An analysis of job placement variables of foreign national Master of Business Administration (MBA) students

Date

2005-11-01

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Publisher

Texas A&M University

Abstract

Foreign national (international) students studying business at universities in the United States gain a valuable education, but they have a very difficult time finding work in the U.S because of a variety of cultural, communication, and employment visa issues. Campus career centers need to address the unique needs and concerns of their international student population in order to most effectively assist this select group in their job search. The purpose of this study was to examine the job placement variables of international students graduating from MBA programs across the United States in the 2001 class. A thorough review of the literature summarized the adjustment challenges facing international students, career services, and the job search challenges for international MBA students in particular. Data from 2570 international MBA students were examined to see whether there were differences in post-graduation jobs based on the students?? country of origin, years of work experience prior to the MBA program, and undergraduate major. The dependent variables examined were the base salary of the post-MBA job, the amount of signing bonus, the functional area of the student??s employment, the industry of the employer, and the geographic location of the new job. This study found that students from the North American region earned slightly higher salaries than students from Asia, and that European, North American and South American students received slightly higher signing bonuses than Asian students. The international students entered into similar functions and industries regardless of their country of origin. The majority of students, regardless of country of origin, stayed in the U.S. for employment. There was a direct correlation found between the number of years of prior work experience and the base salary of the student. Students with an undergraduate major in technology earned slightly higher salaries and signing bonuses. The results of this study will assist MBA career services professionals in how they counsel their international students in the job search and salary negotiations. The results may also assist MBA admissions professionals in deciding who to admit to their programs, as placement results are important measures of an MBA program??s success.

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