2012 Alumni Survey
Academic Year Comparisons of Employment

This document reports survey data on academic year differences in respondents' reports of post-graduation and current employment. Survey results for all respondents are provided in 2012 Alumni Survey: All Respondents. For information about the survey and analysis methods, see 2012 Alumni Survey: Introduction, Methods, and Student Demographic Profile.

First Full-Time Position | Current Position

First Full-Time Position

Time to get first full-time permanent job after completing undergrad degree	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Continued in job had before completing degree	10.6%	11.3%	10.8%	9.5%
Accepted position prior to or upon graduation	30.9%	35.7%	33.2%	23.3%
1-6 months	25.2%	26.6%	24.2%	24.8%
7-12 months	7.6%	6.5%	6.7%	9.8%
Over 1 year	12.1%	12.2%	11.1%	13.0%
Have looked for but not yet obtained a full-time permanent job	4.4%	1.5%	5.0%	7.0%
Have not looked for a full-time permanent job	9.2%	6.2%	9.0%	12.7%
Total (N)	2,836	1,007	913	916

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Factors instrumental in finding first full-time job	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
NC State University Career Center	14.2%	13.6%	16.0%	13.1%
NC State Alumni Association Career Services	3.1%	2.3%	4.1%	2.9%
Applied for job via an NC State University career services job listing	8.6%	7.4%	9.3%	9.2%
Employer found your resume via an NC State University career services database	3.5%	3.6%	4.0%	2.8%
Technician or other NC State publication	0.5%	0.3%	0.7%	0.4%
NC State co-op experience	4.4%	4.4%	4.0%	4.9%
Internship/externship	22.4%	22.9%	23.0%	21.1%
Study Abroad or Internship/Research/Student Teaching in an international setting	1.7%	1.2%	2.2%	1.7%
Previous experience with company	15.3%	15.7%	16.8%	13.2%
Personal connection(s) within the company	20.5%	21.1%	21.6%	18.7%
Faculty member or job listing found in an NC State department	7.4%	7.7%	7.2%	7.3%
Professional society	3.6%	3.2%	3.7%	4.0%
Third party recruiter or executive search firm	2.7%	2.7%	3.0%	2.5%
Employment agency	3.0%	3.0%	3.6%	2.6%
Family/friends/classmates/co-workers	22.1%	22.8%	21.3%	22.0%
Local, city, or national newspaper	2.7%	3.5%	2.7%	1.8%
Social networking site	1.1%	0.9%	1.2%	1.3%
On-campus interviewing or Career Fair	9.5%	9.5%	10.5%	8.6%
Internet	12.4%	12.2%	11.9%	13.2%
Other	9.2%	10.2%	8.8%	8.7%
Total (N)	2,855	1,011	921	923

Note: Respondents could provide more than one response.
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Relationship of first full-time permanent position to academic major	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Yes, directly related	49.9%	51.9%	47.4%	50.2%
Yes, somewhat related	27.2%	26.2%	28.1%	27.7%
No, not related (by choice)	11.5%	11.9%	13.4%	8.9%
No, not related (not by choice)	11.3%	10.1%	11.0%	13.2%
Total (N)	2,463	933	789	741

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Preparation by NC State for first full-time permanent position	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Mean Rating	4.06	4.04	4.09	4.04
5: Excellent	33.7%	31.7%	35.8%	34.1%
4: Good	45.0%	46.7%	44.0%	43.9%
3: Average	15.8%	16.1%	15.0%	16.4%
2: Fair	4.0%	4.4%	3.8%	3.8%
1: Poor	1.4%	1.1%	1.4%	1.9%
Total (N)	2,460	933	787	740

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Starting salary at first full-time permanent job	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Under $20,000	4.6%	3.4%	3.9%	6.7%
$20,000-$24,999	9.1%	7.1%	9.3%	11.4%
$25,000-$29,999	13.0%	12.9%	13.4%	12.6%
$30,000-$34,999	17.9%	19.6%	17.4%	16.2%
$35,000-$39,999	10.4%	11.2%	10.2%	9.5%
$40,000-$44,999	9.4%	9.7%	8.5%	9.9%
$45,000-$49,999	8.6%	9.4%	9.0%	7.2%
$50,000-$54,999	9.9%	11.3%	10.4%	7.7%
$55,000-$59,999	6.8%	6.4%	6.5%	7.5%
$60,000-$64,999	4.1%	3.1%	5.0%	4.5%
$65,000-$69,999	2.5%	1.6%	3.3%	2.7%
$70,000-$74,999	1.4%	1.3%	1.0%	1.9%
$75,000 or over	2.4%	3.0%	2.0%	2.2%
Total (N)	2,454	932	786	736

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Current Position

Current employment status	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Employed full-time (35+ hours per week)	78.3%	83.0%	76.7%	74.8%
Employed part-time (34 hours per week or less)	8.4%	6.2%	9.3%	10.0%
Not employed, but seeking employment	5.4%	4.2%	6.1%	6.0%
Not employed, not seeking employment	7.9%	6.7%	7.9%	9.2%
Total (N)	2,840	1,007	916	917

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Tenure in current position	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Less than 12 months	26.4%	24.8%	26.4%	28.4%
1 year to less than 2 years	18.6%	14.1%	19.7%	22.7%
2 years to less than 3 years	18.4%	11.6%	12.4%	32.3%
3 years to less than 4 years	16.9%	10.7%	29.6%	11.1%
4 years to less than 5 years	12.6%	26.4%	7.6%	1.7%
5 years or more	7.1%	12.3%	4.3%	3.9%
Total (N)	2,454	894	785	775

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Current salary	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Under $20,000	8.9%	5.9%	9.3%	12.0%
$20,000-$24,999	5.3%	3.8%	4.5%	7.8%
$25,000-$29,999	6.0%	4.9%	4.2%	8.9%
$30,000-$34,999	10.0%	8.4%	10.7%	11.0%
$35,000-$39,999	8.9%	7.6%	7.8%	11.4%
$40,000-$44,999	9.0%	9.3%	10.1%	7.6%
$45,000-$49,999	8.1%	8.4%	9.2%	6.7%
$50,000-$54,999	7.6%	7.9%	7.4%	7.4%
$55,000-$59,999	6.9%	8.0%	7.4%	5.3%
$60,000-$64,999	7.8%	7.5%	7.3%	8.8%
$65,000-$69,999	5.2%	5.6%	5.8%	4.1%
$70,000-$74,999	5.4%	5.6%	6.1%	4.4%
$75,000 or over	10.9%	16.9%	10.1%	4.7%
Total (N)	2,447	891	782	774

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Type of current employment	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Academic	15.9%	14.8%	13.6%	19.5%
Federal, state, or local government	12.4%	12.9%	12.5%	11.6%
Private, for profit business or organization	61.0%	61.4%	62.6%	58.9%
Private, not for profit business or organization	7.6%	7.3%	8.4%	7.3%
Self-employed	3.1%	3.6%	2.9%	2.7%
Total (N)	2,460	896	786	778

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Current industry	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Accommodation and Food Services	1.4%	1.1%	2.0%	1.2%
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services	0.5%	0.7%	0.1%	0.7%
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting	4.5%	4.9%	3.4%	5.1%
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	2.5%	2.7%	2.7%	2.2%
Construction	3.8%	4.4%	4.0%	2.9%
Educational Services	11.5%	10.9%	9.7%	13.9%
Finance and Insurance	7.5%	8.2%	7.4%	6.6%
Health Care and Social Assistance	8.1%	7.3%	8.3%	8.7%
Information	3.2%	2.7%	3.6%	3.4%
Management of Companies and Enterprises	0.7%	0.9%	0.4%	0.9%
Manufacturing	9.2%	9.7%	10.9%	6.9%
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction	0.9%	0.8%	0.9%	1.0%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	20.7%	20.4%	21.3%	20.4%
Public Administration	1.6%	1.8%	1.4%	1.4%
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing	1.1%	1.2%	1.0%	1.2%
Retail Trade	3.6%	3.0%	2.9%	5.1%
Transportation and Warehousing	1.2%	1.7%	1.1%	0.8%
Utilities	2.7%	2.5%	2.9%	2.7%
Wholesale Trade	0.9%	0.9%	1.0%	0.7%
Other Services (except Public Administration)	1.8%	1.8%	1.8%	2.0%
Other	12.5%	12.4%	13.0%	12.2%
Total (N)	2,441	890	783	768

Note: Excludes "not sure" response option.
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Current work location	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Inside Triangle	46.7%	42.9%	49.1%	48.6%
Other NC	22.7%	22.6%	21.2%	24.2%
Other US	29.4%	33.5%	28.4%	25.6%
Outside US	1.3%	1.1%	1.2%	1.5%
Total (N)	2,316	837	749	730

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Relationship of current position to academic major	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Yes, directly related	46.3%	45.3%	44.8%	48.9%
Yes, somewhat related	31.1%	32.6%	30.8%	29.6%
No, not related (by choice)	14.0%	14.1%	15.8%	12.0%
No, not related (not by choice)	8.7%	8.1%	8.7%	9.5%
Total (N)	2,457	894	786	777

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Preparation by NC State for current position	NCSU	Academic Year
		AY06-07	AY07-08	AY08-09
Mean Rating	3.99	3.96	4.01	4.01
5: Excellent	30.8%	28.9%	31.3%	32.5%
4: Good	45.6%	46.9%	45.7%	43.9%
3: Average	17.5%	17.7%	17.4%	17.5%
2: Fair	4.1%	4.3%	3.4%	4.6%
1: Poor	2.0%	2.3%	2.2%	1.4%
Total (N)	2,452	894	783	775

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For more information on the 2012 Alumni Survey contact:
Dr. Nancy Whelchel, Associate Director for Survey Research
Office of Institutional Planning and Research
Box 7002
NCSU
Phone: (919) 515-4184
Email: Nancy_Whelchel@ncsu.edu

Posted: July, 2012

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