Authors: Mun Yuk Chin, Chelsea A. Blackburn Cohen, Matthew T. Hora

June 2018, 29 pp.

Abstract: Existing research on the effectiveness of college career services centers (CSCs) has primarily focused on students’ utilization rates and their satisfaction with the programs and services offered. Based on survey (n = 372) and focus group data (n = 35) from undergraduate business students, we found that participants were most satisfied with the CSC’s provision of practical tools that enhanced employability and were least satisfied with the CSC’s integration of students’ backgrounds and interests during advising.

Our qualitative analysis yielded three categories of contributors (i.e., sociocultural factors, independent activities, and institutional factors) to student career outcomes: psychological characteristics, career decisions, and social capital. Sociocultural factors were most prominently featured in students’ narratives of their experiences, as they shaped how students leveraged institutional resources and engaged in independent activities as part of their career trajectories. Practical implications and future research directions are discussed.

Keywords: campus career services, career development, business school, college

Read the full working paper: The Role of Career Services Programs and Sociocultural Factors in Student Career Development (PDF)