Alumni Perspectives Survey, 2011. Survey Report
Author: Sheikh, Sabeen
Date: 2011-00-00
Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data
Subjects: Employment Level,Business Administration Education,Job Satisfaction,Graduation,Labor Market,Employment Statistics,College Graduates,Job Search Methods,Administrator Education,Alumni,Annual Reports,College Outcomes Assessment,Compensation (Remuneration),Employment Potential,Graduate Surveys,Longitudinal Studies,Masters Programs,Salary Wage Differentials,Occupational Information,Promotion (Occupational),Economic Climate,Educational Benefits,Higher Education

Since the Graduate Management Admission Council[R] (GMAC[R]) first began conducting its Alumni Perspectives Surveys 11 years ago, several "truths" about graduate business school alumni have consistently stood the test of time: They are and remain eminently employable. They constantly rate the value of the degree highly. This year's results are consistent with those of the past. The vast majority, 93 percent, of all respondents to this year's survey reported being employed, and nearly nine out of 10 members (88%) of the class of 2010 had jobs upon graduation. GMAC's Alumni Perspectives Survey findings also show that 95 percent of graduate business school alumni rate their education as a good to outstanding value. The 2011 Alumni Survey Report offers combined data from surveys conducted in April and September 2010. A combined total of 6,877 graduate business alumni responded to the studies, and 824 respondents from the class of 2010 were included in September survey. One of the main research objectives of these alumni studies is to document job characteristics and track changes in employment data--job search strategies, salaries, promotions, job functions, responsibilities, and industries--over time. GMAC accomplishes this by drawing from a sample of thousands of graduating students in its annual surveys and developing a longitudinal database of alumni responses from the classes of 2000 through 2010. The breadth and depth of these survey findings help paint a big picture view of the job market for business school alumni, more than just a quick snapshot; and therein lies their true value and relevance for alumni, employers, and school administrators. The statistics gleaned from past alumni studies provide the context for survey findings in this 2011 report, which shows that the current economic recovery is yielding promising results for recent business school graduates: Employment levels for recent alumni are nearing their pre-recession levels of 2006 and 2007. The impact of the recent recession is moderating, but a slow recovery has spurred extra effort and more creative job search strategies, and led many business school graduates to cast a wider net in order to land a job. Seventy-six percent of 2010 alumni indicated their graduate business degree was essential to the success of these efforts. Further discussion and analysis of 2010 survey findings are presented in three sections: The first features the newly graduated class of 2010 and their job search strategies, employment statistics, and starting salaries; the second offers employment data reported by survey respondents from across graduation years, including job satisfaction, career progression and development, compensation, and a brief look at alumni who launch their own businesses. The last section explores alumni opinions about the value of their graduate management degrees, their educational development needs, and an evaluation of alumni career services. (Contains 16 figures, 1 table and 30 footnotes.)