Survey Says DePaul Graduates Find Jobs in their Desired Career Fields

DePaul University graduates enter the real world equipped with an arsenal of skills, a large alumni network and an assortment of resources to make career decisions. But, where do they end up? According to the Class of 2017 postgraduate Career Outcomes report released by the DePaul Career Center, DePaul graduates overwhelmingly land jobs in their desired career fields. The survey found that 97 percent of graduate students and 94 percent of undergraduate students who graduated in 2017 are in a job related to their degree.

“I am more impressed by this number this year than the other great figures in the report,” says Jennifer Kopczynski, director of the Kellstadt Career Management Center. “Our students have invested their time and money into their educations, and they are getting positions related to what they are studying. This shows that our curriculum and what our students are learning in the classroom are making our students career ready.”

Each year, the Career Center surveys DePaul's graduating class to measure their post-graduation status. Students are surveyed about their career and education plans prior to commencement and six months after degree completion. Employment data is also gathered from graduates' LinkedIn profiles.

Some highlights of the Class of 2017 Kellstadt Graduate School of Business survey include:

• More than 93 percent of DePaul's business students were employed, continuing education or not seeking employment at the time of the survey.
• About 97 percent of graduates are working full-time in jobs related to their degrees.
• Nearly 100 percent of MBA students with concentrations in accountancy, economics, finance and real estate found jobs in their field.

DePaul graduate business students benefit from having a dedicated career center with services tailored to their needs. Kellstadt’s Career Management Center brings together students, recruiters, employers and alumni to build a large network of information and opportunities. The center hosts industry nights, career education workshops, career fairs and many other events.

“The Kellstadt Career Management Center does its best to facilitate opportunities for employers, alumni and students to build a strong network,” Kopczynski says. “But really I think it comes down to how motivated our students are to improve their careers and employability.”

Some highlights of the Class of 2017 Driehaus College of Business survey of bachelor’s degree graduates include:

• More than 93 percent of DePaul's 2017 baccalaureates were employed, continuing their educations or not seeking employment at the time of the survey.
• The overall career outcomes rate for business undergraduates held steady from last year, with a three percentage point increase for marketing graduates.
• An estimated 74 percent of business graduates completed an internship during their time at DePaul.

The DePaul Career Center helps students connect their interests, skills and values with meaningful internships and job opportunities. Karyn McCoy, assistant vice president of the career center, pointed out that the percentage of students completing internships is particularly important.

“Internships are powerful for so many reasons,” McCoy says. “Not only do internships help students figure out what they do and don’t want to do, but also research shows that students who complete internships are more likely to land a full-time job after their studies.”

Learn more about:

• Kellstadt Career Management Center
• DePaul Career Center