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GRADUATION INTERVIEW ▼

Home Sweet Home Abroad: Enhancing and Harnessing Job Embeddedness among The Internationally Relocated Workers

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANH NGUYEN

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SHORT PROFILE
 

Name: Anh Nguyen
Field:Human Resource Management & Organizational Behaviors
Dissertation: Home Sweet Home Abroad: Enhancing and Harnessing Job Embeddedness among The Internationally Relocated Workers

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Our doctoral member Anh Nguyen has successfully completed her dissertation. In her Graduation Interview, she gives insights into the topic and findings of her dissertation, talks about her time at the BAGSS, and shares the next step in her career.

// What drew you to your dissertation topic and what interests you most about it?

A.N.: As a member of the migrant community in Germany, I have always been passionate about contributing my knowledge to improve the life and work outcomes of people in my community and the migrant population in general. The core theme of my dissertation, job embeddedness, is a powerful tool for managing various outcomes of migrant workers, such as their performance, retention, career satisfaction, and overall well-being. More importantly, job embeddedness can be influenced by multiple stakeholders, including immigrant and integration policymakers (e.g., by promoting more immigrant rights and qualification recognition), organizations (e.g., by implementing work-life balance policies), and individuals (e.g., by enhancing cultural intelligence). However, the understanding and utilization of job embeddedness as a mean to optimize outcomes for migrants appear to be limited. Through this dissertation, I aim to improve the understanding of job embeddedness among migrant workers and outline various strategies to enhance their work and private lives.

// Can you give us a small sneak peek about the findings of your thesis?

A.N.: The thesis demonstrates that concurrent embeddedness of migrants in both their home and host countries is optimal for their outcomes. When comparing a transnational embedder to a migrant who is deeply connected to their host country but detached from their homeland, the former tends to stay longer in their jobs 62% of the time, experience better well-being 66% of the time, and achieve greater career success 76% of the time. Additionally, migrants' personal agency, such as proactivity, persistence, and humor, is essential for developing their embeddedness and advancing their careers abroad. Interestingly, within couples, humor promotes both connectedness with the local community and career satisfaction, regardless of which partner possesses this trait.

// What did you enjoy most about your time at the Graduate School?

A.N.: Throughout my PhD journey, I have met various friends who have been with me from the beginning. They have been a great source of inspiration and provided immense emotional and social support. I am also grateful for the financial aid I received during difficult times and for the diverse range of courses that have significantly improved my skills both within and outside academia.

// What is the next step in your career?

A.N.: I aspire to continue my career as a researcher dedicated to studying migrant workers and global mobility topics. I am eager to explore various opportunities that will help me develop and challenge my skills, such as third-party funding applications.