Data Insight #1 Graduate Student Career Engagement and Utilization Survey
In Spring of 2025, the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills surveyed graduate students to better understand their awareness, needs, preferences, and expectations related to career development. The survey also explored studentengagement with the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills as well as career preparation in their academic departments.
Respondents represented 50 departments across 11 colleges/schools with race/ethnicity and gender generally aligning with UConn’s Demographic Fact Sheet (2024).
When asked to rank “Who/which is most responsible for one’s career development?” the respondents identified the following:
- Myself – 97.7%
- My academic department as a whole – 45.5%
- My major advisor – 43.6%
- Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills – 17.2%
While students see themselves as the primary driver of their career development, the data also shows reliance on academic departments and advisors. This insight underscores the influential role that departments play in promoting and facilitating career readiness.
Department-Level Opportunities
Based on this data insight, departments may consider:
- Integrating a career awareness component into departmental graduate student orientation.
- Emphasizing career readiness in advising conversations.
- Using Individual Development Plans (IDPs) to frame career readiness and career goals.
- Hosting career prep presentations within graduate program course(s).
- Offering a special topics or first-year experience course focused on career and professional development.
- Embedding HuskyCT Career Readiness Modules in course(s) or a departmental HuskyCT organization.
How the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills Can Support Departments
- Present on a range of career topics.
- Attend or provide informational slide for departmental new graduate student orientation.
- Provide the Graduate Student Career Readiness Modules in HuskyCT for course integration.
- Consult on developing career-focused content, milestones, or assignments.
- Conduct faculty and advisor training on current career trends, career resources, and student career development needs.
This data insight reinforces a shared model for career preparation in which students lead, and departments and the Center for Career Readiness can guide and support students in reaching their desired career outcomes.
Please contact Kay Gruder, Associate Director for Graduate Student and Postdoc Career Programs & Services at kay.gruder@uconn.edu if you would like to discuss ways that the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills can partner to support and guide the career preparation of your graduate students.
