In early February, UW-Stout announced that its employment and continuing education rate for 2016-17 graduates had risen from 97.4 to 98.2 percent.
Key factors in that increase, the fourth straight, are the biannual Career Conferences, which go back 40 years. Employers recruit on campus to make connections with students and begin the process of hiring them full time or for internships or co-op experiences — the latter two which also often lead to full-time jobs.
UW-Stout’s Spring Career Conference is providing additional proof that its students are in demand. Approximately 400 employers are attending, including a waiting list on the second day. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 27-28, in the Multipurpose Room of the Sports and Fitness Center.
“Since releasing the new employment statistics, I have seen considerable interest from employers wanting to post positions and get connected with our students, student orgs and programs. It is clear that our students and programs are sought-after,” said Bryan Barts, director of Career Services, which organizes the Career Conferences.
Employers scheduled to attend range from Fortune 500 companies to regional employers, with different majors and employers featured each day.
The event typically draws about 2,000 students. Career Services holds a Career Conference Prep Week to help students with their resumes, interviewing skills and other ways to prepare.
“Having nearly 800 employers attending (the fall and spring conferences) helps our students find meaningful employment opportunities. Companies get the chance to meet with students earlier in their program, every couple of months, creating a pipeline for hiring,” Barts said.
UW-Stout also hosts a Fall Career Conference in October. Alumni also are welcome to attend.
The 2016-17 Annual Employment Report is available here. Along with the 98.2 percent employment/continuing education rate, another increase was that 87 percent of the graduates were employed in their major, up from 85 percent the previous year. The median starting salary of the new graduates was $43,000 a year, up from $42,500 the year before.
Barts said the increase in the employment/continuing education rate “is a reflection of employers, nationally, regionally and across the state, who are increasingly recognizing the value of our comprehensive polytechnic focus and are looking to collaborate with UW-Stout to support their hiring and company growth.”
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