Nearly nine out of 10 Champlain College graduates found a job in their chosen fields of study according to the 2010 Champlain College Employment Report issued by the College's Career Services Office.

The most recent statistics available for the Class of 2010 show that 86.8 percent of last year's graduates secured relevant employment in their field of study - a 3.4 percent increase over the previous year. Many others indicated plans to continue their education in the future once they were more financial secure.

The numbers are significant, according to Ian Mortimer, vice president for Enrollment Management at Champlain College, since graduates are facing stiff competition for jobs from seasoned professionals for fewer job opportunities. The successful graduates often attributed their success to the many opportunities and strong educational foundation Champlain provided through internships, networking opportunities, up-to-date skills training, social media training and a strong career services support system.

"Champlain students are able to work collaboratively with Career Services to develop and implement a career management plan over four years (self-assessment, preparation of job search documents, networking and practice interviewing) that helps them be more confident and employable in their chosen fields," Mortimer added.
Champlain's unique Life Experience and Action Dimension (LEAD) program helps focus on practical matters such as community service, lifelong career management and financial sophistication giving graduates practical life skills that will serve them throughout their careers.

Another key to success for Champlain students no matter what area of study is the hands-on approach to internships, summer and part-time employment, course projects and a  career-related network of contacts. "We help our students find and delve into their passions from the first day they arrive on campus and by the time they are ready to leave, they are already well on their way to taking their first steps on a lifelong career path with the skills to adapt and be flexible in a changing workplace," he added.

Internships are key to Champlain's distinctive "Upside-Down Curriculum" that often allows many students to get an internship related to their major during their first year. "Multiple internship opportunities during college give Champlain students a depth and breadth of professional experience that provides a tremendous competitive advantage when applying for top-tier graduate schools or competing in the entry-level job market," Mortimer noted.
"When students get an internship with companies in Burlington, they are usually offered a position once they graduate because companies know the quality of programs and students we have," said Ali Rafieymehr, dean of the Division of Information Technology & Sciences.

"We have every reason to believe that the employment numbers for the Class of 2011 will be even higher," Mortimer said. "A leading indicator for the Class of 2011 employment numbers is the overwhelming success of this past April's job fair for graduating seniors and students seeking internships and jobs. We had to turn away nearly two dozen employers because of lack of space to accommodate them. We feel fortunate that local, regional and national employers see the value of hiring our graduates."

"The keys to our graduates success are to stay focused, be persistent, take advantage of every Champlain opportunity and never give up on the pursuit of their dream job," Mortimer said. "Champlain's career counselors help students create a planned approach to the job search, and regularly follow up with contacts and applications. When the market does turn around, employers will want to see relevant experience and skills on your resume. It is important for graduates to remember that their professions and interests will change over time, so they must maintain focus on developing transferable skills and experience for a lifetime of strategic career management."

The Spring 2011  Job Fair at Champlain College - the largest in the state.
About Champlain College
Since 1878, Champlain College has provided career-focused education to students from its hilltop campus in Burlington, Vt. Champlain's distinctive educational approach embodies the notion that true learning only occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain offers traditional undergraduate and online undergraduate courses, along with online certificate and degree programs and eight master's degree programs. Champlain offers study abroad programs at its campuses in Montreal, Quebec and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain College will be included in the Princeton Review's "best colleges" guidebook, The Best 376 Colleges: 2012 Edition. Champlain was named a "Top-Up-and-Coming School" by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges and was ranked in the top tier of 2011 Regional Colleges in the North. To learn more about Champlain College, visit www.champlain.edu.