Each year the University of St. Thomas partners with the Career Leadership Collective to survey our alumni who graduated 5 and 10 years ago to assess their motivations for obtaining a degree, sense of the return on investment for their degree, and assess their career mobility.
From this data, the Career Leadership Collective found that six High Impact Career Practices are highly correlated to a higher career mobility as an alum. These practices are not only impactful for students but also for institutions, as they can help close equity gaps and demonstrate the value of a degree. With the support of faculty and staff, students can leverage these practices to achieve their career goals and reach new heights of professional development. Whether you’re a student, faculty member, or administrator, the High Impact Career Practices provide a clear roadmap for success and a bright future for all.
Six High Impact Career Practices
During their time at St. Thomas, students gain an understanding of the connections between their academic work, career pathways following graduation, as well as the values driving their career choices. Students learn how to research multiple career paths and evaluate them for further exploration.
St. Thomas students can synthesize their learning about career opportunities into a career plan which showcases possible career goals and the next steps needed to achieve them. Students learn to track their career-related goals and understand milestones associated with careers and/or industries.
St. Thomas students have access to diverse opportunities beyond the recruiting process to engage with employers in ways that grow their understanding of career paths, work cultures and industries available after graduation while building their professional network.
“Hands on” learning provides opportunities for understanding the nature of work within an organization or industry that allows St. Thomas students to apply what they learn in the classroom. Internships, research, and other experiential learning opportunities support students in refining their career goals, targeting their job search, and highlighting the experiences need to be a competitive applicant.
Trusted members of the St. Thomas community (including faculty, staff, and alumni) provide the time and space to offer students relevant advice and encouragement for the next steps in their career development. As students assess their career options, they have access to relevant resources to support their informed decision-making.
St. Thomas students engage alumni to guide and support their current and future career development. St. Thomas alumni invest their expertise, time and lived experiences to show students the impact of the global Tommie Network and how they can provide that same support for others in the future.