adequa ely educed o
economic capi al, especially as some o ms o capi al end no o be as ins an aneous as
economic capi al. Fo example, social capi al is no acqui ed ins an ly bu is ins ead
honed h ough long- e m e o , ime, and consis en de elopmen o ela ionships. By
23
emphasizing he di e en o ms o capi al in conjunc ion wi h economic capi al,
Bou dieu expands on he comp ehension o cul u al, social, and economic capi al’s
in e play and hei ole in he social wo ld.
2.3.4 Symbolic Capi al
La e in 1998, Bou dieu expanded on his heo y o include symbolic capi al, which is
embedded in all o ms o capi al. I is an abs ac concep which is no necessa ily di ec ly
obse able o exp essed. Bou dieu (2018b) explains ha symbolic capi al is any o m o
capi al whose alue can be ecognized and gi en alue wi hin a social con ex . As
symbolic capi al is a o m o cul u al cu ency, i is signi ican in shaping s a us and
con ibu ing o indi idual powe wi hin socie y. Wi h powe and symbolic capi al being
closely linked, i plays a key ole in how o he o ms o capi al a e u ilized (Al A iss &
Syed, 2011). Legi imacy, au ho i y, and honou a e all esou ces ound in symbolic
capi al (Bou dieu, 2018b).
2.3.5 Syn hesis
Though Bou dieu’s heo y sugges s ha all o ms o capi al ela e back o economic
capi al, he in oduc ion o cul u al, social, and symbolic capi al d aws a en ion o he
ways capi al can be accumula ed, sha ed, and dis ibu ed. Money, p ope y, and o he
inancial gains a e no he sole con ibu o o capi al; Skills, knowledge, deg ees, social
connec ions, and he abs ac meaning behind he di e en o ms o capi al and hei
esou ces also con ibu e o capi al. These o ms o capi al a e in e connec ed and
in luence capi al building in ei he a posi i e o nega i e way. As an example, i an
indi idual has a lo o money (economic capi al), hey a e likely o go o a good school
(cul u al capi al), bene i om he epu a ion o he good school (symbolic capi al) and
ha e a lo o social connec ions (social capi al), which is likely o lead o good job
oppo uni ies and hus money (economic capi al). Th ough his example, he oo o
economic capi al can be seen in each o m o capi al, as well as he signi ican ole o
each o m h oughou he gene al capi al-building p ocess.
24
2.4 Employabili y Th ough he Lens o Bou dieu’s Theo y o Capi al
Va ious aspec s o cul u al, social, economic, and symbolic capi al can be seen
indi idually h oughou he discussion o employabili y, especially h ough he lens o
skilled mig an s. By using Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al o s udy employabili y, he
“wha ”, “how” and “when and whe e” o capi al building can be u he unde s ood.
Explo ing capi al building and i s ole in employabili y h ough “wha ”, “how” and
“when and whe e” p o ides a simpli ied b eakdown o he abs ac and o en imes
complex opic o capi al building (See Figu e 2 below).
FIGURE 2 ”Wha , How, When & Whe e” Model
2.4.1 The “Wha ”
Fi s is he “wha ” which expands on wha capi al can be de ined as. Bou dieu’s heo y
o e s ecogni ion o non-ma e ial esou ces ha impac employabili y. I is no solely
money o deg ees ha in luence employabili y bu also cul u al and social esou ces ha
p o ide ad an ages. Fo example, mo e language skills (cul u al capi al) may p o ide
mo e oppo uni ies o social con ac s (social capi al) which hen p o ides inc eased
25
employabili y oppo uni ies. By d awing a en ion o non-ma e ial esou ces, i
econside s how employabili y is unde s ood.
2.4.2 The “How”
The ”how” and “when and whe e” o capi al building and deploymen is based o he
s udy om Al A iss & Syed (2011). In his s udy, Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al is used o
unde s and capi al mobiliza ion o skilled mig an s. Ra he han isola ing each o m o
capi al and s udying hem indi idually, Bou dieu’s heo y allows o a comp ehensi e
unde s anding on “how” capi al is accumula ed and deployed (Wilson e al., 2007). I
allows oom o u he explana ion abou an indi idual’s employabili y by aking he
ocus o educa ion and abili ies exclusi ely, and ins ead shi ing i o o he ac o s such
as social ne wo ks (social capi al), language skills (cul u al capi al), o money (economic
capi al). This allows o a g ea e unde s anding o how capi al in all o ms ope a es
independen ly and in e dependen ly.
2.4.3 The “When and Whe e”
Finally, Bou dieu’s heo y can p o ide an unde s anding o “when and whe e” capi al is
buil and deployed. Tha is, when skilled mig an s use hei capi al and a which le els
(Syed & Özbilgin, 2009). The use o Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al in Al A iss & Syed’s
(2011) s udy deepens he unde s anding o capi al mobiliza ion and he in luence o
mic o, meso, and mac o con ex s on mig an ca ee choices. This p o ides a mul i-
dimensional unde s anding o capi al and looks a he a ious le els impac ing
employabili y, a he han ocusing on jus one.
2.4.4 Syn hesis and Cu en Model In oduc ion
Di iding capi al building and deploymen in o “wha ”, “how”, and “when and whe e”
b eaks down he concep o capi al u he o a be e unde s anding o how hese
o ms o capi al ela e o and aid in employabili y. When conside ing employabili y, i
is likely ha educa ion, knowledge, and skills will be conside ed he mos impo an
32
men o ships, and s uden ac i i ies a e included. In economic capi al, employmen and
addi ional educa ional in es men s du ing s udies a e included. Symbolic capi al was
no di ec ly included as i is an abs ac concep ound in all o ms o capi al. The
pa icipan s can openly sha e as much de ail as hey choose o h oughou he du a ion
o he in e iew. Once I obse e ha all he hemes ha e been discussed, he in e iew is
ended.
TABLE 1 Pa icipan In e iew P o ile
Home
Coun y
Yea o
A i al in
Finland
Cu en
Employmen
S a us
Cu en
Mas e ’s
S uden
S a us
Mas e ’s
P og am in
Finland
Age
In e iew
Type
In e iew
Du a ion
Pa icipan A
G eece
2021
Unemployed
Finishing
hesis
MSc in
In e na ional
Business
33
In-Pe son
35 minu es
Pa icipan B
Spain
2021
Unemployed
G adua ed
/ S a ed
PhD
MSc in
Educa ion
26
In-Pe son
33 minu es
Pa icipan C
Pe u
2021
Employed -
Pe manen
G adua ed
MSc in
Educa ion
25
Vi ual
38 minu es
Pa icipan D
G eece
2020
Employed -
Con ac
Finishing
hesis
MSc in
Educa ion
27
In-Pe son
58 minu es
Pa icipan E
Philippi
nes
2022
F eelance
Finishing
hesis
MSc in Digi al
Ma ke ing
35
Vi ual
48 minu es
Pa icipan F
China
2022
F eelance
Finishing
hesis
MSc in
Language &
Communica io
n
26
In-Pe son
31 minu es
Pa icipan G
Bosnia
&
He zego
ina
2022
Unemployed
Finishing
hesis
MSc in
Ma hema ics
26
In-Pe son
41 minu es
Pa icipan H
USA
2022
Employed -
Con ac
Finishing
hesis
MSc in
Languages &
Communica io
n
28
In-Pe son
36 minu es
33
3.3 Da a Analysis
In he in e na ional business and in e na ional en ep eneu ship disciplines, esea ch is
ad anced h ough heo y de elopmen (Magnani & Gioia, 2023). To de elop hese
heo ies, quali a i e esea che s end o use g ounded heo y app oaches in o de o gain
a deepe unde s anding o di e en phenomena (Magnani & Gioia, 2023). Using he
Gioia Me hodology app oach o quali a i e da a analysis ensu es ha igo is being me
while s ill allowing oom o c ea i i y o eme ge in sensemaking and c ea ion o new
concep s (Gioia e al., 2013). In his s udy, I used Gioia Me hodology o conduc an
in o man -cen ic analysis by using pa icipan s’ in e p e a ions and expe iences as he
basis o new concep s, connec ions, and heo y (Gioia e al., 2013). Ra he han a i ming
exis ing concep s and leading by heo y, he Gioia Me hodology allows o new concep s
o eme ge om he da a based on pa icipan expe ience.
In his s udy, he Gioia Me hodology analysis coding has been conduc ed acco ding o
Gioia e al. (2013). In he i s s ep, in e iew ansc ip s we e coded o common hemes
which eme ged om quo a ions and wo ds. In he second s ep, hese quo a ions we e
used o in o m he 1s -o de ca ego ies. In his s ep, o e 50 1s -o de ca ego ies we e
iden i ied, a numbe which Gioia e al. (2013) men ions is no uncommon when i s
beginning he analysis. Howe e , his was e en ually educed o 21, making i mo e
o ganized. In he hi d s ep, 1s -o de ca ego ies we e o ganized in o 2nd-o de hemes
which a e mo e abs ac , heo e ical in na u e, and in ol e esea che in e p e a ion. In
he ou h s ep, hese 2nd-o de hemes p og essed in o o e a ching hemes o 2nd-o de
agg ega e dimensions. A e he ou s eps we e comple ed, he da a om each s ep was
o ganized in o a da a s uc u e (see Figu e 4) which e en ually in o med he inal
heo e ical amewo k (FIGURE 5). While as a esea che I mus make sense o he da a
h oughou he analysis, he ini ial coding and 1s -o de e ms a e di ec ly in o med by
pa icipan quo a ions, wi h my own in e p e a ions eme ging la e in he 2nd-o de
hemes and agg ega e dimensions.
34
4 RESULTS AND FINDINGS
This chap e epo s he esul s o he s udy’s analysis. The analysis ocused on
iden i ying in e na ional g adua e expe iences ela ed o he dimensions o (1)
pe cep ions o employabili y in Finland, (2) ypes o capi al, and (3) capi al building
mechanisms. Figu e 4 is he da a s uc u e based on he analysis, while Tables 2, 3, and
5 show he p og ession o he da a analysis o each agg ega e dimension om
pa icipan quo a ions o 2nd-o de hemes.
FIGURE 4 Da a S uc u e
I. Lea ning nuances o Finnish cul u e
J. Finnish his o y and cul u e
K. Fo ming iendships
L. C ea ing pe sonal ne wo ks
S. Ac i e ne wo king
T. Seeking esou ces
U. Changing capi al building app oach
M. Lea ning Finnish
N. Connec ing wi h Finnish communi y
O. Joining clubs and associa ions
P. Deg ee ne wo king
Q. Building skills
R. A ending con e ences and wo kshops
A. Discou agemen du ing job sea ch
B. Hi ing doub s
C. Pe cep ion o us
D. Impo ance o pe sonal ne wo ks
E. U ilizing ne wo ks
F.Tempo a y Wo k
G. Con ac Wo k
H. O e -Quali ica ion
Cul u al Capi al
Social Capi al
Exe ing In en ional E o s
Cul u al In eg a ion
Building a Ne wo k
De eloping Job-Rela ed
Compe encies
Lack o T us in he Job
Ma ke
Ne wo k-D i en Hi ing
Unde employabili y
Pe cep ions o Employabili y
Types o Capi al
Capi al Building Mechanisms
Fi s -O de Concep s
Second-O de Themes
Agg ega e Dimensions
35
4.1 Pe cep ions o Employabili y
Th oughou he du a ion o hei deg ees, in e na ional g adua es ha e o med hei
pe cep ions o employabili y and expe iences o employmen in Finland. The analysis
e lec ed a lack o us in he job ma ke and ne wo k-d i en hi ing as pe cep ions o
employabili y, while unde employabili y, including empo a y employmen , we e
employmen expe iences o in e na ional g adua es. These a e shown in Table 2.
TABLE 2 Pe cep ions o Employabili y
Illus a i e Quo a ions
Fi s -O de Ca ego ies
Second-O de Themes
“E en hough I am en olled in a Finnish
school, e en hough I ha e expe ience...
wo k expe ience wi hin a Finnish
company, which has a p e y s ong
b and name, i 's p e y known. Yeah, i
doesn' look any easie .” (A)
"So when I saw ha i was gonna be
eally ha d o ge a job as a eache he e in
Finland, i was eally discou aging o me
in he beginning, and I was s a ing o
lose hope” (C)
“I was wonde ing i because I'm
in e na ional and ha makes me
in e na ional g aphic designe .
Some imes I wonde i … will Finnish
companies hink o ha ? do hey eel “Oh
we need o Finnish g aphic designe so
hey know wha kind o designs Finns
would like”, some hing like ha ” (F)
“I ied o kind o igno e all his like
opinions and commen s and y o, you
know, s ay mo i a ed and do e e y hing
ha I could o ge employed un il I
ac ually go his expe ience mysel , ha i
was me and a iend o mine om
Finland ha applied o he same posi ion
and he deg ee like was no e en ele an
on o ha . Bu she go an in i a ion o
in e iew, and I didn' … So ha was o
me like so, like disappoin ing” (D)
“My pe sonal opinion on ha is ha he
a e age company will s ill selec [a]
Finnish na i e han an in e na ional
pe son” (A)
Feeling discou aged du ing job
sea ch
Hi ing doub s
Lack o T us in he Job Ma ke
36
Illus a i e Quo a ions
Fi s -O de Ca ego ies
Second-O de Themes
"I hink he e's a ce ain le el o cul u al
expec a ions and compe encies ha hey
belie e comes om being a Finn, which
de ini ely, you know, you do ha e ce ain
cul u al compe encies ha come in o he
wo kplace om being a Finn, bu hen
when hey see o eign applican s, hey' e
le in a li le bi o a icky si ua ion
because hey don' know, hey don' wan
o isk hose cul u al compe encies ha a
o eign wo ke is gonna b ing in, hen
lea ing hem a li le bi messy [..]” (G)
“ I genuinely don' hink [lea ning
Finnish] would ha e made a big di e ence
because jus my in e p e a ion, I don'
eally hink i 's a language hing. I 's a
cul u al pe cep ion hing o you' e no
Finnish, hence I'm no ha us ing o you
capabili ies.” (G)
“Bu e en speaking he language, i 's
some hing ha he employe was so like,
mo e us in o ha , ha you know he
language, you know how ou cul u e he e
wo ks. So ha 's al eady some hing ha we
can base on you ha you a e local and you,
in a way, a e in eg a ed he e” (D)
“[The CEO was] Finnish, bu hey ha e
mo e han 10 yea s’ expe ience li ing
ab oad in Asia. So, I eel like he has mo e
us in in e na ional alen o example”
(F)
Pe cep ion o us
“So, i you don' ha e some pe sonal
connec ion wi hin a company as a
o eigne , hen i 's a lo ha de and he
people I ha e me ha a e o eigne s ha
ha e a good job, i 's because hey know
someone he e like I ha en' me anyone
ha jus andomly go a job, you know,
like you ha e o know someone.” (H)
“A some poin I was old by people […]
‘i you don' know somebody he e, good
luck. Good luck ge ing he e’” (G)
“[Th ough] my LinkedIn p o ile I’m now
linked o se e al, no jus se e al, bu
maybe a leas 10 people who a e
wo king in he Finnish communi y. So, I
hink ha 's a good boos o me. And
hen wi h my supe iso , so she could be
like a cha ac e e e ence o me” (E)
“The ad ice I go om [an in e na ional]
was like look o jobs whe e like being a
o eigne like ha is you asse .” (H)
Impo ance o pe sonal
connec ions
U ilizing ne wo ks
Ne wo k-d i en hi ing
37
Illus a i e Quo a ions
Fi s -O de Ca ego ies
Second-O de Themes
“I edesigned [in e nship company’s]
b and and he design, hei lye s and
well, designed a lo o hings o hem
and which was immedia ely pu in o
use… like immedia ely. Which was a
eally g ea expe ience and oppo uni y
o me o p ac ice and all his and ha .”
(F)
“I a ended, I hink wo o h ee alen
boos ips. And hen I came o know, he
Regional Coo dina o o [Company] […]
and om he e lou ished a con e sa ion
ha e en ually led o my in e nship” (E)
“I explo ed he possibili y o ha ing some
on campus jobs, I asked a ound eache s.
And hen he e was his one acul y
membe ha would need some assis ance
wi h checking o he assignmen s o his
s uden s. So ha was my i s gig wi h he
uni e si y” (E)
“They a e ying o keep he Finnish
employees much mo e han hey y o
keep he o eigne ones, okay. E en i a
pe son doesn' wan he job o doesn'
like he job hey will ge , i 's mo e likely
ha hey will ge like pe manen con ac
ha people ha ha e been wo king like
eally ha d and hey ha e been p o ing
like all he ime hemsel es and you can
see like how di e en hei wo k is. And
hey will ge like wo h ee weeks
con ac and hen i e weeks con ac and
I don' know hal semes e con ac . And
you know, always, li ing in his kind o
unce ain y” (D)
“And hen hey hi ed me as a nu se, like
o he nu se posi ion you don' need he
mas e s.” (B)
“I hink ha up o a ce ain ex en he e
ha someone would be o ced o ake one
o hose jobs unde paid jobs o sho -
e m o o empo a y o bes -case
scena io, aineeship o an in e nship, I
don' know i I would pe sonally do i
because I do no sha e he same desi e o
li e in Finland…. o keep on li ing in
Finland” (A)
Tempo a y Wo k
Con ac Wo k
O e -Quali ica ion
Unde employabili y
38
4.1.1 Lack o T us in he Job Ma ke
The indings show ha pa icipan s ha e a lack o us owa ds he job ma ke in Finland
due o eeling discou aged du ing hei job sea ch, eeling doub s abou companies hi ing
in e na ionals, and unde s anding he impo ance o us in he Finnish job ma ke .
Discou agemen was el du ing a ious s ages o hei job sea ch and by pa icipan s o
a ious employmen le els. Fo some pa icipan s, his discou agemen occu ed while
ac i ely sea ching o jobs, pa icula ly when ecei ing minimal eplies on hei job
applica ions. Fo o he pa icipan s, his discou agemen was also el when conside ing
he possibili y o s ay in Finland. Fo example, Pa icipan H no ed how hey ecognized
ea ly in o hei s udies ha i would be di icul o s ay in Finland due o lack o job
oppo uni ies o o eigne s, a ealiza ion ha many pa icipan s had as hey began hei
job sea ch.
When speaking abou hei eelings o discou agemen , Pa icipan s A and E spoke abou
i in conjunc ion wi h hei p e ious wo k expe iences and cu en educa ion. Bo h
pa icipan s had wo k expe ience in epu able o ganiza ions which hey assumed would
be bene icial in helping hem ind a job, wi h Pa icipan A no ing i has no helped. Since
inishing hei con ac wo k a a Finnish company, Pa icipan A had been sea ching o
a job o wo mon hs and had ecei ed no job o e s a he ime o he in e iew.
[…] E en hough I am en olled in a Finnish school, e en hough I ha e
expe ience... wo k expe ience wi hin a Finnish company, which has a p e y
s ong b and name, i 's p e y known… Yeah, i doesn' look any easie [ o ind
a job]. (A)
Pa icipan C, now a ull- ime pe manen eache , spoke abou hei eelings o
discou agemen du ing hei job sea ch. They no ed ha hey applied o app oxima ely
10-15 jobs wi h only a ew esponses om employe s, a low numbe compa ed o o he
39
pa icipan s who epo ed up o 100 applica ions. Pa icipan C compa ed i o hei
expe ience in hei home coun y, Pe u, whe e hey ecei ed minimal ejec ions when
applying o jobs. As hey we e amilia o he job sea ch s yle o hei home coun y,
he job sea ch in Finland el di icul .
So, when I saw ha i was gonna be eally ha d o ge a job as a eache he e in
Finland, i was eally discou aging o me in he beginning, and I was s a ing
o lose hope. (C)
This discou agemen also came in he o m o doub , as all pa icipan s had doub s
abou in e na ional hi ing in Finland. When speaking abou his opic, pa icipan s
men ioned simila opinions on he di icul ies o being hi ed as an in e na ional
including lack o language skills, companies no being eady o in e na ional alen ,
and hi ing p e e ences o Finnish na i es. Pa icipan A sha ed hei iew o his
p e e ence, despi e a ending e en s whe e companies spoke abou hi ing in e na ional
alen .
[…] I did go o hese e en s, and he e was a lo o alk abou how companies
wan o in e na ionalize hei wo k o ce. Bu I canno say ha I' e seen ha in
p ac ice, because a he end o he day, my pe sonal opinion on ha is ha he
a e age company will s ill selec [a] Finnish na i e han an in e na ional
pe son (A)
Pa icipan s B and D had expe iences whe e hey pe cei ed employe s p e e ed hi ing
Finns o e in e na ionals. Fo Pa icipan B i did no happen pe sonally, bu ins ead
hey no iced a hi ing change om in e na ional o Finnish p e e ence when a new
manage was hi ed. On he o he hand, Pa icipan D had a pe sonal expe ience which
hey el was un ai when conside ing educa ional c eden ials o he ole.
40
I ied o kind o igno e all his like opinions and commen s and y o, you
know, s ay mo i a ed and do e e y hing ha I could o ge employed un il I
ac ually go his expe ience mysel , ha i was me and a iend o mine om
Finland ha applied o he same posi ion and he deg ee was no e en
ele an on o ha [posi ion]. Bu she go an in i a ion o in e iew, and I
didn' … So ha was o me so, like, disappoin ing. (D)
No all pa icipan s had di ec expe iences ha o med hei doub s. Fo some
pa icipan s, hey el doub when applying o jobs o ne wo king wi h employe s.
Pa icipan F, who is wo king as a eelance bu is s ill looking o s able employmen ,
conside ed how employe s pe cei e hei in e na ional backg ound when deciding
whe he o each ou o hem o no .
I was wonde ing i - because I'm in e na ional and ha makes me in e na ional
g aphic designe - Some imes I wonde i … Will Finnish companies hink o
ha ? Do hey eel “Oh we need a Finnish g aphic designe so hey know wha
kind o designs Finns would like”, some hing like ha . (F)
Pa icipan E and G sha ed ha hey pe cei e ha Finnish companies ha e hese hi ing
p e e ences because hi ing in e na ionals could be a po en ial isk. Pa icipan G no ed
ha his could be because o he cul u al compe encies ha Finns sha e.
I hink he e's a ce ain le el o cul u al expec a ions and compe encies ha hey
belie e comes om being a Finn, which de ini ely, you know, you do ha e
ce ain cul u al compe encies ha come in o he wo kplace om being a Finn,
bu hen when hey see o eign applican s, hey' e le in a li le bi o a icky
si ua ion because hey don' know, hey don' wan o isk hose cul u al
compe encies ha a o eign wo ke is gonna b ing in, hen lea ing hem a li le
bi messy […] (G)
41
Pa icipan s we e awa e o ha inding employmen as an in e na ional is di icul . The
indings showed ha pa icipan s we e also awa e o he impo ance o us in Finland
which, as Pa icipan G men ioned, can come in he o m o us ing cul u al
compe encies. All eigh pa icipan s men ioned an elemen o us , ei he in Finnish
socie y o in he wo kplace, and associa ed i wi h c edibili y. Pa icipan D pe cei ed
ha knowing he Finnish language was a sign o us o employe s.
[…] I ha e go like many clues om [cu en ] job in a way ha ha e been a sign
o [p o ing us in he wo kplace]. Bu e en speaking he language, i 's
some hing ha he employe was so like, mo e us in o ha , ha you know he
language, you know how ou cul u e he e wo ks. So ha 's al eady some hing
ha we can base on you ha you a e local and you, in a way, a e in eg a ed he e.
(D)
Al e na i ely, Pa icipan G, who made he decision o s op lea ning Finnish a e being
disappoin ed by hei uni e si y’s language cou ses, pe cei ed ha Finnish was no he
main signal o us , bu a he wha he language i sel signalled o cul u al
compe encies.
I genuinely don' hink [lea ning Finnish] would ha e made a big di e ence
because jus my in e p e a ion, I don' eally hink i 's a language hing. I 's a
cul u al pe cep ion hing o you' e no Finnish, hence I'm no ha us ing o
you capabili ies. (G)
Pa icipan s also ecognized how us owa ds o eigne s can di e be ween companies,
depending on in e na ional expe iences o he employe s. A e comple ing an in e nship
wi h a Finnish company, Pa icipan F, who is om China, e lec ed on why hey hough
he company eached ou o hem.
48
Illus a i e Quo a ions
Fi s -O de Ca ego ies
Second-O de Themes
“[Wi h] Finnish people some imes he e is
like his awkwa d silence and i kind o ook
me ime o ge used o i in a way. Now I'm
used o i and i 's some hing ha I e en do
mysel some imes wi h o he people […] So I
would say ha I ha e lea ned also a lo om
he Finnish socie y ha helped me. ” (B)
“[…] e e y ime like especially las summe
in 2023, we would go o he lake, o he
o es , and hen do biking. So i was ine.
Like you' e disco e ing his pa o he wo ld
wi h a whole new pe spec i e. And i 's
in e es ing because I didn’ bike much in he
Philippines because i 's eally ho . Bu in
Jy äskylä, I was biking. And hen jus
explo ing he na u e as hey say. So ha ing
he li e wo k li e balance is… i 's eal. I 's he
essence o Finland” (E)
“[A] posi i e di e ence be ween he Finnish
wo king cul u e and my cul u e is ha my
cul u e is because i conce ns bo h o my
cul u es is he espec o he wo k li e
balance. You' e no going o be pushed o
wo k o e ime. […] The e's also e y low
hie a chy. So he e's no such boss like he
absolu e boss model, as i is in o he cul u es.
Like i 's mo e inclusi e which is ob iously
e y nice. And i 's p omo ing
communica ion and collabo a ion as well”
(A)
Lea ning nuances o Finnish
social cul u e
Lea ning abou Finnish wo k
cul u e
Cul u al Capi al
“My iends and my social con ex has been
mos ly wi h in e na ionals o wi h Finnish
people ha ha e been in e na ionalized, o
you know, ha e had like an expe ience and
hey wan o mee in e na ional, hey wan o
hang ou wi h in e na ionals” (D)
“I eel like coming o Finland was no jus a
new expe ience. Bu he e a e di e en
a enues ha you could go o. So, […] I y
no o es ic mysel wi h ce ain hings like
i 's no jus abou s udies. So, i 's impo an
also o make iends, o isi communi ies”
(E)
“People come [ o club] e e y Tuesday, and
many people ha e been he e o mo e han a
yea . So, I can say we' e no iends. Bu
we' e ‘[club name]-lainen” and hen ha 's
some hing ha b ing us oge he .” (F)
Fo ming iendships
C ea ing pe sonal ne wo ks
Social Capi al
49
4.2.1 Cul u al Capi al
Cul u al capi al was accumula ed in wo di e en ways: lea ning nuances o Finnish
social cul u e and lea ning abou Finnish wo k cul u e. Many pa icipan s had di e en
expe iences and app oaches in how hey lea ned o unde s and Finnish socie y.
Pa icipan B ound ha hey lea ned a lo om Finnish socie y h ough socializing and
began o inco po a e some habi s in o hei own socializing.
[Wi h] Finnish people some imes he e is like his awkwa d silence and i kind o
like ook me ime o ge used o i in a way. Now I'm used o i and i 's some hing
ha I e en do mysel some imes wi h like o he people […] So I would say ha I
ha e lea ned also a lo om he Finnish socie y ha helped me. (B)
Ano he pa icipan lea ned mo e abou Finnish cul u e by imme sing hemsel es in o
di e en li es yle ac i i ies ha hey did no do in hei home coun ies. Pa icipan E
spen hei i s summe in Finland isi ing Finnish na u e, biking, and unde s anding
wo k-li e balance om he Finnish pe spec i e.
[…] E e y ime like especially las summe in 2023, we would go o he lake, o
he o es , and hen do biking. So i was ine. Like you' e disco e ing his pa o
he wo ld wi h a whole new pe spec i e. And i 's in e es ing because I didn’
bike much in he Philippines because i 's eally ho . Bu in Jy äskylä, I was
biking. And hen jus explo ing he na u e as hey say. So ha ing he wo k-li e
balance is… i 's eal. I 's he essence o Finland. (E)
In a simila way, pa icipan s spoke abou lea ning he di e ences be ween Finnish
cul u e and cul u es whe e hey had o he in e na ional expe iences. Fou pa icipan s
(A, F, G, H) p e iously li ed in USA and e lec ed on he di e ences be ween Ame ican
50
and Finnish cul u e, as well as how hei p e ious in e na ional expe iences ha e
helped hem in Finland. Pa icipan A, who wo ked a ull- ime job a a Finnish
company o wo and a hal yea s du ing hei deg ee, lea ned abou he Finnish wo k
cul u e which di e ed om hei Ame ican and G eek cul u al backg ound.
[A] posi i e di e ence be ween he Finnish wo king cul u e and my cul u e is
ha my cul u e is because i conce ns bo h o my cul u es is he espec o he
wo k li e balance. You' e no going o be pushed o wo k o e ime. […] The e's
also e y low hie a chy. So, he e's no such boss like he absolu e boss model, as
i is in o he cul u es. Like i 's mo e inclusi e which is ob iously e y nice. And
i 's p omo ing communica ion and collabo a ion as well. (A)
Th ough lea ning he nuances o Finnish cul u e bo h socially and p o essionally,
pa icipan s lea ned abou Finnish cul u e and accumula ed cul u al capi al while doing
so.
4.2.2 Social Capi al
Social capi al was accumula ed in wo ways: o ming iendships and c ea ing pe sonal
ne wo ks. Pa icipan s made iends in a ious con ex s anging om mee ing a s uden
e en s, h ough hei p og ams, o by p oximi y. Fo Pa icipan E, making iends was
impo an o hem when hey came o Finland.
I eel like coming o Finland was no jus a new expe ience. Bu he e a e di e en
a enues ha you could go o. So I y no o jus es ic ed like, I y no o es ic
mysel wi h ce ain hings like i 's no jus abou s udies. So i 's impo an also o
make iends, o isi communi ies… (E)
51
Pa icipan s had a mix o in e na ional iends and Finnish iends. Pa icipan B and D
bo h commen ed ha hei Finnish iends had mo e o an in e na ional mindse which
made i easy o he Finns o in eg a e in o hei in e na ional iend g oup.
My iends and my social con ex has been mos ly wi h in e na ionals o wi h
Finnish people ha ha e been in e na ionalized, o you know, ha e had like an
expe ience and hey wan o mee in e na ional, hey wan o hang ou wi h
in e na ionals. (D)
Pa icipan F c ea ed hei ne wo k h ough a club hey s a ed. While hey
acknowledged ha his does no necessa ily make hem iends, i s ill p o ides a
communi y and a way o ne wo k wi h ellow s uden s.
People come [ o club] e e y Tuesday, and many people ha e been he e o mo e
han a yea . So, I can say we' e no iends. Bu we' e ‘[club name]-lainen’ and hen
ha 's some hing ha b ing us oge he . (F)
By o ming iendships and c ea ing o he pe sonal ne wo ks, pa icipan s ha e
accumula ed social capi al h oughou he du a ion o hei deg ees.
4.3 Capi al Building Mechanisms
While cul u al and social capi al ha e been iden i ied as he main ypes o capi al ha
pa icipan s buil h oughou hei deg ees o aid in employabili y, he e a e also
mechanisms h ough which hese ypes o capi al a e buil . The eigh pa icipan s
in e iewed pa icipa ed in a wide a ie y o capi al building ac i i ies h oughou he
du a ion o hei deg ees. All pa icipan s ook pa in a leas h ee di e en capi al
52
building ac i i ies, anging om employmen oppo uni ies o a ending s uden
ac i i ies. Each pa icipan ’s ac i i ies a e de ailed and numbe ed below in Table 4.
TABLE 4 Pa icipan Capi al Building Ac i i ies
Pa icipan
Capi al Building Ac i i ies Du ing S udies
A
Full- ime job, in e na ional s uden e en s, s a -up p og am (3)
B
Summe job a ca en al company, esea ch assis an , s uden
associa ion boa d membe , in e na ional s uden e en s, exe cise
classes, u o , educa ion con e ences, in e nship ab oad, addi ional
Finnish classes (9)
C
Res au an job, educa ion con e ence, s uden associa ion, p og am
ac i i ies, English eache , in e nship (6)
D
S uden ambassado , u o , in e nship, esea ch assis an ,
associa ion boa d membe , addi ional Finnish classes, con e ence
(7)
E
Teaching assis an , u o , s uden ambassado , in e nship,
eelancing, p og am ac i i ies, s uden associa ion, ca ee ips,
s uden e en s, isi ing In e na ional House, gaining ce i ica es
(11)
F
In e nship, ounding club membe , s uden ambassado ,
en ep eneu ship e en s, LinkedIn ne wo king, addi ional Finnish
cou ses, eelancing, hos ing/a ending wo kshops (8)
G
Tu o , s uden ambassado , ca ee se ices, s uden e en s,
semina s, ci y e en s, s uden s’ union e en s, in eg a ion cou ses,
acul y semina s, in e nship (10)
H
Online u o ing, eelance eaching, s uden ambassado ,
olun ee ing, in e nship, wo k s udy, babysi ing, p og am
ac i i ies, associa ion boa d membe , s uden e en s (10)
Th ough hese capi al building ac i i ies, ou capi al building mechanisms ha e been
iden i ied including cul u al in eg a ion, building a ne wo k, de eloping job- ela ed
compe encies, and exe ing in en ional e o s, as shown below in Table 5.
TABLE 5 Capi al Building Mechanisms
53
Illus a i e Quo a ions
Fi s -O de Ca ego ies
Second-O de Themes
“I only lea ned i o less han wo yea s i s
impossible o o make mysel sound sma
and p o essional, bu a leas I can show ha
I'm ying. I eally hope hey app ecia e
ha ” (F)
“I ha en' liked he Finnish language, bu
I' e been ying, like again and again o, o
lea n i and kind o ha e some con ac wi h
i […]” (D)
“I hink ha [lea ning Finnish] is a li le bi
mo e o a signal o wha hey unde s and as
in eg a ion, because I hink hei belie is
lea ning he language enables you
au oma ically o unde s and he socie y and
ge he cul u al compe encies o a Finn […]”
(G)
“One o he easons why I did, o example
u o ing, was because I wan ed o connec a
li le bi bo h mo e wi h he Finnish
communi y and also o unde s and, you
know on he highe le el o hings, how
does hei hough p ocess go when hey' e
b inging in s uden s?” (G)
“I did y o in eg a e by going o his
olun ee g oup whe e he e we e Finnish
people in ha g oup. So I was like, OK, I'm
gonna y and pu mysel in se ings wi h
Finnish people” (H)
“[…] When I hink abou i , especially
ecen ly, i I don' know a lo o Finnish
iends, I eel kind o lonely he e and I can’
hink o a lo o easons o s ay in a place
whe e I don' eally ha e connec ions o
iends ha I know locally. So i is one bond
ha ells me I need o s ay he e because I
ha e his communi y he e” (F)
Lea ning Finnish
Connec ing wi h Finnish
communi y
Cul u al in eg a ion
54
Illus a i e Quo a ions
Fi s -O de Ca ego ies
Second-O de Themes
“I was in h ee s uden associa ions […]
And ha was a g ea place o ge o know
people, plan e en s o he in e na ionals
and join hose e en s. So, I hink ha […]
eally had a posi i e impac on my social
con ac s he e ha in a way you ge o
plan his e en and so many people a e
coming in e na ionals o no
in e na ionals, you ge o mee hem” (D)
“We hough s a ing a [club] would be
an oppo uni y o us o ge o know
people who also like a and we can d aw
oge he and leas ge o know mo e
Finnish s uden s” (F)
“So, wi h he o e alls, I eel like I belong
in his subjec Associa ion, called [Name].
I a ended some o i s e en s like si s,
welcoming a eshman… I'm also an
ac i e membe wi h he pho og aphe s
[..]” (E)
“[…] [P og am] also c ea ed his
[p og am] co ee. So, i was e e y
Wednesday so ha you could go he e
and socialize and mee o he people and
know abou hei cul u es and expe ience
and connec wi h o he people” (C)
"I he e a e some classes om o he
uni e si ies ha a e join ly augh wi h
JYU, I ied o go o ha jus so I can,
you know, mee people om o he
uni e si ies, mee acul y membe s om
o he uni e si ies” (G)
Joining clubs and associa ions
Deg ee ne wo king
Building a ne wo k
55
Illus a i e Quo a ions
Fi s -O de Ca ego ies
Second-O de Themes
“I was seeing [s uden associa ions] mo e
like an in e nship. And ac ually, I did eel
ha I gained like a lo o wo k ela ed skills
om he e like kind o e en ge ing o know
how o un an associa ion like he
adminis a ion, bu eauc acy, see how hose
a e connec ed, he whole communica ion
be ween he s akeholde s and he
associa ion. Like o me ha el like,
se iously like i is a job ha , you know, can
be ans e ed […]” (D)
“I hink i 's a g ea oppo uni y also o me,
o example, o use some Finnish in [club
name] hen also o un a club, meaning I
need o ha e he skills o manage he
bu eauc acy s u wi h he uni e si y
because i 's di ec ly unded by uni e si y o
un a club in Finland. I hink ha 's
impo an expe ience […] Because
o he wise i in he u u e in e iews people
asked me, “ his is a Finnish company. Wha
kind o expe ience do you ha e in you
wo king wi h Finnish people? Can you be a
pa o hem?” The answe is “o cou se I do
ha e expe ience in he uni e si y whe e, o
example, [club name] mo e han 95% a e
Finnish people” and i 's p oo ha I can
become a pa o a Finnish communi y and
ac ually jus s a o become pa o i and o
build a sense o communi y in Finland. “ (F)
I was once wi h [O ganiza ion] so I ake
open [O ganiza ion] cou ses and hen also
in digi al ma ke ing we we e asked o do
Google Sea ch and Google Ads ce i ica es.
So I ied o like upda e because he
c eden ials ha e expi ed al eady. So I ied
o main ain hese ce i ica es and hen om
ime o ime I would look o online cou ses
ha a e ee and jus o basically. Lea n new
hings. Yeah, because igh now he hings
ha you need o lea n, a leas in digi al
ma ke ing a e jus ou he e in he In e ne
and i 's o ee. You don' eally ha e o
en oll in a p og am, and he compe i ion
now, especially in SEO, is qui e ough cause
a lo o people a e doing i now (E)
“I am e y ac i e. I lo e a eling, so I
always end o apply o con e ences no
ma e whe e hey a e. So I guess ha hese
kind o like o hem sho e m mobili ies
and also con e ences in Finland and also
ou side maybe has helped me wi h
ne wo king” (B)
“I did like a wo kshop in coope a ion wi h
he uni e si y and maybe i e o he
uni e si ies in Eu ope. Tha was held in
Es onia in Tallin. Tha was like one week o
wo kshop […] Con e ence aining maybe. I
hink i was aining o educa o s how o
inco po a e like echnology in educa ion”
(D)
Building skills
A ending con e ences and
wo kshops
De eloping Job-Rela ed
Compe encies
56
Illus a i e Quo a ions
Fi s -O de Ca ego ies
Second-O de Themes
“I ied o be ac i e and jus basically
widen my ho izons. Because you'll ne e
know whe e you ind you luck” (E)
“I’m pu ing mysel like doing a ious
hings like I'm doing a wo k s udy a a
dance s udio. I'm babysi ing o amilies
as well, so I'm ying o jus pu mysel
ou he e and make hese connec ions.”
(H)
“G aphic design is a eally small ci cle.
E e ybody knows each o he and when
hey make hi es hey make su e o hi e
someone ha you know. And I’m no in
he ci cle and wha I'm ying o do is o
ge in o he ci cle now” (F)
“I saw ha he e migh be an oppo uni y
o me in his in his o ganiza ion, so I
ga e i a y. I asked hem like, is he e a
oom o someone like me was in o
ma ke ing? And hen hey said, Yeah, we
could alk abou i . So i was abou wo o
h ee mon hs wo h o exchange o
emails” (E)
“I mo ed [ o Helsinki] o see i I ind any
like ull ime job oppo uni ies in Finland
and hen his job… I 's no wha I wan o
do - eaching isn' wha I wanna do long
e m - bu his job le s me li e he e,
make connec ions o y o make
connec ions he e” (H)
“And whene e I see some hing ha I
hink could be help ul o de eloping my
skills and cul u al compe encies, i i 's an
online class, I jump in o ha . Fo
example, he e was his in oduc ion o
Finnish his o y and cul u e. I ook ha
because I hough ha was ele an hing
o , you know, cul u al compe encies”
(G)
“I' e been ying o con ac [ he ci y], bu
I' e been also hea ing his kind o
expe iences o iends going he e he
ha hey jus ha e hem wi h he CV and
hese kind o hings ha hey ha en'
been help ul. So you kind o lose hope
a e a while.” (D)
“Bu om hose ypes o e en s, I a leas
go like a li le bi o , you know, some
ideas o ne wo king in Finland o
example, he big ealiza ion being you' e
ne e gonna ind a job he e h ough
o icial means and o icial channels [……]
Ac i e Ne wo king
Seeking Resou ces
Changing Capi al Building
App oach
Exe ing In en ional E o s
57
Illus a i e Quo a ions
Fi s -O de Ca ego ies
Second-O de Themes
So i helped me a li le bi change my
amewo k abou ne wo king wi hin
Finland” (G)
“Fo me, i was eally ha d o o ge in o
[spo s eam’s] ci cle. And a e a poin , I
was s a ing o ge annoyed. Like, in he
beginning, I was eeling ha ha was
ying so much, and you know, pu ing
so much ene gy and e o o ha . Bu
a e a while I was like, you know, sc ew
you like, yeah, I don' need his. And i
eally makes you eel.. I hink i eally has
an impac on you sel -es eem” (D)
4.3.1 Cul u al In eg a ion
To build cul u al capi al, in e na ional g adua es acknowledged ha lea ning Finnish
and connec ing wi h he Finnish communi y we e impo an o in eg a ion. Pa icipan
G sha ed hei opinion ha lea ning Finnish is seen an indica o o in eg a ion in o
Finnish socie y.
I hink ha [lea ning Finnish] is a li le bi mo e o a signal o wha hey
unde s and as in eg a ion, because I hink hei belie is lea ning he language
enables you au oma ically o unde s and he socie y and ge he cul u al
compe encies o a Finn […] (G)
All pa icipan s men ioned hei expe iences wi h lea ning Finnish, and many had
a ying in e ac ions wi h he language. Th ee pa icipan s (A, E, H) chose no o
engage u he wi h Finnish s udies as hey el i was di icul o balance wi h
schoolwo k, wi h pa icipan s E and H no ing hey would like o lea n Finnish a e
g adua ing i hey s ay in Finland. Th ee pa icipan s (B, D, F) ook addi ional Finnish
cou ses h oughou hei s udies, wi h Pa icipan B and D no ing ha hei Finnish
imp o ed du ing employmen oppo uni ies. Pa icipan F acknowledged how
64
hese kind o hings ha hey ha en' been help ul. So you kind o lose hope a e a
while. (D)
Simila o an awa eness o e o , he indings also show ha pa icipan s con inuously
moni o ed hei e o s in capi al building. As pa icipan s encoun e ed ci cums ances
such as he abo e one, hey ecognized he need o pi o hei e o s. Pa icipan G had
his ealiza ion a e a ending ca ee oppo uni y e en s o ganized by hei depa men
which had many oppo uni ies a ailable o EU ci izens, which hey a e no .
Bu om hose ypes o e en s, I a leas go like a li le bi o , you know, some
ideas o ne wo king in Finland o example, he big ealiza ion being you' e ne e
gonna ind a job he e h ough o icial means and o icial channels [……] So i
helped me a li le bi change my amewo k abou ne wo king wi hin Finland (G)
Fo Pa icipan D, he ealiza ion o pi o hei e o s came a e almos wo yea s o
being on a Finnish baske ball eam whe e hey ealized hey el like an ou side as an
in e na ional.
So o me, i was eally ha d o o ge in o [spo s eam’s] ci cle. And a e a poin , I
was s a ing o ge annoyed. Like, in he beginning, I was eeling ha ha was
ying so much, and you know, pu ing so much ene gy and e o o ha . Bu a e
a while I was like, you know, sc ew you like, yeah, I don' need his. And i eally
makes you eel... I hink i eally has an impac on you sel -es eem […] (D)
In bo h he ac i e pu sui o capi al building and he pi o ing o app oaches,
pa icipan s exe ed in en ional e o s in o capi al building h oughou he du a ion o
hei deg ees.
65
5 DISCUSSION
This chap e discusses he s udy indings in ela ion o he main esea ch ques ion.
Theo e ical and p ac ical implica ions a e discussed, and a p oposed amewo k is
in oduced. S udy limi a ions, u u e esea ch a enues, and inal conclusions a e also
discussed.
5.1 Theo e ical Implica ions
FIGURE 5 In e na ional G adua e Capi al Building and Pe cep ions o Employabili y in Finland
F amewo k
This s udy’s analysis explo ed in e na ional g adua e expe iences ela ed o he
dimensions o (1) pe cep ions o employabili y in Finland, (2) ypes o capi al, and (3)
capi al building mechanisms. Using he esea ch ques ion “How is capi al being o med
h oughou he du a ion o in e na ional g adua es’ hos coun y deg ees and how does
Capi al Building
Mechanisms
1. Cul u al In eg a ion
2. Building a Ne wo k
3. De eloping Job-Rela ed
Compe encies
4. Exe ing In en ional E o
Pe cep ions o
Employabili y
1. Lack o T us in he Job
Ma ke
2. Ne wo k-D i en Hi ing
3. Unde employabili y
Types o Capi al
1. Cul u al Capi al
2. Social Capi al
66
his impac employabili y in Finland?”, his s udy explo es how in e na ional g adua es
(1) build di e en o ms o capi al h oughou he du a ion o hei hos coun y deg ees
and (2) he pe cep ions o employabili y in hos coun ies. When analyzing he indings
om his s udy in conjunc ion wi h ele an li e a u e, his s udy makes h ee
con ibu ions o employabili y li e a u e.
Fi s , his s udy p oposes a amewo k which displays capi al building p ocesses and
how capi al building and employabili y in e ac (See Figu e 5). Using Bou dieu’s heo y
o capi al (Bou dieu, 2018a; Bou dieu, 2018b), his amewo k p o ides an unde s anding
o which ypes o capi al a e commonly buil by in e na ional g adua es and o e s ou
ways in which capi al is buil h oughou he du a ion o a hos coun y deg ee. Simila
o Al A iss and Syed (2011), his highligh s he impo ance o s udying a ious o ms o
capi al ou side o human capi al in o de o gain a comp ehensi e unde s anding o
capi al building. This amewo k also p oposes ha capi al building con ibu es o
pe cep ions o employabili y as in e na ional g adua es o m hese pe cep ions while
u ilizing capi al building mechanisms. The double a ow displays how capi al building
mechanisms and pe cep ions o employabili y ac as eedback loops o each o he , whe e
in e na ional g adua es will ei he build capi al o o m pe cep ions in esponse o he
o he . Addi ionally, he amewo k encompasses capi al building and pe cep ions o
employabili y ac o s a all le els o analysis (mic o, meso, and mac o) simila o Han,
Gulanowski, and Sea s (2022). Speci ically o pe cep ions o employabili y, i displays
how employabili y is in luenced by in e nal and ex e nal componen s. This amewo k
highligh s he capi al building p ocess o in e na ional g adua es while also p oposing
ha capi al building and employabili y can be s udied oge he o gain a comp ehensi e
unde s anding o in e na ional g adua e hos coun y employabili y.
Second, he indings ex end in e na ional g adua e employabili y li e a u e, an unde -
s udied g oup in skilled mig an esea ch. As calls o addi ional esea ch o
in e na ional g adua e wo k o ce in eg a ion had been made (Han e al., 2022), his s udy
67
esponded by explo ing employabili y o in e na ional g adua es wi h he addi ion o
capi al building. Simila o li e a u e on skilled mig an employabili y (Fang e al. 2013;
Luo & Mezias, 2002; Ha cou e al., 2008; Die z e al., 2015), in e na ional g adua es also
expe ience liabili y o o eignness. In his s udy, in e na ional g adua es expe ienced
liabili y o o eignness as he lack o us in he job ma ke and ne wo k-d i en hi ing
impac s hei po en ial o be employed. Addi ionally, in e na ional g adua es encoun e
unde employabili y di icul ies du ing hei job sea ch which is consis en wi h liabili y
o o eignness esea ch (Ha cou e al., 2008). These di icul ies include inconsis en
employmen and skill pa adox (Die z e al., 2015) which con ibu e o o e -quali ica ion
and hi ing doub s.
This s udy also ex ends li e a u e on in e nal and ex e nal employabili y (e.g. Fuga e e
al., 2004; Hillage & Polla d 1998; Fo ie & Sels, 2003; Be n son e al., 2006) by explo ing
addi ional ac o s which impac employabili y. In e nally, he indings show ha
employabili y can be aided by building capi al, including cul u al in eg a ion, building a
ne wo k, de eloping job- ela ed compe encies, and exe ing in en ional e o s. The
indings also show ha lack o us in he job ma ke , speci ically when de eloped om
he pe cep ion o us in Finnish cul u e, is an addi ional ex e nal ac o as indi iduals
canno con ol cul u al di e ences. Addi ionally, unde s anding he nuances o ne wo k-
d i en hi ing is bo h inside and ou side indi idual con ol as indi iduals can lea n o
na iga e hese disc epancies bu a e s ill subjec o expe iencing hem. These indings a e
consis en wi h esea ch (Hillage & Polla d, 1998) abou employabili y being in luenced
by mul iple ac o s, a he han jus ex e nal o in e nal. In addi ion, his s udy ound
ha pe cep ions o employabili y and capi al building mechanisms in luence each o he .
This is seen pa icula ly as in e na ional g adua es exe in en ional e o s as a capi al
building mechanism, wi h many pa icipan s ac i ely pu suing ne wo king
oppo uni ies and addi ional esou ces o aid in hei employabili y. As in e na ional
g adua es we e awa e o hei liabili y o o eignness, hey exe ed addi ional e o s in
o de o be mo e ecognizable by Finnish employe s, suppo ing esea ch ha skilled
68
mig an s u n o suppo o become alida ed by hos coun y employe s (Risbe g &
Romani, 2022). This esul o mu ual in luence o pe cep ions o employabili y and
capi al building mechanisms de ails he inne wo kings o how pe cep ions o
employabili y a e o med and how hese pe cep ions can be used o adap capi al
building mechanisms in o de o inc ease employabili y.
Finally, his s udy ex ends he heo e ical lens o Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al by
demons a ing how capi al is buil h oughou he du a ion o in e na ional g adua es’
hos coun y deg ees and how i in luences pe cep ions o employabili y. In skilled
mig an employabili y li e a u e, ypes o capi al end o be s udied indi idually using
Bou dieu’s heo y o capi al a he han collec i ely (e.g., See Aksakal & Schmid , 2021
o cul u al capi al; and Saksela-Be hgolm, 2020 o social capi al). In capi al building
li e a u e (Al A iss & Syed, 2011), capi al has only begun o be s udied collec i ely using
Bou dieu’s heo y in i s en i e y. To expand on ea lie esea ch, his cu en s udy’s
indings show how cul u al and social capi al a e equally aluable o in e na ional
g adua e employabili y pu poses, as opposed o human capi al o solely educa ion o
wo k expe ience. While all ou ypes o capi al we e s udied, indings show ha cul u al
capi al and social capi al a e mos p e alen o in e na ional g adua es. Pa icula ly,
cul u al capi al is in he o m o lea ning nuances o Finnish social cul u e and wo king
cul u e, while social capi al is in he o m o o ming iendships and c ea ing pe sonal
ne wo ks. The way hese ypes o capi al a e buil e e s o he mechanisms u ilized by
in e na ional g adua es. Cul u al capi al is buil h ough cul u al in eg a ion in Finnish
socie y, while social capi al is buil and main ained h ough building a ne wo k. As
capi al con ibu es o employabili y, he lens o Bou dieu’s heo y p o ides
comp ehensi e examina ion o hese concep s and a deepe unde s anding o how hey
in e ac .
Addi ionally, his s udy ex ends Bou dieu’s heo e ical lens by in oducing a “Wha ,
How, When and Whe e” model (Figu e 2) o u he b eak down he concep o capi al
69
building. The indings show he wo ypes o capi al which in e na ional g adua es build
in h oughou hei deg ees, which is he “wha ”. The ou capi al building mechanisms
a e he “how” which de ails how in e na ional g adua es build capi al, bo h speci ically
wi hin social and cul u al capi al, as well as he gene al p ocess o doing so h ough
exe ing in en ional e o s. Addi ionally, he indings show he “when and whe e” o
capi al building which is done a di e en s ages and in di e en places. The indings
show ha in e na ional g adua es de e mine “when” o build capi al depending on
a ious ac o s. Fo example, o cul u al capi al, pa icipan s choose o con inue lea ning
Finnish depending on academic demands and mo i a ion, while o he s plan in ad ance
o lea n Finnish a e g adua ion. Fo social capi al, in e na ional g adua es plan o
a end semina s, co ee cha s, o e en s in pu sue o ne wo king. As o “whe e”,
in e na ional g adua es ac i ely look o places and oppo uni ies o build capi al, as seen
h ough joining associa ions and clubs, pu suing in e nships and o he wo king
oppo uni ies, and ac i ely lea ning Finnish. By using his “wha , how, when and whe e”
model o s udy capi al building, Bou dieu’s heo y is ex ended by b eaking down he
speci ic o capi al building, as well as expanding he heo y in o employabili y esea ch
use.
5.2 P ac ical Implica ions
This s udy’s indings p o ide p ac ical insigh o in e na ional g adua es looking o
build capi al, highe educa ion ins i u ions, employe s, and hos coun y policymake s.
Fi s , his s udy in o ms in e na ional g adua es abou he wo mos common ypes o
capi al buil du ing hos coun y deg ees and he capi al building mechanisms ha a e
u ilized in o de o build hese ypes o capi al. As no ed in p e ious li e a u e (Al A iss
& Syed, 2011), human capi al ends o be he ype o capi al which is mos hea ily
esea ched o skilled mig an s. As such, i is likely ha in e na ional g adua es a e
al eady awa e o he impo ance o inc easing knowledge, skills, and abili ies ei he
70
h ough educa ion o employmen . Howe e , his s udy b ings a en ion o he o he
o ms o capi al which a e impo an o employabili y, hus b oadening he ange o
capi al building ac i i ies ha in e na ional g adua es can pa icipa e in h oughou hei
deg ees. This s udy is o pa icula in e es o in e na ional g adua es in Finland, as he
s udy highligh ed he impo ance o cul u al and social capi al in Finland, pa icula ly
he in eg a ion and ne wo k de elopmen , o employabili y. As such, in e na ional
g adua es can use his s udy o gain insigh on wha mechanisms hey can u ilize
h oughou hei deg ees o inc ease hei employabili y a e g adua ion.
Second, he indings p o ide insigh o highe educa ion policymake s as a way o gain
an unde s anding o s uden e o s and pe spec i es in e ms o capi al building and
employabili y. In his s udy, all in e na ional g adua es pa icipa ed in a leas h ee
capi al building ac i i ies, and all pa icipan s had a leas one paid employmen
h oughou he du a ion o hei deg ees. Despi e his, all g adua es encoun e ed
di icul ies in hei job sea ch. As such, his s udy b ings a en ion o he a ious ac i i ies
which in e na ional g adua es engage in h oughou hei deg ees. Speci ically, i
highligh s he e o s exe ed alongside hei s udies, which p o ides highe educa ion
policymake s wi h a deepe unde s anding o how g adua es build capi al and inc ease
employabili y. In addi ion, his s udy shows he pe cep ions o employabili y o
in e na ional g adua es in Finland which in o ms highe educa ion policymake s o he
gene al ou look ha in e na ional g adua es ha e on employabili y in Finland. By
b inging a en ion o bo h in e na ional g adua e capi al building e o s and pe cep ions
o employabili y, highe educa ion policymake s can use his s udy o in o m u u e
p og amming and ailo i o employabili y necessi ies in Finland, such as ne wo king
oppo uni ies o inc eased in eg a ion e o s, among o he s.
Thi d, as he indings highligh ed he di e en pe cep ions o employabili y ha
in e na ional g adua es ha e in Finland, his s udy b ings awa eness o in e na ional
g adua e pe cep ions and ba ie s o employabili y. Fo companies seeking in e na ional
71
g adua e alen , unde s anding pe cep ions such as us , cul u al compe encies, and
language capabili ies aids in iden i ying he ba ie s o bo h pa ies. As such, his can
in o m hi ing p ac ices and ec ui men e o s o companies and highligh po en ial
wo kplace cul u e ba ie s.
Finally, while his s udy was done in he Finnish con ex , o he hos coun ies could use
his s udy o unde s and he e o exe ed by in e na ional g adua es in o de o build
capi al h oughou hei deg ees. I hos coun ies ha e he pe cep ion ha in e na ional
g adua es gene ally a e no making an e o o in eg a e o inc ease hei employabili y,
his s udy p o ides a small insigh ha in e na ional g adua es do a emp o build
capi al and employabili y. As such, his could aid in he ex ension o job sea ching isas
a e g adua ion i hos coun ies ecognize he e o s being made by in e na ional
g adua es. Especially in he Finnish con ex , his p o ides addi ional insigh as o why
in e na ional g adua es may eel i is necessa y o lea e Finland ollowing hei
g adua ion. This s udy’s di ec quo a ions om in e na ional g adua es hemsel es
p o ides his insigh as hey sha e hei pe sonal capi al building expe iences and
pe cep ions o employabili y. As Finland looks o inc ease he numbe o in e na ional
g adua es ha s ay o wo k in Finland, his s udy p o ides insigh on how ba ie s impac
in e na ional g adua e employabili y. Howe e , u ilizing hese indings o change
policies and pe cep ions o all pa ies - in e na ional g adua es, highe educa ion
ins i u ions, employe s, and go e nmen -le el policymake s - can aid in inc easing
employabili y o in e na ional g adua es, and subsequen ly imp o e he a es in which
in e na ional g adua es s ay in Finland.
5.3 Limi a ions
A main limi a ion o quali a i e esea ch conce ns igo . Quali a i e esea ch is o en me
wi h a high deg ee o skep icism esul ing in ques ions abou e idence and conclusions.
72
As a esul , quali a i e da a is o en challenged (Gioia e al., 2013). In his s udy,
quali a i e igo was conside ed when choosing he s udy’s me hodology, he Gioia
Me hod, as i is an app oach ha balances igo and c ea i i y in he analysis p ocess
(Gioia e al., 2013). In addi ion o he me hodology choice, he e a e o he aspec s o
quali a i e esea ch which in ol e igo including eliabili y and in e nal alidi y. Fi s ,
Gibbs (2007) no ed ha one way o inc ease eliabili y is h ough he coding p ocedu e,
including coo dina ing coding among eam membe s and c oss-checking coding wi h
ou side esea che s. While his was no possible due o he na u e o his s udy, I
add essed his limi a ion by using he o he me hods no ed by Gibbs (2007) including
checking ansc ip s o mis akes and adhe ing o ini ial code de ini ions h oughou he
du a ion o he analysis.
The second limi a ion ega ding quali a i e igo in his s udy is esea che bias. This is
when he esea che in luences he ou come o he s udy ei he knowingly o
unknowingly which can impac alidi y. In any quali a i e esea ch, he esea che ’s
in e p e a ion and epo ing o indings should be objec i e and neu al (Johnson e al.,
2020). As I am an in e na ional in Finland mysel , he isk o subjec i e da a
in e p e a ion is inc eased when conduc ing a s udy wi h a pa icipan g oup simila o
mysel . While i is no possible o emo e bias comple ely, iden i ica ion and cla i ica ion
o his bias is a measu e in which I ook o add ess his limi a ion and inc ease in e nal
alidi y, as sugges ed by C eswell and C eswell (2017, p. 314). In addi ion, I also used
iangula ion o inc ease in e nal alidi y (C eswell & C eswell, 2017, p. 314), by
in e iewing pa icipan s o many na ionali ies and p og ams in o de o cap u e he
unique expe iences o a ious in e na ional g adua es.
Ano he limi a ion o his s udy is he unequal a io o pa icipan g oups. A he ime o
he s udy, wo pa icipan s had g adua ed while six had no ye g adua ed. Addi ionally,
only h ee people we e o icially employed (excluding eelance s) e sus i e
unemployed. As he a io be ween hose who we e employed e sus unemployed and
73
g adua ed e sus non-g adua ed we e unequal, i is possible ha he indings include he
bias o pa icipan s who a e unemployed and no ye g adua ed. Inc easing he numbe
o pa icipan s in u u e s udies could be bene icial in o de o inc ease he scope and
a io o pa icipan s, as well as gain a deepe unde s anding o capi al building and
employabili y o in e na ional g adua es.
In addi ion o he unequal a io o pa icipan g oups, he pa icipan g oup i sel was
small and concen a ed in Jy äskylä. Due o his, he opinions o pa icipan s a e ela ed
o hei expe iences in only one Finnish ci y, and opinions and expe iences could a y in
di e en pa s o Finland in bo h capi al building and employabili y. Expanding bo h
he pa icipan numbe and he geog aphical scope o his s udy would be bene icial in
o de o inc ease s udy esul gene aliza ions.
5.4 Addi ional Sugges ions o Fu u e Resea ch
While inc easing he geog aphical scope wi hin Finland is one way o gene alize s udy
indings and iden i y capi al building pa e ns o s uden s ou side o Jy äskylä, ano he
way is h ough a compa ison wi h ano he coun y. In his s udy, only he Finnish
con ex was esea ched, lea ing an oppo uni y o compa e his s udy o o he
in e na ional g adua es in o he coun ies. Coun ies in p oximi y such as Es onia o
Sweden could be in e es ing due o simila i ies in cul u e and job ma ke . On he o he
hand, i could be in e es ing o compa e capi al building and employabili y wi h
coun ies such as Uni ed Kingdom o Canada which a e known o high in e na ional
s uden in ake. By conduc ing a compa ison wi h ano he coun y, u he esea ch could
iden i y he simila i ies and di e ences be ween bo h capi al building and pe cep ions o
employabili y ac oss in e na ional g adua es in di e en en i onmen s. Including o he
coun ies in o a u u e s udy would expand he gene aliza ion o indings ac oss
in e na ional g adua es in a ious coun ies.
80
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APPENDIX A
Employabili y and capi al building o in e na ional g adua es in Finland: A semi-
s uc u ed in e iew guide
In oduc ion
• Demog aphic in o ma ion (home coun y, age, p og am, how many yea s li ing in
Finland, cu en ole)
• Employabili y expe iences
A. Unde employmen , secu e s uns able job, con ac , e c
B. Di e en employabili y expe iences in Finland o elsewhe e
Main In e iew Ques ions/Guiding Themes
Cul u al Capi al
1. In e na ional Backg ound
A. We e he e any oppo uni ies/obs acles as an in e na ional, and how did you
speci ic in e na ional backg ound con ibu e o hem?
B. We e you p e ious in e na ional expe iences use ul/help ul in Finland?
C. How did being an in e na ional impac you employabili y in Finland?
2. Educa ional Expe iences
A. How did you p og am and gene al educa ional expe iences in Finland
con ibu e o you employabili y?
3. Language Skills
A. Did you ac i ely lea n Finnish, and i so, how did i impac you employabili y?
Social Capi al
1. Ne wo king
86
A. How did you social ne wo ks (includes all ne wo ks - s uden s, wo k, online,
e c) con ibu e o you employabili y?
B. Was he e a ce ain app oach you had o ne wo king h oughou you p og am?
2. Men o ships
A. Did you ha e any in o mal o o mal men o ships?
B. How did hese men o ships aid in you unde s anding o he job ma ke and
oppo uni ies in Finland?
3. S uden Ac i i ies
A. We e he e any social ac i i ies ha signi ican ly impac ed you social capi al
(clubs, associa ions, spo s, e c)?
B. How did ne wo king wi h o he s uden s and acul y impac you
employabili y?
Economic Capi al
1. Employmen
A. Did you wo k (pa - ime, ull- ime, e c) o ake pa in in e nships du ing you
p og am?
2. Educa ion
A. Did you ake pa in any wo kshops, addi ional cou ses, ce i ica ions, e c
h oughou you p og am?
B. How did hese o o he educa ional in es men s impac you employabili y in
Finland?
Conclusion
Is he e any hing else you would like o add abou employabili y o capi al building as
an in e na ional in Finland?