The University of Nevada, Reno concluded its 2024 spring commencement celebration ceremony in May, and while graduates prepare to enter the next phases of their professional endeavors, the Nevada Career Studio is ready to assist and support alumni seeking employment.
As the University’s centralized career services office, the Nevada Career Studio offers comprehensive resources to help students and alumni transition from University life to professional careers. Among its initiatives is the First Destination Survey, a survey crafted to document and analyze the post-graduation pathways of alumni. Not only does it capture valuable insights for alumni who may not be sure where to start, but it also provides support for those pursuing graduate school, military service or other life paths.
The survey is structured to access the career outcomes of alumni six months after graduation by gathering data on employment status, position title, salary, location, further education pursuits, volunteer service, military service and those seeking employment who haven’t yet found a job. This approach enables the Nevada Career Studio and the University to review effectiveness in setting up students for success, allowing faculty to note the institution’s strengths and what areas need to be enhanced.
The most recent survey released was from 2023 graduates. According to Katia Albright, the director of the Nevada Career Studio, 59% of graduates participated in the survey in 2023. Of those respondents, 36% of graduates responded directly to the survey, and 23% were sourced indirectly through administrators, employers, parents, faculty and LinkedIn. Albright also highlights the survey’s flexibility, noting that alumni who are still unsure of what they want to do are still welcome to complete the survey and change their answers as their plans evolve.
Furthermore, the survey also solicits alumni feedback on their satisfaction with their initial careers following graduating. This includes the connection of their majors with their current occupations, undergraduate research experiences, internships and experiential learning programs during their time at the University.
The survey reveals trends in employment occupations among alumni. Healthcare services; business, finance, consulting and retail; education and research; engineering, manufacturing and energy; and public policy and international affairs consistently remain in the top categories for University graduates.
“Over the past 5 years, the primary status of ‘working’ has ranged from 67-75%, with a dip in 2020 to 62%,” Albright said. “Top employers have remained fairly consistent with Renown Hospital, Washoe County School District, the University of Nevada, Reno, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and ITS Logistics ranging in the top five.”
Albright also noted that 67-75% of alumni find employment shortly after graduation, with a significant increase in alumni still seeking employment following the COVID-19 pandemic. Positive outcomes for alumni such as working, continuing education, military service or volunteer service ranged from 80-87% of graduates. She also mentioned that the survey allows seniors to see what careers and companies hire the most University graduates so they know where to start when they reach alumni status.
Albright says those who complete the survey will be eligible to see anonymous results from their class to get insight into how they have progressed in their careers post-graduation. Prizes are available for those who complete the survey.
The Nevada Career Studio office is located in the Pennington Student Achievement Center (PSAC) room 208. Resources to help career growth and education empowerment can be accessed in person or through the Nevada Career Studio Website.