This article examines the role of student job search strategies that differ in goal-directedness (focused, exploratory, and haphazard) in achieving successful university-to-work transitions (i.e., employment in jobs with high skill use/development and qualification–job match). The relationship between job search and employment outcomes is considered in two labor market contexts—high or low ambiguity—which are represented by the comparison between arts, humanities, and social sciences (AHSS) and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates, respectively. Using two-wave survey data, we find that job search strategies during university do not explain, yet differentially impact, successful outcomes one year after graduation. Fully exploring opportunities was particularly beneficial for STEM graduates (low ambiguity context) and more focused job search was beneficial for AHSS graduates (high ambiguity context). Paradoxically, findings both question and reinforce the efficacy of career agency for overcoming barriers to labor market entry, depending on the job search context. The study contributes to the agency and context debates relevant for school-to-work transitions.

本文探讨了目标导向（重点，探索性和偶然性）不同的学生求职策略在成功实现从大学到工作的过渡（即，具有高技能使用/发展和资格-工作匹配的工作中的就业）的作用。 ）。求职与就业结果之间的关系是在两个劳动力市场环境中（模糊性高或低）来考虑的，它们之间的比较是艺术，人文和社会科学（AHSS）与科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）之间的比较分别毕业。使用两波调查数据，我们发现大学毕业后的求职策略并不能解释毕业后一年的成功结果，但会产生不同的影响。充分探索的机会对STEM毕业生（低歧义情境）特别有利，而更加专注的求职对于AHSS毕业生（高歧义情境）则有利。矛盾的是，这些发现既质疑又增强了职业中介机构克服劳动力市场进入壁垒的效率，具体取决于求职环境。该研究有助于与学校到工作过渡有关的机构和背景辩论。