Employment and further study of graduates, Sydney, 1990

The aim of the study was to examine the activities of graduates from the University of Sydney five years after completion of their degrees. This is the fourth such survey conducted at the University of Sydney since 1969. The studies have been conducted because of their value in providing a better understanding of the career patterns of graduates and to assist the Careers and Appointments Service in its work. The survey asked for details of tertiary or professional courses undertaken since graduation, reasons for undertaking further study, details of employment since graduating, salary in the last year, difficulties in finding the first job after graduating, the respondent's perceptions of the value of his/her degree, requirements of and opportunities in present job, and whether the respondent is seeking a different position. Background variables include age, sex, non-English speaking background, aboriginal background, marital status, number of children, type of high school attended, type of qualification, and whether the respondent was a full-time or part-time student. Graduates who had enrolled as mature age students were also asked how they had entered their course, why they had undertaken the course, whether they had worked during their degree, whether they had obtained the type of work and salary they had hoped for, how difficult they found the study process, and whether they felt that their age or sex had affected their ability to obtain work or their progression at work.