The Role of Social Capital in the College-to-Work Transition

• In Event: Postsecondary Transitions: College and Career Pathways

Abstract

This study addresses the effects of educational credentials and social capital on the job search process of college graduates. When it comes to occupational attainment, sociology of education focuses largely on the effects of educational credentials. But, the return on credentials may depend on social capital, or “who you know,” because network ties facilitate access to job information and opportunities for demonstrating one’s credentials to employers. Social capital is cultivated both in school (e.g., friendships) and outside of school (e.g., family). Since networks vary by race and class, such variation may explain how students with equal credentials experience different outcomes in the job search. This study reports findings from a study of 48 graduates from a large Midwestern university.

Authors

• Emily Suzanne Coonfield, The University of Kansas

• Argun Saatcioglu, The University of Kansas