ADDRESSING CAREER READINESS: EXPLORING THE CAREER PREPAREDNESS AND CAREER SERVICES UTILIZATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC STUDENTS

Abstract

Stacia Smith Solomon, ADDRESSING CAREER READINESS: EXPLORING THE CAREER PREPAREDNESS AND CAREER SERVICES UTILIZATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC STUDENTS (Under the Direction of Dr. David Siegel). Department of Educational Leadership, May, 2025.

Career outcomes for African American and Hispanic populations differ significantly from those of their White and Asian peers. Data show that recent college graduates from African American and Hispanic backgrounds earn lower salaries and secure full-time employment at lower rates than White and Asian graduates within six months of graduation. Furthermore, career services utilization data highlight a notable gap: African American and Hispanic students engage with these services at rates disproportionate to their enrollment, unlike their White and Asian counterparts, whose utilization more closely mirrors their representation. Limited research exists on the relationship between career services utilization, career preparation, and their impact on career outcomes for African American and Hispanic college students, particularly outside industry-specific contexts. This study investigates the career preparedness and career services utilization of 10 African American and Hispanic students attending a private, historically White institution. Qualitative findings illuminate how these students navigate career preparation, including the factors that impact their engagement with career services. Using Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth framework and Social Cognitive Career Theory, this study examines the behaviors, perceptions, and patterns shaping career preparedness and career services utilization, providing deeper insight into the factors impacting career outcomes for African American and Hispanic students.