If you have graduated recently and got your first job immediately after receiving your degree, chances are quite high that you will end up earning higher salaries in both the short and long run.
A new survey, conducted by Strada-Gallup Alumni, found that 43 percent of graduates, who were placed immediately after graduation, earn $60,000 or more in personal income compared to the graduates who took two to 12 months to find a job after graduation.
The survey said 38 percent of graduates who took more than 2 months to land a good job earn less than $24,000, which is close to the annual federal minimum hourly wage that can earn a person $15,080 a year without a bachelor’s degree by putting 40 hours each week in the job.
“College graduates’ first job out of college is particularly critical because it can set them on a career trajectory that is difficult to change,” the survey said.
“Recent research by Strada Education Network and Burning Glass shows that college graduates who are underemployed in their first job often remain underemployed even a decade after graduation. In short, graduates who start “high” on the career ladder remain atop the career ladder, while those who start “low” struggle to climb their way to better jobs and higher salaries.”
The survey was compiled on the basis of an interview with 4,429 adults who earned a bachelor’s degree between 2010-2016 and were aged 18 and older.