Some degree programs require students to complete self-sourced work placements as a condition for graduation, which is challenging for many international students as they face significant contextual constraints. The literature has indicated typical contextual challenges international students face while attempting to strengthen organizational socialization (OS) during placements in a host country. Despite this, there is still a need for further research on how international students develop perceptions of their workplace context and how these perceptions impact their OS. The current study addressed this gap in the literature, adopting a grounded approach. Data was collected through 27 in-depth interviews with nine international undergraduate engineering students from an Australian university. Findings feature a perception-response model of OS, which helps inform research and practice to enhance international students' placement experiences.