KSU’s job placement statistics paint a picture of graduates competing fiercely and successfully with the rest of America in a post-pandemic job market.
According to Krysta Fry, director of Career Advising and Planning, a majority of recent KSU graduates were securing jobs in the 12 months after receiving their diplomas.
“55% of graduates from Fall 2020-2021 reported that they had employment and 6% were pursuing further education after graduation,” Fry said.This means statistically, students can expect three-fifths of graduates to find employment or be accepted for further education after graduating. This number might seem low proportionally for over 43,000 students. However, these statistics mimic the recovering labor participation rate seen nationwide since April 2020, when the national employment rate hit the lowest point, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dylan Ruvebana, who is pursuing a degree in Mechatronics on the Marietta campus, discussed how even though professors teach material related to the industry, they might not connect it to what students can show off to prospective employers.
“I am a little bit anxious about finding a related job after college,” Ruvebana said. “It’s not that I don’t feel prepared, a lot of professors focus on theory and a lot of practical hands-on knowledge is missed out on.”
Minimizing job searching to the results doesn’t reveal the full story. The resources students use to bridge curriculum to the job market are also crucial to future success in seeking and landing a job
The work-study route to employment was another statistic Fry proudly honed in on. She pointed out that around 10,000 KSU students have undergone internship or co-op programs since Spring 2017, providing students with ways to make an income in the industry they’re pursuing before they even graduate.
Job fairs across both campus student centers provide opportunities for students to meet and become familiar with nationwide companies that are seeking to recruit new talent.
The next Fall Job and Internship Fair will be held on Oct. 18 and 19 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Siegel Recreation and Activities center on the Kennesaw campus. For students interested in pursuing a career in health sciences, employers in the field will be available on Oct. 18. Those looking to break into Business Technology or other fields in STEM should visit on Oct. 19 to meet recruiters. Networking opportunities are available on both days for business, arts and humanities majors.Handshake Career Management System is another tool available to KSU students and alumni seeking employment during their time in universities or following their graduation. Handshake connects users with career advisors, job openings, potential employers and past employees of companies that students are interested in. Students may use their KSU email and password to log in.
