Recent K-State graduates finding jobs, better starting salaries; more students turning to campus experts for help with job searches

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Source: Kerri Keller, 785-532-1691, kdkeller@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/ces/
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Thursday, February 1, 2007

RECENT K-STATE GRADUATES FINDING JOBS, BETTER STARTING SALARIES; MORE STUDENTS TURNING TO CAMPUS EXPERTS FOR HELP WITH JOB SEARCHES

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University graduates are finding jobs and getting better starting salaries. And, more K-State undergraduate students are turning to the university's career and employment services for help in their job searches.

K-State's career and employment services offers students career advice and help in their job and internship searches. It also conducts an annual survey of recent K-State graduates to find out what they're doing. Collected within six months of graduation, the report is based on post-graduation data from 85 percent of K-State's bachelor's degree graduates in the 2005-2006 school year. The most recent data show that 92 percent of surveyed graduates are employed in fields related to their studies or are continuing their education in a graduate or professional school or other educational program.

Graduates in the most recent group surveyed are finding better starting salaries than their predecessors. Kerri Keller, director of career and employment services, said the survey showed that 71 percent of salary averages by major increased over last year.

"It is good to see that the job market has continued to improve for new graduates and that we see a slight increase in what's being offered," Keller said.

Of those surveyed, 71 percent are employed, 21 percent are enrolled in graduate or professional school or other education, 7 percent are seeking employment and 1 percent are occupied in other non-career activities.

Employers of new graduates represent a variety of industries and career fields. Among the top employers are Cerner, Wolseley North America, Cargill, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Black & Veatch, Archer Daniels Midland Co., ConocoPhillips and Law/Kingdon Inc. Also included are nonprofit and government agencies like the Manhattan-Ogden, Geary County and Blue Valley school districts, as well as AmeriCorps and Big Brothers Big Sisters. The Peace Corps is another top employer, and last year K-State was selected as one of only a few universities nationwide to be awarded funding for a campus recruiter.

"Employers continue to include K-State students in their recruitment effort because of students' strong academic preparation, notable work ethic and relevant experience," Keller said.

As of July 2006, career and employment services quit charging a fee to students, thanks largely to tuition enhancement funding secured though K-State's Student Governing Association. Since then, the number of students registered with career and employment services has increased from about 2,100 the last year fees were charged to nearly 3,000 during the fall 2006 semester alone, Keller said.

"We feel really good about that, now that services are free," Keller said. "Parents and students are seeing that career and employment services is of value."

Career and employment services offers tools like a database of employers, workshops on resume writing and interviewing, as well as multiple career fairs and on-campus interviews that bring hundreds of employers to K-State. Keller said although juniors and seniors are well represented among those registered, career and employment services has as much to offer freshmen and sophomores, including tools for finding internships.

"More and more, internships are certainly one of the recruiting methods that many employers are using, especially in a tight job market," Keller said.