Job Hunting Behaviors and Employment Status of Recent College Graduates.

The self-reported employment status, job-hunting behaviors, and career potential of current jobs for liberal arts/natural sciences graduates and nonliberal arts/sciences graduates at the University of Texas at Austin were studied approximately six months to one year after graduation. Sixty percent (151 persons, representing a 21 percent return rate) of those currently employed indicated that their current jobs have at least possible career potential. There was no statistically significant difference in self-ratings of career portential between liberal arts/natural sciences and nonliberal arts/natural sciences graduates (predominately business and communications graduates). The unemployment rate (5 percent) was identical for liberal arts/natural sciences graduates and nonliberal arts/natural sciences graduates. Although liberal arts/natural sciences graduates were somewhat more likely to be in graduate school or looking for another job than were graduates from other majors surveyed, this difference was not statistically significant. Those graduates who utilized personal contacts, direct application, and college recruiters to acquire their jobs were significantly more likely to report that their jobs have career potential, that their jobs are similar to pregraduation plans, and that they plan to stay in the same job next year than were those who utilized other job-hunting methods (classified ads, employment agencies, and job boards). (Author/SW)