Career Self-determination Theory and the Professional Immigrant Experience

Despite established international academic credentials and vocational experience, professional immigrants often face difficulty establishing careers in Canada. Immigration entails a myriad of psychological and financial stressors, including under- and unemployment. Career self-determination theory (CSDT) is an emerging metatheory that proposes considerations to enhance career development and vocational wellbeing. The purpose of the study is to develop a better understanding of the lived career experiences of professional immigrants to Canada while contributing to the development of CSDT. This exploration utilizes constructivist grounded theory in analyzing qualitative interviews with professional immigrants. Results reveal that the essential needs posed by CSDT, including career autonomy, career competence, and career relatedness, are reflected in the participant narratives. Participants demonstrated innate tendencies towards fulfillment of the essential needs, with fulfillment corresponding to greater vocational satisfaction. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.M.A