What are High Impact Career Practices?

Defined by National Alumni Career Mobility survey (a survey which alumni outcomes 5-10 years out from graduation), high impact career practices are those which have the most influence on high career mobility. The survey measures respondents on the Career Mobility Index (CMI) based on three factors:

  • Career Pathway Preparation: Do respondents feel they have skills they need to do quality work? Measures educational impact on preparedness before starting their career, the beginning of their career, career advancement, and preparedness for current job
  • Career Satisfaction: How happy are respondents with their career? Measures educational impact on whole career and progression of career, sufficiency of salary, and job responsibility level.
  • Economic Mobility: Are respondents financially stable and satisfied? Measures educational impact on earning history, trajectory, and potential, compared to the household in which they grew up.

The 2023 survey includes a number of takeaways, including:

  • Respondents who agreed that their institution helped them understand career opportunities were 4.4x more likely to score high on the index
  • Respondents who agreed that their institution helped them create a career plan were 6.3x more likely to score high on the index.
  • Respondents who agreed that their institution helped them network with employers were 3.6x more likely to score high on the index.
  • Respondents who received helpful career advice were 2.0x more likely to score high on the index.
  • Those who engaged in these practices were statistically more likely to agree that their degree was worth their tuition.

The survey found statistically significant career mobility around these practices: creating a career plan, understanding career opportunities, and networking with employers, particularly in regards to equity. Not only will leveraging these practices lead to better career mobility, they can also close equity gaps and help students better see the value of their degree.

Graphic labled "High Impact Career Practices." The Strommen Center logo is in a circle to the left. Three bubbles connected to the logo read: "Understanding Career Opportunities", "Creating a Career Plan," and "Networking With Employers."

Integrating High Impact Practices

While Strommen offers opportunities to engage in all three of these practices, offering options across campus can increase access and useability.

Students grow to understand how their classwork, career pathway after graduation, skills, and values are connected and affect their career choices. Students also know how to research and explore possible career paths.

Possibilities for engagement:

  • Using Focus 2 Career, What Can I Do With This Major? and other resources from our Understanding Yourself and the World of Work toolkit
  • Assign career exploration assignments in classes or in extracurricular activities
  • Utilize skills and values assessments through Focus 2 Career, CliftonStrengths, Dependable Strengths, and other outlets
  • Identify career competencies in syllabi and course assignment information
  • Lead discussions with students and mentees around career exploration

Students can summarize their career exploration into a career plan which highlights possible career goals and the next steps needed to achieve them. Students also know how to track their goals and understand milestones related to specific careers/ industries.

Possibilities for engagement:

Students can engage with employers outside of the application or recruiting process in ways that develop their understanding of career paths, workplace culture, and industries available to them while also growing their professional network.

Possibilities for engagement:

  • Host workshops on networking, LinkedIn, elevator pitches, and job fair preparation
  • Invite employers and/or alumni to visit your class, student group, or campus community
  • Discuss with students current workplace trends, unpack ideas of professionalism, and how to network
  • Host department networking events for students

Want to save this information? Download a PDF of the high impact career practices resource!