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2007 - 2008 Alumni Survey Summary Report Fall 2007 - Spring & Summer 2008 Graduates
Prepared by the St. Paul Campus Career Center – Updated 6/1/09
Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Aggregate Statistics (all majors served by the SPCCC) ........................ 3
CFANS Statistics ...................................................................................... 5
Agricultural & Food Business Management ...................................... 7 Agricultural Education (CEHD) ........................................................... 8 Agricultural Industries & Marketing................................................... 9 Animal Science ................................................................................. 11 Applied Economics ........................................................................... 13 Applied Plant Science ....................................................................... 16 Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering ............................................ 17 Bio-Based Products .......................................................................... 18 Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management ............................. 20 Environment & Natural Resources................................................... 22 Environmental Horticulture ............................................................. 24 Environmental Science ..................................................................... 26 Fisheries & Wildlife .......................................................................... 27 Food Science .................................................................................... 29 Forest Resources .............................................................................. 30 Nutrition ........................................................................................... 31 Science in Agriculture ....................................................................... 34 Urban Forestry ................................................................................. 35
CDES Statistics ...................................................................................... 36 Architecture BA (CLA) ....................................................................... 38 Architecture BS................................................................................. 40 Bachelor of Design in Architecture .................................................. 42 Clothing Design ................................................................................ 43 Environmental Design ...................................................................... 45 Graphic Design ................................................................................. 47 Housing Studies ................................................................................ 49 Interior Design .................................................................................. 51 Retail Merchandising ....................................................................... 53
CCE Statistics ......................................................................................... 55 Applied Business .............................................................................. 57 Construction Management .............................................................. 58 Info Tech Infrastructure ................................................................... 60 Inter-College Program ...................................................................... 61 Manufacturing Technology .............................................................. 65 Program for Individualized Learning ................................................ 66 Radiation Therapy ............................................................................ 67 Respiratory Care ............................................................................... 68
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Aggregate Statistics Graduates from majors/programs served by the St. Paul Campus Career Center.
Work Status (n=530; response rate=57.7% or 530/918)
Paid Employment 384 72.45%
Seeking Employment 59 11.13%
Other* 87 16.42% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Influence on Job (n=242)
GoldPASS 14 5.79%
Internship/Co-op Experience 34 14.05%
U of MN Career Services Office (career fairs, on campus interviews) 14 5.79%
Advertisement in Newspaper 5 2.07%
Ad on Large, Online Job Posting Sites 20 8.26%
Alumni Association/Mentor Program 2 0.83%
Professional Associations 6 2.48%
Professional Contacts 31 12.81%
Personal Contacts 54 22.31%
Private Employment Agency 9 3.72%
Through Employer’s Website 29 11.98%
Other 24 9.92%
Job Seeking Time (n=240)
Less than one month 84 35.00%
1-2 months 58 24.17%
3-4 months 52 21.67%
5-6 months 25 10.42%
7-8 months 12 5.00%
9-10 months 3 1.25%
11-12 months 5 2.08%
More than 12 months 1 0.42%
Job Offer Time (n=320)
Offer Prior to Graduation 153 47.81%
Offer After Graduation 167 52.19%
4
Job Satisfaction (n=339)
Very Satisfied 140 41.30%
Moderately Satisfied 114 33.63%
Slightly Satisfied 35 10.32%
Slightly Dissatisfied 13 3.83%
Moderately Dissatisfied 25 7.37%
Very Dissatisfied 12 3.54%
Relatedness to Major* (n=364)
Related to Major 287 78.85%
Not Related to Major 77 21.15% * Variable “Related to Major” was created by combining two variables: “Yes, same field as major(s)” and “Yes, related to major(s).”
Income (n=210)
Mean $37,242
Median $35,430
Range $11,500 - $65,000
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=455)
Yes 96 21.10%
No 359 78.90%
5
CFANS Stats Graduates from CFANS
Work Status (n=218; response rate=57.1% or 218/382)
Paid Employment 150 68.81%
Seeking Employment 20 9.17%
Other* 48 22.02% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Influence on Job (n=103)
GoldPASS 10 9.71%
Internship/Co-op Experience 16 15.53%
U of MN Career Services Office (career fairs, on campus interviews) 8 7.77%
Advertisement in Newspaper 2 1.94%
Ad on Large, Online Job Posting Sites 10 9.71%
Alumni Association/Mentor Program 0 0.00%
Professional Associations 1 0.97%
Professional Contacts 15 14.56%
Personal Contacts 16 15.53%
Private Employment Agency 6 5.83%
Through Employer’s Website 12 11.65%
Other 7 6.80%
Job Seeking Time (n=103)
Less than one month 33 32.04%
1-2 months 31 30.10%
3-4 months 19 18.45%
5-6 months 11 10.68%
7-8 months 6 5.83%
9-10 months 0 0.00%
11-12 months 3 2.91%
More than 12 months 0 0.00%
Job Offer Time (n=125)
Offer Prior to Graduation 59 47.20%
Offer After Graduation 66 52.80%
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Job Satisfaction (n=137)
Very Satisfied 52 37.96%
Moderately Satisfied 53 38.69%
Slightly Satisfied 15 10.95%
Slightly Dissatisfied 3 2.19%
Moderately Dissatisfied 9 6.57%
Very Dissatisfied 5 3.65%
Relatedness to Major (n=144)
Related to Major 118 81.94%
Not Related to Major 26 18.06%
Income (n=90; high and low outliers removed: $11,000 and $65,000)
Mean $34,503
Median $34,000
Range $12,000 - $60,000
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=185)
Yes 41 22.16%
No 144 77.84%
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Agricultural & Food Business Management Work Status (n=7; response rate=38.9% or 7/18)
Paid Employment 5 71.43%
Seeking Employment 2 28.57%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=4)
Related to Major 4 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=4)
Very Satisfied 1 25.00%
Moderately Satisfied 3 75.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=3)
Mean $55,000
Median $55,000
Range $50,000 - $60,000
Employer Job Title Location Annie's Frozen Yogurt Managing Director of sales and marketing MN
Cargill Grain Elevator Supervisor IL
CHS Commodity Merchandiser MN
Queststar Division Vice President MN
Syngenta Seeds Strategic Marketing MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=3)
Yes 0 0.00%
No 3 100.00%
Words of Advice to Students Use all the resources you have access to, network, and participate in career events. Also, do not be afraid to reach out to others and ask questions about career opportunities.
Get you generals done at a cheaper school. The University is prestigious and may look good on a resume, but it is a really big school and is not for everyone.
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Agricultural Education **Note: Because this was a CEHD major, the data below is not included in the totals for CFANS.
Work Status (n=5; response rate=62.5% or 5/8)
Paid Employment 4 80.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 1 20.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=4)
Related to Major 4 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=4)
Very Satisfied 2 50.00%
Moderately Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Satisfied 2 50.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=3)
Mean $37,500
Median $38,000
Range $32,500 - $42,000
Employer Job Title Location MN Corn Growers Association Communications Assistant MN
National FFA Organization Education Specialist- Collegiate IN
River County Cooperative Agronomy Sales MN
Sibley-East School Teacher MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=5)
Yes 1 20.00%
No 4 80.00%
School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Minnesota Human Resource Development
Words of Advice to Students If you struggle in a certain area of study take that class at a tech school. Be ready to pay a lot for what you get.
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Agricultural Industries & Marketing Work Status (n=6; response rate=60.0% or 6/10)
Paid Employment 6 100.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=6)
Related to Major 5 83.33%
Not Related to Major 1 16.67%
Job Satisfaction (n=6)
Very Satisfied 3 50.00%
Moderately Satisfied 2 33.33%
Slightly Satisfied 1 16.67%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=5)
Mean $39,400
Median $37,000
Range $25,000 - $49,500
Employer Job Title Location AgStar Financial Services Appraisal Associate MN
Hormel Foods Production Supervisor MN
Hormel Foods Plant Supervisor GA
KBC Tax and Accounting Accounting MN
River Region Coop Precision Ag Specialist MN
University of Minnesota Academic Adviser MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=5)
Yes 2 40.00%
No 3 60.00%
School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Minnesota Adult Education
Appraisal Institute General Certified Appraiser
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Words of Advice to Students Take all the courses you can that you are interested in; now is the time to take advantage of that. Use your career counselors as much as you can—they know what they are doing.
Look for opportunities in your career field as a freshman—do not wait! If you are unsure of your career field as a freshman, then start researching! Be open to change, because it will happen. If you think that a polished resume will get you in the door, think again; It often takes much more than one piece of paper to get a job. It takes persistence, networking, and setbacks before your job search pays off.
Take internships even if you aren’t sure what you want to do; you may find a career path that will interest you, or even if you know what you want to do, look at other types of jobs for internships.
Start early. Apply for anything you are interested in.
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Animal Science
Work Status (n=32; response rate=61.5% or 32/52)
Paid Employment 21 65.63%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 11 34.38% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=19)
Related to Major 18 94.74%
Not Related to Major 1 5.26%
Job Satisfaction (n=19)
Very Satisfied 7 36.84%
Moderately Satisfied 10 52.63%
Slightly Satisfied 1 5.26%
Slightly Dissatisfied 1 5.26%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=12)
Mean $31,633
Median $33,500
Range $20,800 - $40,000
Employer Job Title Location Self Farmer MN
Animal Human Society Animal Technician MN
animal humane society vet tech MN
Banfield Pet Nurse MN
Covance Laboratories Inc. Research Study Tech. WI
Covance Laboratories Inc. Research Study Tech. WI
Covance Laboratories Inc. Research Study Tech. WI
Durrow Farm Dairy Farmer MN
Edina Pet Hospital Veterinary Assistant MN
Food and Drug Administration Consumer Safety Officer (i.e. inspector) MN
Golden Plump Poultry Service Representative MN
Highland Animal Hospital Veterinary Assistant MN
Holden Farms Manager in Training MN
Jefferson at Berry, JPI L.P. Leasing Manager MN
Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture Meat Inspector MN
Pet Crossing Animal Hospital Veterinary Assistant MN
Self employed Dairy Producer: Owner and Operator
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Southwest Hills Vet. Hospital Receptionist/ Tech. TX
St. Francis Animal and Bird Hospital Vet Assistant MN
WD Hoard & Sons (Hoard's Dairyman Magazine) Associate Editor WI
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=30)
Yes 11 36.67%
No 19 63.33%
School where Currently Enrolled Program Cornell Vet School
University of Minnesota Veterinary School
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota Science Education Master of education/initial licensure
University of Minnesota Animal Science
University of Minnesota Veterinary School
University of Minnesota Veterinary School
University of Minnesota DVM Candidacy
University of Wisconsin-- Madison Veterinary School
University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medicine
University of Minnesota Animal Science
Words of Advice to Students Ask for help when you need it! Don't wait until the semester's almost over to try to get your grades up.
Become involved in internships and co-ops to enhance your in-class education and build upon it.
Before deciding on your major, search for positions and see if you like the job descriptions.
College isn't at all about the courses you take; instead, it is about the friendships and experience you make for yourself. Get involved in student activities—join a student organization. Network with prospective employers. You make the most of your future.
Get internships and spend as much time researching your field as possible.
Take Advanced Placement tests in high school—the importance of them cannot be stressed enough because they give you credit prior to college and save lots of money. Plan out the four years in advance and very carefully. Browse through classes before even starting college and see what classes you would want to take before you graduate. Make sure you talk to your adviser frequently and space out hard classes and intertwine them with easier ones to decrease stress. Don't take introductory classes unless it's required—they waste time and money and a little extra hard work will be worth it to start out at the highest level you can. Study in groups and go to the tutors and review sessions available—you can't get through college on your own and you can't get the best grades without getting help from others.
Take advantage of all opportunities and get to know your instructors; that was my favorite thing about my university experience.
Take advantage of the free services provided by the career centers. They are excellent at helping students prepare for job searching and life after college.
Take internships to gain insight into what type of positions you might enjoy. Pursue and find a job you enjoy. Start looking early for both internships and careers.
Gain more experience in the field you want to go into before deciding on a major. It is important to know what your ideal job requires and therefore what major would fit it the best—especially in animal science.
Go try it out—don’t just assume the career you have in mind is what you want to do. Go follow someone around for a week and be certain.
Try to find courses that are more related to your field (i.e. physics for medical students, etc...) to get the most out of college.
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Applied Economics Work Status (n=25; response rate=43.9% or 25/57)
Paid Employment 22 88.00%
Seeking Employment 1 4.00%
Other* 2 8.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=22)
Related to Major 17 77.27%
Not Related to Major 5 22.73%
Job Satisfaction (n=22)
Very Satisfied 12 54.55%
Moderately Satisfied 6 27.27%
Slightly Satisfied 3 13.64%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 1 4.55%
Income (n=18)
Mean $40,037
Median $40,000
Range $25,000 - $65,000
Employer Job Title Location alwaysBEthere Sales manager MN
Ameriprise Financial Associate Financial Advisor MN
Andersen Corporation Associate Engineer MN
Anfinson & Thompson and Company Inc. Account data enterer and reviewer of Tax Returns MN
Aon Benfield Paragon Analyst MN
Berkley Risk Administrators Company, LLC Policy Service Technician MN
Enterprise Rent-a-car management trainee MN
Farm Credit Leasing-CoBank Associate Support Specialist MN
Goldman & Associates (Law Firm) Account Manager MN
Key medical supply billing claims specialist MN
Minnesota Revenue Revenue Tax Specialist MN
Smithfield Group Financial Services WI
Sugar Creek Farm Farmer MN
Target Merchandise Specialist MN
TCF Bank Manager MN
The Scoular Company Sales Specialist MN
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Thomson Reuters Marketing Coordinator MN
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Financial Associate MN
Travelers Insurance Senior Financial Analyst MN
United States Marine Corps 2nd Lieutenant VA
Wells Fargo Customer Service and Sales Rep MN
Wells Fargo Program Associate - Project Manager MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=22)
Yes 2 9.09%
No 20 90.91%
School where Currently Enrolled Program Peking University Chinese Language Program for International Students
University of Minnesota Applied Economics
St. Thomas University- Opus School of Business Part-Time MBA
Words of Advice to Students Find a career that interests you.
Start early and keep an open mind.
Take more accounting courses if you are looking to go into finance; many employers will ask you for at least 3 courses of finance. I only took one. Also take courses in which you use Excel and Microsoft Access. I wish I would have taken more classes with hands-on experience. Take any finance course with Glen Pederson. I brought some spreadsheets to an interview that I had made in a class.
Internships, internships, internships, I can't speak more highly of them. My internship is the only reason I found a job so easily.
Make sure you take the time to use all resources available to you on campus. Attend the career fairs as well as utilize the GoldPASS website. I feel that getting an internship is also a great benefit when seeking full-time employment.
To current students, I would recommend that they have AT LEAST one internship in their related field. Also, get a degree that is applicable to many companies/organizations; get the minor in something you like. Develop good communication skills. Get plenty of sleep and learn about personal budgeting/finance.
Start early, and don't put all your eggs in one basket. I concentrated on trying to get a specific job for 6 weeks and kind of had blinders on. I ended up not getting the job, and by that time I was really behind the ball and it was difficult to find a good job!
Do not settle for a job that you will hate. Find something with the opportunity to move around.
It is unlikely that you will get the job you initially pursue when first starting college. If your dream is to one day have the job you always wanted, other jobs related to that job are great because they teach you many things that build-up the knowledge base required for that job. Working to fulfill that goal while you progress in the job you now have will greatly affect your ability to succeed at that goal.
Polish your resume, network, be professional, and don't become discouraged.
Spend your time wisely because 4 years might seem like a long time but in reality it’s not.
Keep your career options open and be prepared to know that you may not get your dream job right out of college.
Go to Career Services as much as possible. It isn't as scary as some people make it out to be. I wouldn't have received my job offer if it wasn't for the help from the counselors there.
The current job market is difficult to enter. The inability to obtain a job is not the fault of the applicant.
Your college degree does not determine your career—it only determines what you stay up late studying during your college years.
Look far and wide at non-traditional job sites. Never, ever, just send a resume—it will be ignored. Do something
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clever, intelligent, and creative.
Start building your career early! Do not wait until your 3rd or 4th year. Work with University of Minnesota Career Services from the beginning to get a better scope of where you want to go. Be proactive in shaping your career so that upon graduation, you can hit the ground running. It is never too early to prepare yourself for the world after college. To quote Louis Pasteur, "Fortune favors the prepared mind." After my experience at the University of Minnesota, I have found this to be completely true.
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Applied Plant Science Work Status (n=5; response rate=71.4% or 5/7)
Paid Employment 2 40.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 3 60.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=2)
Related to Major 1 50.00%
Not Related to Major 1 50.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=2)
Very Satisfied 1 50.00%
Moderately Satisfied 1 50.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=1; one low outlier removed: $11,000)
Mean $46,000
Median $46,000
Range NA
Employer Job Title Location AmeriCorps St. Louis Literacy Tutor MO
Syngenta Seeds sales representative MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=5)
Yes 2 40.00%
No 3 60.00%
School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Minnesota Plant Pathology
University of Minnesota Agronomy/Plant Genetics
Words of Advice to Students Get to know the people in charge. Don't expect to get paid right away. Help out as a volunteer first, and gain your supervisor's trust.
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Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering **Note: Because this is an IT major, the data below is not included in the totals for CFANS.
Work Status (n=2; response rate=20.0% or 2/10)
Paid Employment 1 50.00%
Seeking Employment 1 50.00%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=1)
Related to Major 1 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=1)
Very Satisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Satisfied 1 100.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=1)
Mean $46,000
Median $46,000
Range NA
Employer Job Title Location HZ United Project Engineer MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=2)
Yes 0 0.00%
No 2 100.00%
Words of Advice to Students Use GoldPASS and other job search sites. Get started job searching at least a semester before you graduate.
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Bio-Based Products Work Status (n=6; response rate=66.7% or 6/9)
Paid Employment 4 66.67%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 2 33.33% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=4)
Related to Major 1 25.00%
Not Related to Major 3 75.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=3)
Very Satisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Satisfied 1 33.33%
Slightly Satisfied 1 33.33%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 1 33.33%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=2)
Mean $28,964
Median $28,964
Range $22,568 - $35,360
Employer Job Title Location Homeshield Production Lead MN
Residential Science Resources Energy Audit Technician MN
Sears Sales Associate WI
USFamily.net/Velocity Telephone Support Technician/Modem Logistics/Account Manager MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=5)
Yes 1 20.00%
No 4 80.00%
School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Minnesota Bioproducts & Biosystems Engineering
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Words of Advice to Students Don't lock yourself into one thing or another. Try looking for things that may be considered outside of what you studied.
Choose an area of study you would like and find interesting. When looking at jobs, decide on one that fits well with your lifestyle, not necessarily the one with the highest pay.
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Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management Work Status (n=13; response rate=61.9% or 13/21)
Paid Employment 8 61.54%
Seeking Employment 3 23.08%
Other* 2 15.38% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=8)
Related to Major 6 75.00%
Not Related to Major 2 25.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=7)
Very Satisfied 2 28.57%
Moderately Satisfied 3 42.86%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 2 28.57%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=4)
Mean $28,272
Median $28,000
Range $24,086 - $33,000
Employer Job Title Location Army Corps of Engineers
California Department of Fish and Game Scientific Aide CA
Cash Wise Pharmacy Pharmacy Technician MN
ISD 196 Technician MN
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Stream Fish Biologist, Pollution Control Specialist MN
Rainforest Alliance Chain-of-Custody Assistant MN
University of Minnesota Researcher MN
USDA - NRCS Soil Conservation Technician MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=11)
Yes 2 18.18%
No 9 81.82%
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School where Currently Enrolled Program 1. National Outdoor Leadership School; 2. University of Minnesota 1. Semester in Patagonia; 2. Parks, Recreation and Tourism
University of Minnesota Water Resources
Words of Advice to Students Find internships related to what you want; most places don't care about your degree, they want to know what skills you have gained from work experiences. Get to know at least one professor. They can really help you identify your goals, and sometimes they have good connections. Seek opportunities outside of the U. The Twin Cities have so much to offer. Take advantage of as much as possible.
Internships, Internships, Internships! The more experience you get in your field prior to graduation, the easier it will be to find a job when you’re looking post graduation.
Make contact with professors, even in huge classes!
Make sure there are actually jobs in the field you are looking for; do multiple internships; get your Masters right away because every employer wants 3 years experience or a Masters—there are no entry level jobs.
Make use of the Career Center and all of the events it holds throughout the year (i.e. internship fair, resume workshop).
Take on as many internships and job opportunities as possible ASAP! Join student groups to get the well-rounded experience that will help you in the workforce.
Work on the things that seem the most difficult when you have the chance (public speaking, writing skills, etc.)! Meet as many professionals as possible and get involved through internships.
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Environment & Natural Resources Work Status (n=15; response rate=60.0% or 15/25)
Paid Employment 11 73.33%
Seeking Employment 2 13.33%
Other* 2 13.33% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=10)
Related to Major 7 70.00%
Not Related to Major 3 30.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=10)
Very Satisfied 3 30.00%
Moderately Satisfied 4 40.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 3 30.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=7)
Mean $33,745
Median $32,000
Range $24,960 - $46,218
Employer Job Title Location City of Bloomington Environmental Health Intern MN
City of Eagan, Forestry Division Tree Inspector MN
Daymon Worldwide/ Supervalu Product Development Technician MN
DNR Temp
Kinderberry Hill Toddler Teacher MN
National Park Service Biological Technician
Northfield Public Library circulation clerk at public library MN
Rainforest Cafe Server MN
Syngenta research associate assistant WI
US Compliance Corporation Environmental Specialist MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=13)
Yes 1 7.69%
No 12 92.31%
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School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Minnesota Forest Resources
Words of Advice to Students Use all of the resources the University offers and take advantage of the University network. Many students do not realize how many opportunities are available.
Get your feet wet! Now that I'm graduated every place is looking for someone with a masters or 2 years experience. If I had known that while I was still in school, I would have looked into more jobs and internships related to my field. Instead I stayed at my job that was good money with a very flexible schedule which worked well while I was in school and I only did one internship related to my major—it's not enough. It worked at the time and it's helping me pay my loans and bills now, but it's not what I want to do and being a server does not count as "experience" for any job except another serving one, which is disappointing because I am more familiar with the human behavior than I ever thought I could be, but it won't get you anywhere after graduating. Start looking after your sophomore year, don't give up and don't lose hope, and don't quit your current job until you have another for sure lined up.
Do internships, volunteer, and try not to work very much.
Take advantage of all opportunities related to careers. While having a degree is important, having real world experience makes the difference. Get help with interviewing and resume writing, take advantage of job posting resources.
Having just received my first four-year degree at the age of 46, I don't feel qualified to give out advice on this subject, except perhaps to say, “Don't wait until you're 46 to get your degree!” Oh—Maybe pick a minor that will qualify you in other ways. A minor in a second language is always good, or another minor within your college.
Network with professors while at school. Connections are very important.
Classes are great for learning facts and figures but really have not helped me too much yet. My internship experience is what got me my job and my general skills (learned personally, in class, and through internships) are what allow me to succeed.
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Environmental Horticulture Work Status (n=12; response rate=41.4% or 12/29)
Paid Employment 9 75.00%
Seeking Employment 1 8.33%
Other* 2 16.67% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=9)
Related to Major 8 88.89%
Not Related to Major 1 11.11%
Job Satisfaction (n=8)
Very Satisfied 4 50.00%
Moderately Satisfied 2 25.00%
Slightly Satisfied 1 12.50%
Slightly Dissatisfied 1 12.50%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=7)
Mean $34,626
Median $35,500
Range $25,480 - $40,000
Employer Job Title Location Bailey Nursery's Assistant Foreman MN
Town and Country Club 2nd Assistant Superintendent MN
Deer Run Golf Club Assistant Superintendent MN
Tellepson Landscaping Landscape Designer and Project Manager TX
University of Minnesota Gardener MN
University of Minnesota - Landcare Gardener MN
Vinocopia, Inc. Sales Representative MN
Somerset Country Club Golf Course Assistant Superintendent MN
Mail Carrier USPS MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=10)
Yes 1 10.00%
No 9 90.00%
25
School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Minnesota Applied Plant Science
Words of Advice to Students Decide your major early on. Try to get exposure to your chosen profession early on.
Education is important but it isn't the only thing. Work experience is just as important. To get hired full time a person better have at least 3 years of experience or forget about getting hired full time at a golf course.
Get out in your field of interest through internships, field trips, jobs, practicums, etc., and take in as much as you can from many different venues within your field to get an idea of what you would like to do after graduation.
It’s best not to get in too big of a hurry—take your time, see the world, learn about it and how you fit into it—then make your choice.
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Environmental Science Work Status (n=5; response rate=55.6% or 5/9)
Paid Employment 2 40.00%
Seeking Employment 3 60.00%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=2)
Related to Major 2 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=2)
Very Satisfied 2 100.00%
Moderately Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=2)
Mean $31,500
Median $31,500
Range $24,000 - $39,000
Employer Job Title Location Environmental Law & Policy Center Program Coordinator Chicago
Conestoga Rovers & Associates Environmental Scientist Omaha
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=5)
Yes 0 0.00%
No 5 100.00%
Words of Advice to Students Do job searching while you're in school so you get an idea of what's out there and what employers are looking for. This will GREATLY help you decide what courses would be the most beneficial to take.
Seek out internships and try to make connections. Getting a desired career position, at any stage, is all about what experience you have and who you know. So take advantage of Career Services and any other resources the University provides to help find internships.
27
Fisheries & Wildlife Work Status (n=27; response rate=65.9% or 27/41)
Paid Employment 20 74.07%
Seeking Employment 4 14.81%
Other* 3 11.11% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=20)
Related to Major 17 85.00%
Not Related to Major 3 15.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=17)
Very Satisfied 9 52.94%
Moderately Satisfied 4 23.53%
Slightly Satisfied 2 11.76%
Slightly Dissatisfied 1 5.88%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 1 5.88%
Income (n=9)
Mean $28,700
Median $30,000
Range $12,000 - $35,298
Employer Job Title Location Alaskan Observers Fisheries Biologist AK
Audubon Society Field Technician FL
Biology program, University of MN - TC Teaching assistant MN
Living Desert Zoo & Garden State Park Wildlife Biologist NM
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Region Three Natural Resource Specialist MN
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Natural Resource Specialist - Aquatic Biologist MN
Nabisco Services Representative MN
Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Field Biologist OR
Oswald Fisheries Biologist MN
Prem Center Visiting Schools Program Intern Chiang Mai
Prem Center Barge Program Environmental Educator Bangkok
SALTwater, Inc. Marine Biologist AK
The American Bear Association Program Coordinator MN
The Rainforest Cafe Animal Care Specialist MN
U of MN, Dept. of Surgery Lab Animal Care Tech MN
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Private Lands Biologist IN
University of Idaho ID
28
University of Minnesota, Biotest labs Full time temp assembler MN
University of MN Entomology Department Junior Scientist MN
Wildlife Management Services Wildlife Damage Technician MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=24)
Yes 1 4.17%
No 23 95.83%
School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Minnesota M.E.D Sports Management
Words of Advice to Students Work on public speaking skills as much as possible.
Network, get field experience, be able to prove you have good people skills, stick around. WORK HARD.
Get as much experience (internships, research, volunteer, etc.) prior to graduation as possible. Be able to put modesty aside and sell your strengths.
Look into graduate school during your senior year as our undergraduate program does not prepare or educate students about how to pursue a graduate degree.
Find an interest and do everything that is available to you as a student in the realm related to that interest. Take chances and judge not what you haven't experienced.
Get more experience in your chosen field while still in school. Many internships require that the intern is still in school, and these kinds of experiences are vital to acquiring a job post-graduation.
Become involved in organizations dealing with your area of interest.
Look for internships and volunteer opportunities early; participate in undergraduate research.
29
Food Science Work Status (n=7; response rate=58.3% or 7/12)
Paid Employment 5 71.43%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 2 28.57% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=5)
Related to Major 5 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=4)
Very Satisfied 1 25.00%
Moderately Satisfied 2 50.00%
Slightly Satisfied 1 25.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=4)
Mean $42,490
Median $43,300
Range $35,360 - $48,000
Employer Job Title Location Cargill Food Safety Scientist MN
Cargill, Inc. Sensory Technician MN
Hormel Foods Corp Associate of Quality Control Process MN
University of Minnesota Junior Scientist MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=4)
Yes 1 25.00%
No 3 75.00%
School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Illinois Food Science
Words of Advice to Students Get an internship, even if it is unpaid or low-pay. The experience is priceless.
Start early. Investigate all possibilities.
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Forest Resources Work Status (n=7; response rate=87.5% or 7/8)
Paid Employment 5 71.43%
Seeking Employment 1 14.29%
Other* 1 14.29% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=4)
Related to Major 3 75.00%
Not Related to Major 1 25.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=4)
Very Satisfied 2 50.00%
Moderately Satisfied 1 25.00%
Slightly Satisfied 1 25.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=3)
Mean $30,333
Median $32,000
Range $25,000 - $34,000
Employer Job Title Location Glen Erickson Logging Logger MN
MN DNR, Division of Forestry Entry-level Professional Forester MN
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry Forester MN
Carleton County Forester MN
Edina Liquors Salesperson MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=6)
Yes 1 16.67%
No 5 83.33%
School where Currently Enrolled Program Unspecified Unspecified
Words of Advice to Students Go to a community college first to get general education requirements out of the way, then enroll in a specific major/degree program at the U.
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Nutrition Work Status (n=48; response rate=62.3% or 48/77)
Paid Employment 28 58.33%
Seeking Employment 3 6.25%
Other* 17 35.42% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=27)
Related to Major 23 85.19%
Not Related to Major 4 14.81%
Job Satisfaction (n=27)
Very Satisfied 4 14.81%
Moderately Satisfied 13 48.15%
Slightly Satisfied 4 14.81%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 3 11.11%
Very Dissatisfied 3 11.11%
Income (n=15)
Mean $31,627
Median $33,280
Range $18,000 - $45,000
Employer Job Title Location Unspecified Food Technologist Minnetonka
Abbott Northwestern Hospital Operations Technician Minneapolis
Allina Pharmacy Buyer Minneapolis
CAP Agency WIC Program Nutrition Educator Shakopee
Children’s' Hospital Dietetic Technician Minneapolis
Dakota County WIC Nutrition Specialist
Daymon Worldwide WIC Specialist Eden Prairie
Estee Lauder Lab Tech Blaine
Fairview Hospital Advanced Nutrition Aide Minneapolis
General Mills
General Mills Assistant Food Editor - Betty Crocker Kitchens Golden Valley
Golden Temple Research and Development Food Technologist Eugene
Hard Rock Cafe/ Big Bowl Server Minneapolis/ Edina
Hennepin County Medical Center Diet Technician Minneapolis
Land O'Lakes Food Technologist Arden Hills
Menards Sales Associate Richfield
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Merit Care Health Systems Fargo
North Memorial Health Care Dietetic Assistant Robbinsdale
North Memorial Medical Center Nursing Assistant Robbinsdale
Paustis Wine Company Sales and Consulting Duluth
Slim4Life Weight Loss Counselor Maple Grove
United Hospital Dietetic Technician St. Paul
University of Minnesota Junior Scientist Minneapolis
University of Minnesota Medical Center Fairview Nutrition Clerk Minneapolis
University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview Nutrition Services Associate Minneapolis
University of Minnesota- Wilson Library Library Assistant 2 Minneapolis
University of Minnesota, GCRC Diet Technician Minneapolis
WIC WIC Nutritionist Minneapolis
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=40)
Yes 15 37.50%
No 25 62.50%
School where Currently Enrolled Program College of St. Catherine Library and Information Science
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Physician Assistant Program
Minnesota Community and Technical College Child Development
Loyola University Nursing
University of MN M.S. Nutrition
University of Minnesota Doctor of Dental Surgery
University of Minnesota Pharmacy
Chicago Medical School Medicine
University of Minnesota Nutrition
Duke University Nursing
University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Dietetic Internship Program
Western Carolina University Dietetic Internship
Michigan State University Graduate Dietetic Internship
Words of Advice to Students Network and start looking early.
Job shadow, ask questions, find a mentor, seek out a job of interest long before seeking employment.
Focus on professional development while you have the resources.
Start preparing early. Do lots of extracurricular activity. Get to know your professors/employers.
Get good work and volunteer experience.
Take advantage of the opportunities offered through the career center, including practice interviews, resume assistance, and job fairs. I would also recommend that you get to know your professors so that they know enough about you to offer strong recommendations.
Join professional organizations (e.g. Society of Food Scientists), because the only thing that matters when looking for a job is who you know. Being able to hold a normal conversation is also important.
Get out and look on your own; don't rely on career services at the University.
Take charge for yourself.
Making connections, networking, and getting yourself out there in your field of interest are very important if you want to find a great job.
Find a job in your field of study as early as possible, even if it is just an entry-level position a few hours a week. It will lead to great opportunity.
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If you wish to get accepted into a dietetic internship after finishing your nutrition degree, you really really need to focus on grades and participate in many activities because internships have become so competitive.
Research different areas of nutrition to work in. Realize you don't have to go the RD route to use a nutrition degree. Shadow different jobs and figure out where you fit and what areas you like and do not like.
Get involved early; the more experience you can get in your area of interest, the better. Don't wait or it will be too late.
Utilize the services at the U of M (career center, advisors, etc.). Begin researching the career you want early so you have plenty of time to prepare and take elective classes that will enhance your knowledge.
Obtain a second degree in something totally different.
Make sure you are preparing for life after graduation while still in school. Get involved in your field by shadowing, volunteering, and conducting informational interviews. I think this would really give people an edge upon graduation. A lot of people don't do it, but it makes a difference to employers and in today’s job market, you can use all the help you can get.
Keep a GPA of 3.5 or higher and ask about the nutrition internship your freshman year. Find out every piece of information about how to obtain an internship when you graduate. If you don't have a dietetic internship it is very hard to find a job. Also, volunteer and be involved with school because those things will help you obtain an internship.
Chose a very basic major such as communications because you'll be more likely to find a career after college. Plus it's an easy major and basic enough for most companies to want to hire you.
Know that there are other options besides the clinical dietetic route for a nutritionist.
Get experience in the field. That is the only way you will know if you will like it.
Go to the St. Paul Campus Career Center or take a course from them—Great resource!!!
Maintain good grades and get great experience.
For students in nutrition wanting to go into dietetics: You will need job experience and a really decent GPA and even these combined will not necessarily mean that you will get a dietetic internship so be sure to have a plan B.
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Science in Agriculture Work Status (n=2; response rate=100% or 2/2)
Paid Employment 1 50.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 1 50.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=1)
Related to Major 0 0.00%
Not Related to Major 1 100.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=1)
Very Satisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Satisfied 1 100.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=1)
Mean $43,000
Median $43,000
Range NA
Employer Job Title Location CHS - Farmer's Alliance Grain Procurement SD
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=2)
Yes 1 50.00%
No 1 50.00%
School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Minnesota Veterinary Medicine
Words of Advice to Students Meet people—People, not grades, get you jobs. Be risky—Stand out from the crowd. Become experienced—Run your own business during college.
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Urban Forestry Work Status (n=0; response rate=0.0% or 0/3)
Paid Employment 0 NA
Seeking Employment 0 NA
Other* 0 NA * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=0)
Related to Major 0 NA
Not Related to Major 0 NA
Job Satisfaction (n=0)
Very Satisfied 0 NA
Moderately Satisfied 0 NA
Slightly Satisfied 0 NA
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 NA
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 NA
Very Dissatisfied 0 NA
Income (n=0)
Mean NA
Median NA
Range NA
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=0)
Yes 0 NA
No 0 NA
36
CDES Stats Graduates from CDES
Work Status (n=193; response rate=61.9% or 193/312)
Paid Employment 136 70.47%
Seeking Employment 31 16.06%
Other* 26 13.47% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Influence on Job (n=71)
GoldPASS 2 2.82%
Internship/Co-op Experience 11 15.49%
U of MN Career Services Office (career fairs, on campus interviews) 3 4.23%
Advertisement in Newspaper 1 1.41%
Ad on Large, Online Job Posting Sites 5 7.04%
Alumni Association/Mentor Program 2 2.82%
Professional Associations 1 1.41%
Professional Contacts 7 9.86%
Personal Contacts 20 28.17%
Private Employment Agency 2 2.82%
Through Employer’s Website 9 12.68%
Other 8 11.27%
Job Seeking Time (n=70)
Less than one month 26 37.14%
1-2 months 16 22.86%
3-4 months 15 21.43%
5-6 months 9 12.86%
7-8 months 3 4.29%
9-10 months 0 0.00%
11-12 months 0 0.00%
More than 12 months 1 1.43%
Job Offer Time (n=108)
Offer Prior to Graduation 47 43.52%
Offer After Graduation 61 56.48%
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Job Satisfaction (n=109)
Very Satisfied 44 40.37%
Moderately Satisfied 31 28.44%
Slightly Satisfied 10 9.17%
Slightly Dissatisfied 8 7.34%
Moderately Dissatisfied 11 10.09%
Very Dissatisfied 5 4.59%
Relatedness to Major (n=126)
Related to Major 95 75.40%
Not Related to Major 31 24.60%
Income (n=60—high and low removed: $16,640 and $61,000)
Mean $35,121
Median $35,000
Range $19,200 - $55,000
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=158)
Yes 38 24.05%
No 120 75.95%
38
Architecture BA (CLA) **Note: Because this is a CLA major, the data below is not included in the totals for CDES.
Work Status (n=14; response rate=35.0% or 14/40)
Paid Employment 8 57.14%
Seeking Employment 2 14.29%
Other* 4 28.57% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=8)
Related to Major 2 25.00%
Not Related to Major 6 75.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=8)
Very Satisfied 1 12.50%
Moderately Satisfied 3 37.50%
Slightly Satisfied 3 37.50%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 1 12.50%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=1; one low outlier removed: $11,500)
Mean $27,040
Median $27,040
Range NA
Employer Job Title Location Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps leader with Habitat for Humanity CA
Henry Carlson Company Project Expidtor SD
Liberty Tax Service Office Supervisor MN
Macy's sales associate MN
Mortenson Construction Integrated Construction Coordinator VA
Noah's Ark Teacher at a childcare center MN
Quest Engineering Inc Inventory Control Manager MN
Tapemark Operator MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=14)
Yes 3 21.43%
No 11 78.57%
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School where Currently Enrolled Program Anoka Ramsey College Pre-pharmacy
Lakeland College MBA-Project Management
University of Milwaukee Architecture
Words of Advice to Students Do much more research on the school, and know exactly what you want to do after you graduate. I now have a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture which is nearly useless: I have talked to 3 separate people in the profession, not including my professors, and all have indicated that what they learned in school did not correspond with what they do in the field. In addition, and for instance with architecture specifically, I was not given the proper tools I need to fulfill basic job requirements, such as drafting skills, as indicated by employment postings and in interviews.
Do prospective career interviews within the field you are interested—research it!
Don’t depend on career services people in your department because they can only do so much. Also, the economy/job market is so bad right now (for recent grads with no experience especially), that if you really are in need of a job, you can't afford to be picky because something else may not come along for a long time.
I would tell them, if they don't have a major picked out already, to take classes solely because they are interested in the classes. Many jobs will take students with multiple majors unless it's a specific career like engineering. I would tell them to make sure to go to career events and network with people in different professions. If they already have a major that they are set on, I would still tell them to explore other interests and maybe job shadow the major that they are interested in.
Jobs in Minneapolis are few and far between. Apply yourself to a larger region.
Make as many connections with the university resources as you can—out in the real world you have to know your stuff, but you also have to know people. Connections are everything.
Plan ahead instead of just “trying to get by!”
Start making connections (networking) early in your academic career. Also, get to know your professors; they will be very helpful.
When you find a field or major that you are interested in studying, begin to find volunteer opportunities or part-time jobs in the field so that you can learn from professionals what your interest translates to in the "real-world." Network with fellow students, upperclassmen, teachers, and professionals—anyone who you can soak up as much experience and advice from as possible to get started on the right foot.
40
Architecture BS Work Status (n=58; response rate=61.7% or 58/94)
Paid Employment 30 51.72%
Seeking Employment 10 17.24%
Other* 18 31.03% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=29)
Related to Major 19 65.52%
Not Related to Major 10 34.48%
Job Satisfaction (n=25)
Very Satisfied 10 40.00%
Moderately Satisfied 6 24.00%
Slightly Satisfied 2 8.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 3 12.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 4 16.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=12)
Mean $35,932
Median $37,500
Range $19,200 - $52,000
Employer Job Title Location
Unspecified Intern Architect / Receptionist MN
Art Supply Store Sales Associate MN
Banana Republic Cashier / Retail Stock Room MN
Best Buy Computer Assistant (Computer Science) MN
Biko Associates, Inc. Researcher and Urban Planner MN
College of Design, University of Minnesota Computer Lab Manager MN
Electrical Logic Lighting Designer CO
Family Business Assistant MN
Federal Government-- General Services Administration Architect IL
HGA Intern Architect MN
HGA Architects Architectural Project Coordinator MN
ING Senior Underwriting Services Coordinator MN
KinderCare Preschool teacher WI
LHB Architectural Designer MN
M.A. Mortenson Integrated Construction Technician MN
Mohagen-Hansen Architectural Group CAD Technician MN
Nguyen Architects Intern/Contract Worker MN
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Preferred Kitchens Assistant Designer MN
prism research buyer MN
Raymond Harris & Associates Intern Architect TX
Rehkamp Larson Architects, Inc. Architect Intern MN
Restaurant Max Server MN
RGIS Inventory Counter MN
Site Assembly Draftsperson MN
St. Paul Public Schools CAD Data Management Assistant MN
Urban Works Designer MN
Wilson & Associates Architects Assistant Architect/Designer MN
Unspecified CAD Modeler IL
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=49)
Yes 21 42.86%
No 28 57.14%
School where Currently Enrolled Program Clemson Master of Architecture
Harvard University Graduate School of Design Architecture
NC State University Architecture
Pratt Institute Master of Architecture
Rhode Island School of Design Master of Architecture
University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana Architecture
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Master of Architecture
University of Minnesota Construction Management Minor
University of Minnesota Master of Architecture
University of Minnesota Master of Architecture
University of Minnesota Master of Architecture
University of Minnesota Master of Architecture
University of Minnesota Master of Architecture
University of Minnesota Master of Architecture
University of Minnesota Master of Architecture
University of Minnesota Master of Architecture
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Master of Architecture
Washington University Master of Architecture
Words of Advice to Students Get an internship—you learn 90% from experience in the field.
Take advantage of the services offered through GoldPASS and the career center. Had I been looking for a job, I would have utilized these two services. Apply early if you plan on attending grad school. The applications are a lot more work than you would think.
Plan ahead and be sure to go through all of your connections, no matter how small they seem. I have had several interviews because of these connections.
Get an internship or part time job in the field of your choice. Experience and worldly knowledge is valuable.
Renewables and sustainability are areas of immense opportunity.
Prepare yourself with regard to financing and loans.
Do not be discouraged and follow-through with each opportunity to have for employment.
The actual profession is rarely like the studio work you spend so much time on as an undergraduate. Be aware of that before you decide to go into architecture.
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Bachelor of Design in Architecture (B.D.A.) Work Status (n=9; response rate=55.6% or 5/9)
Paid Employment 3 60.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 2 40.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=3)
Related to Major 1 33.33%
Not Related to Major 2 66.67%
Job Satisfaction (n=3)
Very Satisfied 1 33.33%
Moderately Satisfied 1 33.33%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 1 33.33%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=0)
Mean NA
Median NA
Range NA
Employer Job Title Location Unspecified Construction Worker
Habitat for Humanity Construction Site Supervisor OR
UPS package handler MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=5)
Yes 2 40.00%
No 3 60.00%
School where Currently Enrolled Program
University of Pennsylvania School of Design Master of City Planning and Master of Science in Historic Preservation
University Of Minnesota Architecture
Words of Advice to Students Choose a career you are passionate about, and if you don't have a passion, don't waste your time and money until you find one.
Pursue what you're passionate about, not what you think will pay lots of money!
43
Clothing Design Work Status (n=9; response rate=64.3% or 9/14)
Paid Employment 6 66.67%
Seeking Employment 3 33.33%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=5)
Related to Major 4 80.00%
Not Related to Major 1 20.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=4)
Very Satisfied 1 25.00%
Moderately Satisfied 1 25.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 1 25.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 1 25.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=0)
Mean NA
Median NA
Range NA
Employer Job Title Location 43 Hoops Office Manager MN
Calvin Kline NY
David's Bridal Sales Consultant / Bridal Consultant MN
self Owner/ Manager/ Designer MN
Target Corporation Assistant Designer MN
Turtle Ridge Assistant WI
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=6)
Yes 0 0.00%
No 6 100.00%
Words of Advice to Students Never think that you have done enough to guarantee anything. Always be ready to learn the things you don't think you will need later. Have a lot of things to fall back on. Make more contacts.
44
Make sure that you are going to school for something that you love right off the bat—you will spend less money in education and your enthusiasm will help you get a good job.
Get an internship sooner rather than later. Start looking for jobs before graduation.
Words of wisdom: Do internships before graduation!
Take advantage of career services! I took a career development class and it was extremely beneficial in the preparation of my resume and portfolio.
45
Environmental Design Work Status (n=13; response rate=65.0% or 13/20)
Paid Employment 7 53.85%
Seeking Employment 3 23.08%
Other* 3 23.08% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=7)
Related to Major 5 71.43%
Not Related to Major 2 28.57%
Job Satisfaction (n=6)
Very Satisfied 2 33.33%
Moderately Satisfied 1 16.67%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 1 16.67%
Very Dissatisfied 2 33.33%
Income (n=3)
Mean $27,060
Median $29,120
Range $25,000 - $32,000
Employer Job Title Location EnergyScapes, Inc. Project Manager MN
Haberman & Associates Office Coordinator/Receptionist MN
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District District Representative MN
Sang Landscape Landscape Installation MN
United States Military - Army 2nd Lieutenant MN
U-Plan Community Planning Studio Design Associate MN
Village Green Designer MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=11)
Yes 3 27.27%
No 8 72.73%
School where Currently Enrolled Program Minneapolis Community Technical College AutoCAD design classes
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University of Minnesota Masters of Landscape Architecture
University of Minnesota Masters of Landscape Architecture
Words of Advice to Students Look to understand the concepts and don't get too caught up in exact process because you will always have new things to learn in any career position you accept. Everyone does things differently.
I would tell them there is nothing they can get from a university that they cannot get from volunteering in their field or reading books. I refuse to believe that my field requires licensure through a graduate degree. If the University really wanted to, everything a graduate degree student is provided with could be easily fit into a four year period of undergraduate study.
Intern well in advance to identify what you want to study.
Before you start your career, look who is hiring in that field (if anyone is hiring at all), and see what they are paying. Don't go by what career planners, online surveys, and other studies are saying. Look or talk to people in the field that you want to go into. They will have the best advice. Most of all, study the job you want and fit your education to that job. Don't try to get an education and try to fit a career around it or you will have a hard time getting a job.
I would tell currents students to start looking right away! It is never too early to prepare for your future, and a great way to get started is to invest in an internship! More than likely, many companies will hire recent graduates that did internships with them.
Get involved in as many activities related to your major as you can: volunteer positions, internships, professional organizations such as AIA and ASLA.
Landscape Architecture programs are very reliant on the current economic state. It is extremely difficult to find employment after college due to a combination of lack of experience and a lack of some key technology knowledge. There is a general lack of interest from the public to spend on an "aesthetic" when money is tight.
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Graphic Design Work Status (n=34; response rate=64.2% or 34/53)
Paid Employment 26 76.47%
Seeking Employment 8 23.53%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=24)
Related to Major 23 95.83%
Not Related to Major 1 4.17%
Job Satisfaction (n=19)
Very Satisfied 11 57.89%
Moderately Satisfied 5 26.32%
Slightly Satisfied 3 15.79%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=14)
Mean $35,970
Median $36,293
Range $20,800 - $55,000
Employer Job Title Location Carat, North America Designer MA
Circuit Global Sports Management Creative Director MN
CorchiaWolinerRhoda Graphic Designer NY
Daktronics Graphic Designer SD
Ekcetera Graphic Designer MN
Ekcetera Graphic Designer MN
Game Informer Online Associate Online Editor MN
Habitat for Humanity International Graphic Designer GA
Home Depot Sales MN
Juxtaposition Arts Designer/Teaching Artist MN
Mojo Solo Graphic Design Intern MN
Nicros Graphic Designer Marketing Personnel MN
Olson Junior designer MN
Olson Graphic Designer/Production Artist MN
Periscope Designer MN
Podomani Website Services Graphic Designer MN
Popular Front Interactive Designer MN
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Puny Designer MN
Raven Software User Interfase Artist WI
Sevnthsin Designer MN
Spunk Design Machine Design Intern MN
Treat and Company/KNOCK Inc Designer MN
United Way Designer
University of Minnesota Traffic Manager/Designer MN
University of Minnesota-Northrop Graphic Designer & Publicity Assistant MN
Worrell Design Inc
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=24)
Yes 2 8.33%
No 22 91.67%
Words of Advice to Students Early on, consider getting a mentor. They can really open your eyes to the real world of design and help key you in on things you don't learn in classes (e.g. in-depth design concepting, CMYK printing process, freelancing, working with clients).
Start building your portfolio early! Talk to a lot of people, start networking as soon as you can. It never hurts to get contacts for the future.
Take advantage of all the resources that the University of Minnesota has to offer. They have programs, activities, and opportunities that smaller or private schools just plain don't. There are hundreds of extremely talented faculty that are very passionate about helping you to succeed. Find them and then spend as much time taking classes or working with them as possible. Don't just skate by; be proactive about your education and put all you've got into it.
Get as much outside experience as you can. The more internships and work you get outside the classroom, the better.
Start early, it takes much longer than you'd expect. Stay connected in the field—get involved with a mentorship or internship program to make professional connections.
Do online training for graphic design instead of going to classes. Get an internship as soon as you can—it’s the only way you'll get in the field.
Take advantage of the mentor program—it opens doors. Get involved on campus with an organization related to your field. Learn from sources outside of class, focus your major on your interests, and pursue any other interests you may have.
Teach yourself.
In competitive, creative fields, such as design, students CANNOT expect to just apply for a job and get it. Getting a job in a creative field takes a lot of hard work and dedication outside of the classroom. Professional networking is a must.
Learn on your own! Get a mentor outside of the college you are in who can help you network professionally. Start doing internships after your Freshman year.
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Housing Studies Work Status (n=18; response rate=75.0% or 18/24)
Paid Employment 13 72.22%
Seeking Employment 3 16.67%
Other* 2 11.11% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=11)
Related to Major 7 63.64%
Not Related to Major 4 36.36%
Job Satisfaction (n=11)
Very Satisfied 3 27.27%
Moderately Satisfied 5 45.45%
Slightly Satisfied 1 9.09%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 2 18.18%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=7)
Mean $37,041
Median $35,650
Range $16,640 - $61,000
Employer Job Title Location Allianz Client service Representative MN
Best Buy Merchandising Specialist MN
Cemetry Collision Parts Manager MN
City of St. Paul Administrative Intern MN
City of St. Paul Licensing & Inspections MN
Classic City Apartments Property Manager MN
Dacotah Bank Consumer Loan Officer SD
Farmer's Insurance MN
Keller Williams Realty Realtor MN
Macy's Sales Associate MN
Metropolitan Council Administrative technician MN
People Incorporated Housing Specialist MN
University of Minnesota Medical School - Ob/Gyn Dept Education Manager MN
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Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=15)
Yes 3 20.00%
No 12 80.00%
School where Currently Enrolled Program Chatham University Interior Architecture
Kansas State University Master of Regional and Community Planning
Words of Advice to Students Get an internship and network.
Explore as many internship opportunities as possible. This will help you find a job you will enjoy at a company you enjoy working at. Most internships will lead to future job offers.
Gain working experience in your field of interest before or while pursuing your degree.
Networking is very important! Stay involved in different groups/organizations of interest to you.
Start looking for entry-level positions in your field of study long before you graduate.
Visit your career center.
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Interior Design
Work Status (n=29; response rate=60.4% or 29/48)
Paid Employment 26 89.66%
Seeking Employment 2 6.90%
Other* 1 3.45% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=24)
Related to Major 17 70.83%
Not Related to Major 7 29.17%
Job Satisfaction (n=20)
Very Satisfied 9 45.00%
Moderately Satisfied 4 20.00%
Slightly Satisfied 2 10.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 2 10.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 1 5.00%
Very Dissatisfied 2 10.00%
Income (n=10)
Mean $33,046
Median $34,140
Range $23,119 - $37,500
Employer Job Title Location Annie's Parlour Server MN
Cashe Software Sales & Training MN
Ceramic Tileworks Residential Salesperson MN
Flad Architecture Firm Interior Designer WI
Fulton Elementary School Paraprofessional IA
Gwizdala & Associates Receptionist for an Accounting firm MN
Herbergers Shoe Dept. MN
HGA Architects Interior Designer MN
Horty Elving & Associates Designer MN
IKEA Sales clerk MN
Intereum Architectural Solutions Team Designer MN
Intereum Interior Designer MN
Julian Interior and Design interior designer MN
KKE Architects Interior Designer MN
Lisa LaNasa Design Part-time Design Assistant MN
Milwaukee Ale House Waitress WI
Moxsie.com (Fashion Website) Writer- Marketing and Fashion Journalism CA
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Pier 1 Imports Assistant Store Manager MN
Ruby Junior Designer NY
Sasaki Associates Interior Designer MA
Starcom Temp-Billing Assistant IL
Stone Holding Company Sales Associate MN
Stone Source
Target Commercial Interiors TCI Project Lead MN
Target Corporation Business Analyst MN
Thomson Reuters AutoCAD specialist MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=25)
Yes 3 12.00%
No 22 88.00%
School where Currently Enrolled Program Archeworks Alternative Design
Words of Advice to Students Start looking early and have a professional looking resume. Be outgoing and pursue a position until they tell you to stop.
Between when I started studying interior design and when I graduated the market dried up, so my best piece of advice is to take advantage of every opportunity to network and meet with mentors. Connections get you jobs, especially when industries are strained. I made the mistake of getting so absorbed in my schoolwork and not being involved in other things that now I had to take employment that is only slightly related to what I wanted to do. I don't have as many doors open for me, and I think a main reason is that I didn’t network and get my name and reputation out there enough.
Do not go into the field of interior design during/before a bad economy. Jobs are horrible for new graduates.
To go to a school for the right reasons; not just monetary ones. If are pursuing a creative career I would advise you to attend an art and design school and not a research institution.
Don't study interior design.
Take full advantage of your internship to learn about the field. Try to get broad and varied experiences that help you decide what aspect of the field is for you.
Make sure you do research and find out about all the job possibilities related to your major. This wasn’t touched on when I went to school.
Be prepared to spend a great deal more money (beyond tuition and books) on supplies, equipment, printing expenses, etc. Ask additional questions about this if financing your education is already an issue for you. (Prior to admission, college staff did not fully explain the investment that was required in this regard, and implied that everything needed was available within the college. Also be prepared for an extremely rigorous and demanding educational program—much more so than a "non-studio" program of study.
It is a difficult time to find a job with the economy; stay in school until it gets better.
Networking is so vital. Get a valuable internship—most firms hire from their interns. Start early when looking for a job.
Take the necessary steps to create and maintain your portfolio prior to graduation. There is no required course for this, but it must be done as it is essential to finding a job in an architecture/design firm. Do as many internships as you can, and start looking for a job at least 6 months before graduation.
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Retail Merchandising
Work Status (n=27; response rate=55.1% or 27/49)
Paid Employment 25 92.59%
Seeking Employment 2 7.41%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=23)
Related to Major 19 82.61%
Not Related to Major 4 17.39%
Job Satisfaction (n=21)
Very Satisfied 7 33.33%
Moderately Satisfied 8 38.10%
Slightly Satisfied 2 9.52%
Slightly Dissatisfied 1 4.76%
Moderately Dissatisfied 2 9.52%
Very Dissatisfied 1 4.76%
Income (n=15)
Mean $35,541
Median $34,320
Range $20,800 - $52,000
Employer Job Title Location Abercrombie & Fitch Manager in Training GA
Ann Taylor Loft sales associate MN
BCBGeneration Sales Associate MN
Bebe Manager MN
Coolibar Branding Coordinator MN
Enterprise Rent-A-Car Management Trainee MN
JAX Sales Associate CO
Jenson's Department Store Assistant Buyer MN
Kohl's Department Store Assistant Store Manager MN
Macy's Assistant Buyer GA
Menards, Inc. Merchandise Planner WI
Road-Rite LLC retail sales MN
ShopNBC Merchandise Coordinator MN
Target Merchandise Specialist MN
Target Corporation MPD Coordinator MN
Target Corporation Business Analyst MN
Target Corporation Business Analyst MN
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Target Financial (Headquarters) Team Development Manager MN
Target Stores Executive Team Lead - Hardlines MN
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Principal Accounts Specialist MN
Unspecified Jean Company Promotion Assistant NY
Wells Fargo Sales Banker MN
Wells Fargo Phone Bank-- Program Associate MN
Youth Frontiers Retreat Staff Apprentice MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=23)
Yes 4 17.39%
No 19 82.61%
School where Currently Enrolled Program National Outdoor Leadership School Mountaineering in India
Words of Advice to Students INTERNSHIPS. I really wish my program REQUIRED at least two. Study abroad is also highly valued by employers—this can be difficult if you switch to a different language from the one you studied in high school. I would suggest continuing whatever language you originally studied.
Put a lot of work into internships when you're in school. They provide you with valuable experience to put on your resume.
Follow the field you're interested in! If you don't know what that is, take some time to figure it out.
Network and do internships. If you interview someone for a class, keep in contact with them—they might be able to help you find a job.
Network. Get involved. Be proactive.
Get a good internship, don't rush through school, and start looking for a job early.
Do as MANY internships as possible! One is not enough—with this tough economy, college graduates are not as in-demand. Employers can be very picky and are DEMANDING experience AND education. We have to beat out people who have been working in a particular industry for years! Get involved with school organizations—employers like that.
Start researching early and do an internship in something you may be interested in so you get a better idea about that career.
Take on as many internships as you can, and start them as early as you can. Even though you can only receive credit for one internship, get out there and meet as many people, and get as much hands on experience as possible.
Do not enroll in Retail Merchandising—the program needs a total overhaul as it is taught by professors that are too far removed from the industry. It also does not teach the skills needed for today's workplace. More emphasis should be placed on accounting and buying.
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CCE Stats Graduates from CCE Work Status (n=98; response rate=59.0% or 98/166)
Paid Employment 85 86.73%
Seeking Employment 5 5.10%
Other* 8 8.16% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Influence on Job (n=57)
GoldPASS 1 1.75%
Internship/Co-op Experience 7 12.28%
U of MN Career Services Office (career fairs, on campus interviews) 2 3.51%
Advertisement in Newspaper 2 3.51%
Ad on Large, Online Job Posting Sites 4 7.02%
Alumni Association/Mentor Program 0 0.00%
Professional Associations 4 7.02%
Professional Contacts 8 14.04%
Personal Contacts 12 21.05%
Private Employment Agency 1 1.75%
Through Employer’s Website 7 12.28%
Other 9 15.79%
Job Seeking Time (n=56)
Less than one month 21 37.50%
1-2 months 10 17.86%
3-4 months 15 26.79%
5-6 months 5 8.93%
7-8 months 2 3.57%
9-10 months 1 1.79%
11-12 months 2 3.57%
More than 12 months 0 0.00%
Job Offer Time (n=75)
Offer Prior to Graduation 42 56.00%
Offer After Graduation 33 44.00%
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Job Satisfaction (n=80)
Very Satisfied 41 51.25%
Moderately Satisfied 26 32.50%
Slightly Satisfied 5 6.25%
Slightly Dissatisfied 2 2.50%
Moderately Dissatisfied 4 5.00%
Very Dissatisfied 2 2.50%
Relatedness to Major (n=81)
Related to Major 67 82.72%
Not Related to Major 14 17.28%
Income (n=54)
Mean $45,367
Median $45,500
Range $26,187 - $71,000
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=91)
Yes 13 14.29%
No 78 85.71%
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Applied Business Work Status (n=1; response rate=25.0% or 1/4)
Paid Employment 1 100.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=1)
Related to Major 1 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=1)
Very Satisfied 1 100.00%
Moderately Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=0)
Mean NA
Median NA
Range NA
Employer Job Title Location Art Unlimited Office Manager MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=1)
Yes 0 0.00%
No 1 100.00%
Words of Advice to Students Make sure you pursue a career you really like; otherwise your future job will be a “job” not an experience.
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Construction Management Work Status (n=18; response rate=69.2% or 18/26)
Paid Employment 18 100.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=16)
Related to Major 15 93.75%
Not Related to Major 1 6.25%
Job Satisfaction (n=17)
Very Satisfied 9 52.94%
Moderately Satisfied 6 35.29%
Slightly Satisfied 1 5.88%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 1 5.88%
Income (n=12)
Mean $50,288
Median $51,000
Range $37,600 - $62,000
Employer Job Title Location Alvin E. Benike, Inc. Project Manager / Estimator MN
Amcon Construction LLC Assistant Project Manager MN
Boldt Construction Field Engineer WI
Building Arts Sustainable Architecture and Construction Project Manager MN
Demar, ltd. Superintendant TX
Firestone Metal Products Manager of Estimating and Process Engineering MN
Flatiron Construction Corp. Construction Coordinator
Hábitat para la Humanidad General Assistant Costa Rica
Hammers Construction Inc Project Manager MN
McGough Construction Estimator MN
McGouth Construction Project Manager MN
Mortenson Construction Field Engineer KS
Personal Pride Construction Project Manager MN
Premier Electrical Corporation Assistant Project Manager/Dispatcher MN
Rolex (Manufacturing) Regional Accounts Manager
Structure Preservation Project Engineer IL
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UPS Maintenance Supervisor MN
Walker Parking Consultants Senior Designer MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=16)
Yes 2 12.50%
No 14 87.50%
School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Minnesota- Carlson MBA
Words of Advice to Students Start working in the industry as soon as possible. The hands on knowledge you receive is better than any class. It is also important to start networking early so that you have as many contacts as you can as you search for a job and when you start working.
Learn and remember everything. Even if you think you probably won't need it—you will.
Get as much on-the-job or related experience as possible while in school.
Work in the field while getting your education. They complement one another, and both will benefit from it.
Internships help open doors for post-graduate job placement.
Learn the power of networking.
Get to know your instructors and ask them questions about their careers. You are likely to become one of them someday.
Get a job in the field while you are still in school.
Just get it over with; nose to the grindstone.
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Info Tech Infrastructure
Work Status (n=4; response rate=57.1% or 4/7)
Paid Employment 4 100.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=4)
Related to Major 4 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=4)
Very Satisfied 3 75.00%
Moderately Satisfied 1 25.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=3)
Mean $54,167
Median $52,500
Range $50,000 - $60,000
Employer Job Title Location N'Compass IT Support Specialist MN
Syntax, Inc. Systems Analyst MN
Target Corp. Systems Engineer MN
Valspar IT Business Analyst MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=4)
Yes 1 25.00%
No 3 75.00%
Words of Advice to Students Get internships to see what it is like in the business world.
You create your own opportunities. Expecting anything will result only in failure.
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Inter-College Program
Work Status (n=64; response rate=62.1% or 64/103)
Paid Employment 52 81.25%
Seeking Employment 5 7.81%
Other* 7 10.94% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=50)
Related to Major 37 74.00%
Not Related to Major 13 26.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=48)
Very Satisfied 20 41.67%
Moderately Satisfied 17 35.42%
Slightly Satisfied 4 8.33%
Slightly Dissatisfied 2 4.17%
Moderately Dissatisfied 4 8.33%
Very Dissatisfied 1 2.08%
Income (n=32; one high outlier removed: $88,000)
Mean $40,228
Median $38,000
Range $26,187 - $71,000
Employer Job Title Location Unspecified Analyst MN
Abercrombie & Fitch Assistant Manager MN
Accenture Analyst MN
Allina Medical Transportation EMT MN
American Medical Systems Clinical Study Coordinator MN
Axa Advisors, LLC Financial Advisor MN
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. Corporate Carrier Marketing Rep. MN
children's respiratory and critical care clinic patient care coordinator MN
Coca-Cola Enterprises Account Manager MN
DCM Services Account Manager MN
Dept of Surgery- University of MN Community Program Assistant MN
Ecolab Business Consultant MN
Fairview Pharmacy Services Project Coordinator MN
Firsttech Receptionist MN
Genesis 10 Business Consultant MN
HealthEast Care System Primary Care Navigator MN
Hennepin County Medical Center Medical Technologist MN
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Hot Mama Associate Buyer MN
Intelligent Nutrients Retail Sales Associate MN
Key West Diagnostics Medical Office Administration FL
KleinBank Commercial Credit Analyst MN
Merrell Footwear Technical Representative MI
Mind Body Solutions Program Coordinator · Yoga Instructor MN
Minnesota Council of Churches Administrative Assistant for Programs and Fundign MN
Minnesota Department of Health Health program representative MN
Muscular Distrophy Association
MyTextbookSpace.com Marketing Director IL
Northern Reporting Service (NRS) Private Investigator MN
Northwestern Health Sciences University Administrative Assistant MN
Olive Juice Studios Studio Manager/Photographer MN
QBP Supply Chain Analyst MN
Rise Community Habilitation Specialist MN
Rock Band (unnamed) Guitarist
RSP Architects Marketing Account Executive MN
Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner Credit and Collection Specialist MN
Self Grant proposal writer/Funding Researcher MN
Slim4life weight loss counselor MN
Summit Mortgage Corporation Mortgage Consultant MN
Supervalu Financial Analyst MN
TC Retail General Manager MN
The OCC Bank Examiner NM
Total Service Development Director of Development WI
U.S Department of Labor Spanish Wage Hour Investigator MN
University of Minnesota Administrative Assistant MN
University of Minnesota Community Program Assistant MN
University of Minnesota Project Specialist MN
University of Minnesota senior analyst MN
University of Minnesota Child Care Center Infant Assistant Teacher MN
University of Minnesota Foundation Development Documentation Specialist MN
UPS / Applebee's
Wells Fargo Teller MN
Woodbury Financial Services Investment Advisory Service Consultant MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=59)
Yes 9 15.25%
No 50 84.75%
School where Currently Enrolled Program
1. Securities Training Corporation; 2. Kaplan Financial 1. Series 7 and Series 66; 2. Life, Accident and Health Insurance licenses
Adler Graduate School LMFT
Barry University Physicans Assistant
Century College Nursing
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Physician Assistant
School of Public Health core concept
University of Minnesota Human Resource Development
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University of North Dakota Law School
Words of Advice to Students A well-rounded liberal education is valuable for whatever you do with your life, but you will be much more motivated to perform well in your coursework if you have an idea what you want to do after graduation, and if you tailor your coursework towards that end. At the same time, learn all you can and don't put boundaries on your range of thinking and experience.
Begin the search early and do as many internships as you can!
Choose a program that provides you with skills and leads to a career you want! Take out as little money in loans as you can.
Do research on your major and choose one that will prepare you to work in an industry that is hiring.
Explore your interests early on in your education; use the university’s resources; and set goals for yourself to work towards.
Figure out what you want to do, not what you're expected to do; then go from there.
Choose a major in a field in which you can get a job.
Get as many internships under your belt as you can. My goal was to have three by the time I graduated and I did (and one was international).
Get as much experience as possible outside of the classroom—Not just volunteering and studying abroad, but real work experience. More and more people are getting their degrees, and this job market is extremely competitive, so a degree alone will not get you the job you want (although there are a few exceptions to that—like IT careers).
Get good grades, learn the subject, and find something that really interests you.
Get involved early with student organizations and/or internship experiences.
Have a good knowledge of what you intend to be after graduation before committing to a degree program. If possible, volunteer in your field of study.
GET AN INTERNSHIP. Regardless of the degree, a good internship in your respective field will get you ahead of the game, and if the internship doesn't turn into a permanent job, it will be a good resume-builder.
Work hard and go after your dreams.
Know what you want to do.
Plan ahead, but always remain flexible. Just because the initial path you choose may not work out, doesn't mean you should just stop trying. Only the fear of failing will hold you back from achieving the success you deserve.
Please take advantage of the opportunities for study abroad, internships, volunteer work, and get involved in campus. You only have this time in your life to do all of the above!
Pursue what you enjoy spending your time doing and don't be afraid to follow further interests that arise.
Research, research, research. I never would have known about my current field had I not spent the time researching a variety of fields. There are just so many choices to make that one needs to be informed of all the options.
Seek classes within your program that will give you both knowledge AND skills to walk away with. Take classes from the Center for Spirituality and Healing.
Start early, use personal contacts as much as possible, and explore many different opportunities.
Take advantage of internships.
Take charge of your major, demand assistance from your advisor, and use all the resources provided to you!
Try things you think you may not like, because once you have to start working full-time, you won’t really have another opportunity to try so many things.
Try to take more "hands-on" classes than theory classes. When beginning a job, this helps you to be better prepared. The experience of having done similar work correlates to better on-the-job work.
Utilize the resources the U has to offer, in terms of services and advising especially. Connect with the people who are in your program (students and faculty!). Think about what really interests you—not what other people would have you do.
You may not end up in the career field you anticipate. You need not worry if you don't go into the exact industry you were hoping or planning to. Chances are you may end up doing something you didn't study for—there's nothing wrong with that. The experiences you have in college are just as important as the curriculum you studied. College is a place to learn, but also to develop positive habits and skills that help you become a life-long learner. You "learn how to learn," form positive relationships, and network with other young "professionals." Almost every job is going to have training,
64
and they will not expect you to know everything just because you went to college. So be confident that you will succeed, and you will!
-You will need prayer and luck in this economy. -Get involved in school activities to make connections. -Take classes outside of your major. -Use a variety of techniques (e.g. look into companies that you already work with for other opportunities, career websites, mentors, employed friends that know about openings, etc.)
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Manufacturing Technology Work Status (n=1; response rate=50.0% or 1/2)
Paid Employment 1 100.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=1)
Related to Major 1 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=1)
Very Satisfied 1 100.00%
Moderately Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=0)
Mean NA
Median NA
Range NA
Employer Job Title Location Gopher Electronics Company Technical Product Manager MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=1)
Yes 0 0.00%
No 1 100.00%
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Program for Individualized Learning Work Status (n=6; response rate=60.0% or 6/10)
Paid Employment 5 83.33%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 1 16.67% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=5)
Related to Major 5 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=5)
Very Satisfied 3 60.00%
Moderately Satisfied 2 40.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=4)
Mean $47,500
Median $52,500
Range $25,000 - $60,000
Employer Job Title Location self-employed instructor KY
Smokin Yogi Visions President MN
San Joaquin Delta College Gallery Director CA
University of Minnesota Instructional Technology & Training Supervisor MN
Minnesota Medical Foundation, U of M Director, Prospect Development MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=6)
Yes 1 16.67%
No 5 83.33%
School where Currently Enrolled Program University of Minnesota Certificate in Online Distance Learning
Words of Advice to Students Look into individualized degrees—in part for the opportunity to meet others within the field
Meet often with your advisor.
67
Radiation Therapy Work Status (n=3; response rate=42.9% or 3/7)
Paid Employment 3 100.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=3)
Related to Major 3 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=3)
Very Satisfied 3 100.00%
Moderately Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=3)
Mean $57,859
Median $56,576
Range $52,000 - $65,000
Employer Job Title Location mayo clinic radiation therapist MN
St Cloud Hospital Radiation Therapist MN
USMD inc radiation therapist TX
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=3)
Yes 0 0.00%
No 3 100.00%
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Respiratory Care Work Status (n=1; response rate=14.3% or 1/7)
Paid Employment 1 100.00%
Seeking Employment 0 0.00%
Other* 0 0.00% * ”Other” includes “Not Seeking Employment,” “Additional Ed.,” “Internship/Volunteer,” and “Other.”
Relatedness to Major (n=1)
Related to Major 1 100.00%
Not Related to Major 0 0.00%
Job Satisfaction (n=1)
Very Satisfied 1 100.00%
Moderately Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Satisfied 0 0.00%
Slightly Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Moderately Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Very Dissatisfied 0 0.00%
Income (n=1)
Mean $58,000
Median $58,000
Range NA
Employer Job Title Location University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Respiratory Therapist MN
Enrolled in Grad/Prof. Degree or Certificate Program since Graduation? (n=1)
Yes 0 0.00%
No 1 100.00%
Words of Advice to Students Talk to people who are in the same field and shadow them in order to get a feel for the career. Don't be afraid to ask around because you will be doing this the rest of your life!