The Undergraduate Job Search: Where Alumni Networks Reign Supreme

Abstract

A common question circulating throughout today’s modern society asks: is who you know more important than what you know? Overall college enrollment for young adults has increased since 2000 and will only continue to increase. With more young adults attending college than ever before, the question of how to obtain employment looms large. Is it more important to come from a prestigious, “name brand” college like Harvard or Princeton? Or, is the critical to know the right people? In this study, I conduct an audit study that explores this question further. I examine whether one’s educational background is more important than having a strong network tie when job-seeking. More specifically, I assess whether the prestige of one’s school gives a student an advantage over having the strong affiliation and network gained from attending the same school as an alum. I also explore some other factors such as race, gender, graduation year and some covariates regarding school statistics.