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UGA reports 96 percent career outcomes rate for Class of 2017

This article was originally published on UGA Today on February 15, 2018.

Writer: Danielle Bezila

Results are 11 percent higher than the national average

University of Georgia research shows that 96 percent of recent graduates are employed or continuing their education within six months of graduating. UGA’s career outcomes rate for the Class of 2017 is 11 percent higher than the national average.

Of those students:
• 63 percent were employed full time;
• 20 percent were attending graduate school; and
• Approximately 12 percent were self-employed, interning full time or were employed part time.

“UGA’s high career outcomes rate demonstrates our university’s commitment to providing students with opportunities to learn in and beyond the classroom,” said Scott Williams, executive director of the Career Center. “Combined with our strong academics, the experiential learning requirement provides students with hands-on experiences, such as internships, equipping them with the skills and experiences that make them more competitive in the job market.”

The UGA Class of 2017 was hired by 2,925 unique employers, including Fortune 500 companies, across all 50 states and in 37 countries. Of the full-time employed graduates, 72 percent accepted employment within Georgia. Top employers for the Class of 2017 include AT&T, Chick-fil-A, IBM, Georgia-Pacific and UPS.

“Our state benefits from being home to so many successful companies—companies that want to hire our students,” said Jill Walton, UGA’s executive director of corporate and foundation relations. “UGA is committed to serving our state through educating tomorrow’s leaders.”

These graduates are working in all sectors of the economy—66 percent in business, 24 percent in education, 6 percent in government and 4 percent in nonprofits.

“UGA students are pursuing careers in diverse industries, career areas and geographic locations,” Williams said. “We are proud that our students continue to secure positions with top companies, as well as enter highly selective graduate and professional programs.”

The 20 percent of graduates who are continuing their education are attending top graduate schools such as Columbia University, Duke University, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

CareerOutcomes-Infographic-Classof2017_Page_2-1140x1440

UGA’s career outcomes rate for the Class of 2017 is 11 percent higher than the national average.

The career outcomes rate is the percentage of students who are employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment within six months after graduation. The UGA Career Center calculates the career outcomes rate each January by leveraging information from a variety of sources. This year, the Career Center was able to collect data on 88 percent of 2017 graduates, 26 percent higher than the national average, which helps provide a more accurate snapshot of UGA students’ employment status. Outcomes data was collected using the following sources: survey, phone calls, employer reporting, departmental collaboration, LinkedIn and the National Student Clearinghouse.

More details about UGA’s Class of 2017 career outcomes, is online.

More about hiring UGA graduates is online.

Do you want to help support student success at UGA and ensure students are prepared for professional interviews? Make a gift to the Dawgs Suit Up Scholarship, which allows students to attend the Dawgs Suit Up Event and receive professional interview attire free of charge from JCPenney.

UGA Career Center 
The University of Georgia Career Center provides a range of services, helping students identify potential careers, connecting them with employers for job interviews and internships and much more. The Career Center’s home, Clark Howell Hall, provides spaces for career advising, networking events and job interviews.

Grady grads give back, help hire students

Every year, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication hosts ADPR Connection, a student-run networking event organized by members of UGA PRSSA and Ad Club. This annual event invites professionals from Atlanta and the surrounding area to Athens to network with the best and brightest that Grady has to offer. For many of the participating employers, coming to Athens is a trip home, as many are UGA alumni. Being able to give back to UGA and help foster the future generation of communications professionals by providing internships and jobs is seen as an honor.

“When I arrived at Grady, it was obvious that there were opportunities at every corner. All I had to do to be successful was take advantage of them. I benefitted from the network of Grady alumni supporting students through PRSSA, the UGA Alumni Association and the Career Center. I’m grateful for my Grady experience, and that’s why I stay involved as an alumna. It’s important to give back by offering yourself as a resource to students who can benefit from your experience.

Also, it’s honestly rejuvenating to return to campus and interact with students who have fresh ideas and optimism. It’s nice to get out of the office and return to a place where people are excited about the future.” – Alyssa Stafford (MA ’15), Communications Specialist at Piedmont Healthcare

Even those who did not graduate from UGA understand the value of a degree from Grady and the caliber of students the college produces, which is why many employers make an effort to participate in ADPR Connection year after year.

“We are so proud to be affiliated with Grady College and the programs surrounding it. I can’t say enough about how thrilled we are to be able to tap into the graduating students every year. nearly 25 percent of our employees are Grady grads, and each one of them is extremely qualified to play a role in our agency for many years to come.” – Brad Dodge, CEO of Dodge Communications

Kudos to you, Grady College, for creating an opportunity for your alumni to mentor current students and stay connected with their alma mater!

UGA Career Center Services for Alumni

The UGA Career Center offers many invaluable resources and events for alumni. Whether you’re looking to grow your professional skills, revamp your resume or change job paths, the UGA Career Center is here for you.

For example, alumni can still access DAWGLink and take advantage of career counseling by making appointments at the Atlanta Alumni Center in Buckhead. Appointments can include resume critiques, mock interviews and advice on job search strategies and networking.

This summer, the Atlanta Alumni Center will host a series of summer workshops titled “Finding a Meaningful Career.”

Director of Alumni Career Services Bethany Mills will provide activities to navigate career exploration. These sessions will be both informative and interactive. Attendees will use the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to consider how their interests, personality, and values affect career satisfaction.

Each session costs $65 per person and includes coffee, snacks and two career assessments. The dates are:

June 16
June 23
July 7
August 4

Space is limited to 12 alumni per session; so register today!

Are you no longer in Athens or Atlanta? Have no fear, the UGA Career Center is here for you, too! Career Center staff members frequently host lunchtime webinars for alumni across the country.

Self-Promotion: Developing Your Authentic Personal Brand
Wednesday, June 17
Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Building an Online Presence for New Professionals with Steffan Pedersen (BBA ’13)
Thursday, June 13
Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Career Center staff also travel to visit with alumni chapters and host workshops. On July 1, Bethany Mills will visit the Colorado Chapter of the UGA Alumni Association for a “Find a Meaningful Career” workshop in Denver. Learn more about this event.

No matter where life takes you, always remember that as a UGA alumna or alumnus, you can take advantage of the UGA Career Center’s services.