From First Semester to First Job: A Data Framework to Improve Student Career Outcomes

Basta’s year-by-year framework provides a roadmap for institutions to ensure every student is on the path to a strong first job.

Career success doesn’t start at graduation; it begins the moment a student steps onto campus. Supporting students on the path to strong first jobs requires timely insight into their self-discovery and career readiness. When those early indicators are difficult to see, institutions have fewer opportunities to provide support before graduation. That matters, especially when 52% of graduates are underemployed one year after graduation, and 73% remain so a decade later.

Basta’s First Semester to First Job Framework offers a clear, year-by-year approach to tracking student progress, identifying misalignment early, and enabling timely support that can improve career outcomes.

Designed for student affairs and career navigation leaders, this practical resource outlines what to measure, why it matters, and how to align action across teams. Whether you are making strategic decisions about data and resource allocation or working directly with students to strengthen career readiness, the framework helps institutions support stronger first-job outcomes.

Upcoming webinar: “Leading Through Budget Cuts: What to Protect, Adapt, or Redesign in Career Support.” Wednesday, May 13 at 3 PM ET

We’re hosting a live conversation on how leaders are evaluating career support priorities amid budget pressure and staffing constraints.

Contact us to learn more about Basta and our partnerships.