What happens next?

Attending a career fair is a good way for job seekers to network and explore opportunities.

Nearly 50 per cent of Dalhousie graduates secured employment within a month of graduating this past May. About 50 per cent of those graduates are working in Nova Scotia and 26 per cent plan to continue their education.

This is just a snapshot of the findings published in the Career Services Centre Destination Survey, Spring 2009. The survey went out for the first time to a mass number of graduates from May 14, 2009 to June 25, 2009 with a 40 per cent response rate.

Information for recent graduates is a useful tool, and prior to the survey, this information was scarce at best. The Career Services Centre wanted to change that, so they enlisted the help of the Office of Institutional Analysis and Research (OIAR) to administer the survey and analyse the results.

Laura Addicott, director of the Career Services Centre, says the positive figures demonstrate how seriously students prepare for their careers throughout their time at Dal. “Many had secured employment before graduation,” she says. “They've already made a huge life decision, showing that they are aware and prepared for this milestone.”

The survey revealed that 5.4 per cent of grads currently not working in Nova Scotia would rather be employed in the province. Other results show that while less than seven per cent reported earning less than $20,000 per year, almost 55 per cent are earning $50,000 or more. The public sector is the largest employer of Dal grads, 52.8 per cent in fact, while 40.2 per cent found work in the private sector. 

“Today's smart companies are working to understand the needs of graduates,” adds Ms. Addicott. “With this information they can better understand what students will expect when they graduate.”

The survey also revealed that networking tools and events were the most popular means of searching for work. Given the number of graduates that volunteered and developed contacts, Ms. Addicott says students who take their careers seriously while still in university reap the rewards.

“The results show that there is real value in higher education,” she says.

The majority of graduates expected a grade-point-average of 3.0 or higher and almost 25 per cent expected a 3.75 or higher. Just shy of 78 per cent worked while earning their degree and about 59 per cent volunteered. Graduates earning a master's degree were mostly like to be employed at 63 per cent while just under 39 per cent of those obtaining a diploma were employed.

For more results, the survey can be seen on the Career Services Centre website (PDF). Students are encouraged to visit the centre and meet with a career advisor to get a head start on developing their careers.