Do Employers Really Care Where You Went To School? Photo source: Flickr
September 5 2012

Do Employers Really Care Where You Went To School?

Most young adults actually start their career in high school–that is, when they choose where to attend college. The decision is difficult, as the college or university you choose to attend can have a major impact on the course of your life from that point on. But four years later, diploma in hand, you’re ready to start your job search, and you can’t help but wonder–do employers really care where I went to school?

Alison Green recently addressed this issue on her blog, Ask a Hiring Manager. In short, your college or university of choice shouldn’t have too much sway when it comes to whether or not an employer will hire you. According to Green, while some employers will recruit only from top-tier schools like Ivy Leagues, the majority only care that you went to a school with a solid reputation and that you did well there. It’s “very rare” for an employer to look down upon certain schools–and if they do, they’re probably not someone you want to work for anyway! Sharing an alma mater with an employer may give you a leg up on the competition, but in general, an employer won’t care whether you attended a huge state school or a small private college.

While your university of choice may not have that much importance to an employer, there are still ways to leverage your alma mater for your job search:

  • Don’t pass over your university’s career resources center. Most universities have a career center, but often students neglect to utilize their services. The professionals who work in these offices have an extensive network of connections at a variety of companies and organizations. They’ll also provide you with cover letter and resume writing help, as well as information regarding career fairs, networking events, and other opportunities to refine your job search.
  • Tap into your university’s alumni network. When you’re on a tough job hunt, your alma mater can matter if it boasts a large alumni base, which you can leverage to build your professional network and potentially get your foot in the door at your ideal company. Many colleges and universities have resources for students and recent grads to connect with alumni. I attend Penn State University, and our career center includes a database that allows you to search for alumni by major or industry. Consider reaching out to these individuals–set up an informational interview to gain insight into their profession and build your professional network. You can also find alumni connection groups on sites like LinkedIn.

Read more career advice from Alison Green here.

Has your alma mater ever impacted your job search? Share your stories in a comment below.

For this post, WetFeet thanks our friends at Come Recommended.

About the Author:  Julie Mastrine is a senior at Penn State, majoring in public relations and minoring in Spanish. She has gained experience across a range of settings, including print journalism, public relations, nonprofits, blogging, social media and promotions.


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