Poster #33 - Does College Experience Matter? A National Study Understanding Graduates' Job Satisfaction

• In Event: 79.052 - MTCC Poster Session 19
  In Poster Session: 79.052-3 - Assessment and Outcomes Posters

Abstract

Using data from ELS:2002, this paper investigated the impact of college experiences on job satisfaction as graduates enter the workforce. Through the lens of the Social Cognitive Model of Career Self-Management (SCM) and Utility Theory, this study proposed a comprehensive conceptual model to understand whether college experiences may relate to job satisfaction for college graduates. Specifically, we used hierarchical multiple regression to test to what extent academics, experiential, and finance relevant college experiences may contribute to job satisfaction beyond factors traditionally controlled for such as the background and workplace characteristics of graduates. Results of this analysis suggest that institutional selectivity and participation in research and extracurricular activities among other college experiences are positively associated with job satisfaction.

Authors

• Kevin Richard Majewski, Union County College

• Rong Chen, Seton Hall University

• Robert Kelchen, Seton Hall University