Time to Secure Employment Analyzed by Setwise Regression Analysis

Abstract

Graduates of Trinity (Texas) University were surveyed regarding the length of time necessary for them to secure their first post-baccalaureate employment. Five different sets of predictor variables were used: biographical variables (age and sex); ethnic background and socio-economic status; academic major and perception of major and Trinity University; employment seeking behaviors (salary, number of resumes, number of interview, and number of offers) and geographic and size of employer preferences. The employment seeking behaviors set was clearly the most important set of predictors. Those who took longer to find employment generally worked harder, sending out more resumes, having more interviews, but receiving lower salaries.