University of Massachusetts Amherst Class of 2008: Life after Graduation
A recent survey of 2008 graduates of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Alumni Association, provided insight into life after graduation for these members of the “Millennial Generation”.
Amherst, MA (Vocus) September 23, 2008
A recent survey of 2008 graduates of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Alumni Association, provided insight into life after graduation for these members of the “Millennial Generation”.
In a time of seemingly endless economic turmoil, there is encouraging news: seventy-five percent (75%) of respondents indicate they’ve found employment and that it is related to what they studied at the university. Almost ten percent (10%) said they had found employment – but the position they obtained is not related to what they studied. However, this may be by design – some students change direction as they work towards their degree, and others have longer-term goals. For example, Sage Feddura, class of 2010, who is majoring in Business, is doing so with the goal of actually working in film... managing the day to day financial needs of the production crew for the movie studio. “I ultimately want to produce films, but I believe having business knowledge is the best way to work my way into the business,” he said.
Almost seven percent (7%) of the respondents said they chose to travel or go to graduate school upon completing their undergraduate degree.
While just over half of the respondents said that they had found employment close to their home, over forty percent (40%) said they moved to another city after accepting a job offer. Almost seven percent (7%) moved to another city to look for a job – either out of choice or necessity.
Over ninety percent (90%) said that they were well prepared to make a living in their field of study or another field they chose, indicating that their education and experience at the University of Massachusetts Amherst served them well. "I am so glad to be working in the field I studied while at UMass Amherst! My sport management education prepared me well for my current and future employment in athletics," said Becky Letourneau, class of '08.
“Consistently, recruiters have found UMass Amherst to be a great place to find highly qualified young professionals”, said Rod Warnick, PhD, professor in the school of Hospitality and Travel Management (HTM). “Recruiters tell us that what they notice most about our students are that they are ‘original and highly professional with excellent job, business and hospitality skills; great team members with very strong leadership potential; and most importantly -- they possess a strong work ethic.’"
“Each year over 60 companies return to interview and consider our students for full-time permanent placement after graduation and to also recruit students for seasonal employment and internships”, he continued. “Seventy percent (70%) of our May 2008 graduates had more than two interviews by the HTM Career Day in March, and of those, fifty-five percent (55%) had 3 or more interviews. Of all our graduating students interviewed by Career Day, fifty-six percent (56%) already had two (2) or more job offers.
Regardless of the economic climate of the country and the national employment statistics, University of Massachusetts Amherst graduates seem to be faring well on the employment market – and that is good news for the university, alumni, parents and current students!
The University of Massachusetts Amherst Alumni Association represents over 215,000 around the globe, and provides programs and services to enlighten, strengthen and develop students, faculty, staff and alumni. For more information, go to UMassAlumni. com.
Media Contact:
Norma Heim
413-557-0312
Njheim(at)admin. umass. edu
UMassAlumni. com
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