New Grads Achieve Job Placement Success

June 30, 2021

Baylor Career Center reported a surprising increase in job placement of graduating Baylor students in spring 2020 compared to spring 2019 despite an anticipated decrease due to the effect of COVID-19.

Chart comparing graduates accepting jobs for 2019 at 76% and 2020 at 80% — In spring 2020, 80% of graduates had accepted a job offer within 180 days of graduation.

To measure the impact on career support, the Career Center compared data from the academic terms of 2019 and 2020. The results showed an increase in placement — the percentage of students who have accepted a job offer or entrance to graduate school — between spring 2019 and spring 2020. At 180 days post-graduation, the spring 2020 placement rate was 80 percent, compared to 76 percent for spring 2019.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2021 Job Outlook Survey showed that 31 percent of employer respondents expected a decrease in college hiring in 2021 compared to an expected 6 percent decrease by respondents in the 2020 survey. However, the Career Center has remained successful.

Ken Buckley, B.B.A. ’81, M.B.A. ’10, is assistant vice provost for the Baylor Career Center.

“There is absolutely a job market shift with respect to college hiring of interns and full-time employment. But Baylor has not seen this negative level of impact because of the quality of our students and the efforts of the Career Center,” Buckley said. “When COVID-19 first hit, our Career Center focused on engaging with every student through active career support and connecting them to opportunities.

“In addition, the Career Center reached out to all of our partner employers to maintain the relationships during these uncertain times. While many other universities were in a wait-and-see mode, we were aggressively supporting our students and connecting them to opportunities.”

Sandra Miruka, B.A. ’20, used Career Center resources and is now a consultant at CGI Inc., an information technology consulting center. She was aided by Amy Rylander, B.B.A. ’21, Career Center assistant director.

“My career goals prior to the pandemic were to work in data analytics. I secured an offer as a consultant to do just that; however, that offer was rescinded due to the pandemic,” Miruka said. “Luckily, I had Amy Rylander to walk alongside me in job searching and interview preparation. All in all, I do not know how I would have gotten through the job search, especially in the pandemic, without the Career Center.”