Effects of Career Preparation Experiences on the Initial Employment Success of College Graduates

The effectiveness of supplementary career preparation experiences is conceived as universal or conditional, the latter either enhancing existing assets such as ability or overcoming deficits such as lack of specialized preparation. Logistic regression was used to analyze the responses of 1,012 bacca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Research in higher education 2000-12, Vol.41 (6), p.753-767
Main Authors: Sagen, H. Bradley, Dallam, Jerald W., Laverty, John R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Career Development
Career preparation
Careers
College graduates
Economic value
Education Work Relationship
Employment
Employment Potential
Grade point average
Graduations
Higher Education
Human capital
Internship Programs
Internships
Job development
Liberal arts education
Student Educational Objectives
Student Organizations
Work Experience
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Summary:The effectiveness of supplementary career preparation experiences is conceived as universal or conditional, the latter either enhancing existing assets such as ability or overcoming deficits such as lack of specialized preparation. Logistic regression was used to analyze the responses of 1,012 baccalaureate graduates to a questionnaire survey one month following graduation. Effectiveness was defined as securing baccalaureate level employment. Work experience related to career goals was the only experience of universal effectiveness, with participation in student organizations of marginal significance. Positive conditional effects, however, were found for internships, work experiences related to career goals, advanced skills courses in quantitative analysis and writing, and participation in student organizations. These latter experiences were primarily asset enhancers for those with specialized preparation. An interpretation is offered incorporating labor market conditions and employer behavior as constructs.
ISSN:0361-0365
1573-188X
DOI:10.1023/A:1007072705601