2008 Woodie Awards
Employment Rates Rise Among Grads
Bryanna Lindblom: Muleskinner
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: News
Every year a new batch of UCM students walk through commencement with the hopes of getting a job after graduation. But not every graduate is actually employed immegidately after graduation. Some students, such as Jen Seeley, sophomore psychology major, are fearful of entering the job market.
"I think the job market is really bad right now with the recession," Seeley said. "I think it's hard for people to get jobs and keep those jobs."
What many students are not aware of is the success rate 2007 UCM graduates had upon entering the job market.
The 2007 graduate population consisted of students who graduated in August 2006, December 2006 and May 2007. Of those graduates, excluding those who continued on to graduate school, 69.7 percent were able to be contacted by Career Services and questioned about employment.
Career Services discovered that 88.8 percent have been employed full-time, 7.4 percent have been employed part-time and 0.6 percent have been employed temporarily since graduation.
This means a total of 96.8 percent of the 69.7 percent who were reachable have had some type of job since graduation. Not only is this the 14th year in a row UCM's employment statistic has been more than 90 percent, it is also the highest recorded employment percentage in UCM history.
Assistant Director Career Counselor Ken Schueller, said there are very few universities who are able to have a 100 percent employment percentage; most universities comparable to UCM have a 60 to 70 percent employment statistic.
Schueller said there are a few factors responsible for the high UCM graduate employment rate.
"First and foremost is the market. There has been a couple solid years of growth and the economy is looking good," Schueller said. "Also, it's a University combined effort. Our faculty do a wonderful job, outside support through student organizations is phenomenal, and there is a good number of employers interested in our students."
Schueller said there are more than 6,000 employer contacts in the career services database. Although not all 6,000 employers are actively employing, last year 700 employers visited the University with job offers.
Kent Kelly, sophomore safety management major, said after experiencing the Career Services' Career Fair earlier in the year, he is more confident his major will provide him with many job opportunities after he graduates.
"It makes me feel better about my major," Kelly said. "It means more jobs and internships."
He said he is especially confident after hearing the statistics about UCM's 2007 graduates.
"It's very, very good. Whatever this school is doing, it's doing right," Kelly said. "They better keep it up."
When looking at economic trends, Schueller said he would expect similar numbers next year.
"As long as we keep putting students first, that will continue," he said.
"I think the job market is really bad right now with the recession," Seeley said. "I think it's hard for people to get jobs and keep those jobs."
What many students are not aware of is the success rate 2007 UCM graduates had upon entering the job market.
The 2007 graduate population consisted of students who graduated in August 2006, December 2006 and May 2007. Of those graduates, excluding those who continued on to graduate school, 69.7 percent were able to be contacted by Career Services and questioned about employment.
Career Services discovered that 88.8 percent have been employed full-time, 7.4 percent have been employed part-time and 0.6 percent have been employed temporarily since graduation.
This means a total of 96.8 percent of the 69.7 percent who were reachable have had some type of job since graduation. Not only is this the 14th year in a row UCM's employment statistic has been more than 90 percent, it is also the highest recorded employment percentage in UCM history.
Assistant Director Career Counselor Ken Schueller, said there are very few universities who are able to have a 100 percent employment percentage; most universities comparable to UCM have a 60 to 70 percent employment statistic.
Schueller said there are a few factors responsible for the high UCM graduate employment rate.
"First and foremost is the market. There has been a couple solid years of growth and the economy is looking good," Schueller said. "Also, it's a University combined effort. Our faculty do a wonderful job, outside support through student organizations is phenomenal, and there is a good number of employers interested in our students."
Schueller said there are more than 6,000 employer contacts in the career services database. Although not all 6,000 employers are actively employing, last year 700 employers visited the University with job offers.
Kent Kelly, sophomore safety management major, said after experiencing the Career Services' Career Fair earlier in the year, he is more confident his major will provide him with many job opportunities after he graduates.
"It makes me feel better about my major," Kelly said. "It means more jobs and internships."
He said he is especially confident after hearing the statistics about UCM's 2007 graduates.
"It's very, very good. Whatever this school is doing, it's doing right," Kelly said. "They better keep it up."
When looking at economic trends, Schueller said he would expect similar numbers next year.
"As long as we keep putting students first, that will continue," he said.
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