Journal of Vocational Behavior
Volume 105, 2018, Pages 102-115

Survival, expectations, and employment: An inquiry of refugees and immigrants to the United States (Article)

Baran B.E.* , Valcea S. , Porter T.H. , Gallagher V.C.
  • a Department of Management, Monte Ahuja College of Business, Cleveland State University, 1860 E. 18th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114, United States
  • b Department of Management, Monte Ahuja College of Business, Cleveland State University, 1860 E. 18th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114, United States
  • c Department of Management, Monte Ahuja College of Business, Cleveland State University, 1860 E. 18th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114, United States
  • d Department of Management, Monte Ahuja College of Business, Cleveland State University, 1860 E. 18th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114, United States

Abstract

In the United States, employment is the cornerstone of the refugee resettlement process because of its centrality in providing self-sufficiency. Job searching and navigating employment relationships are difficult for refugees, however, because it necessarily coincides with the adversity of integrating into a new culture. This exploratory inquiry draws upon two data sources—in-depth interviews with both refugees and employees of refugee assistance organizations and a survey of refugees—to provide insight into the lived experiences, narrative chronology, and the role of expectations and psychological contracts in the employment process. The data, viewed in light of social cognitive career theory, suggest a complex trajectory of expectations, adversity, turning points, and status changes as refugees attempt to “make it” in the United States. Additionally, we provide evidence that refugees develop unrealistically positive expectations about life in the United States, face significant underemployment, experience job dissatisfaction when underemployed, and, in some cases, consider abandoning their pursuit of the “American dream” when highly dissatisfied with their jobs. © 2017 Elsevier Inc.

Author Keywords

Expectations Job search Resilience Refugees Psychological contract violation Adaptability

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85033664321&doi=10.1016%2fj.jvb.2017.10.011&partnerID=40&md5=0a98f818d6d961f83f96d50347ad552a
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2017.10.011
ISSN: 00018791
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English