| College degree attainment is an important predictor of labor market outcomes. Earning a degree beyond high school has an impact on participation in the labor force, occupational status, and earnings. Black males in the United States are at risk of not pursuing or completing post-secondary education and are underrepresented in professional and managerial positions in the labor market. To improve labor market outcomes of Black males, it is necessary to create the conditions under which they are likely to enroll in a college or university, persist, and earn a bachelor's degree. During the undergraduate experience, consideration must be given to the role of campus engagement and career planning in promoting a successful transition from graduation into the professional workforce. Qualitative methods employing personal interviews were used to explore the undergraduate experiences and early career transitions of adult baccalaureate-degree holding Black males. The research questions guiding this inquiry were: (1) What institutional and individual factors shaped career exploration, planning, and preparation among Black male college graduates? and (2) What motivated Black male baccalaureate graduates to persist through degree attainment and enabled them to transition into careers in their fields of study? The findings analyze the trajectories of 18 men who earned a bachelor's degree within the past five years and are employed in a professional capacity related to their academic fields of study.;Directly exploring the interplay among persistence, degree attainment, career preparation, and early career experiences with Black males who have had the experience of graduating and entering major-related careers provides useful insights for researchers and recommendations for student affairs, academic affairs, and career development professionals. |
