| The transition from college to work for traditional age college students has been identified as a difficult process. College graduates are transitioning between two contrasting environments with differing role expectations. The purpose of this study was to explore this transition from the perspective of college graduates as they transitioned into the world of work for the first time. This dissertation studied seven college graduates as they transitioned into their new roles as employees of organizations. The seven participants were graduates of a small, private, liberal arts university in Philadelphia. The participants were selected utilizing purposeful sampling methods.; Qualitative research methods were utilized to develop insight into the experience of the newcomers. All participants maintained a journal for their first three months in their new role as employees. At the end of their three-month period, the newcomers were interviewed utilizing a semi-structured, open-ended interview schedule. In addition, an employee of the organization responsible for assisting with the socialization of new members was interviewed. The data from the journal and two interviews were developed into individual case studies. The methods of cross-case analysis and analytic induction were utilized to identify themes and patterns in the organizational socialization process, and to further develop the current theories of organizational socialization.; The findings of this studied included: (a) The newcomers expressed difficulty adjusting between their new and old roles. Specifically, differences in age, teamwork, feedback, and communication structure were identified; (b) After newcomers began to adjust to the tasks of the new role, they struggled with learning the underlying cultural norms and demands of the organization; (c) Both informal and formal socialization methods that encouraged interaction with peers and supervisors were found most useful for learning the tasks required of their new roles; (d) Involvement in activities, exposure to curriculum that integrated the world of work, and interaction with the work world through internships and jobs were identified as the most useful past experiences for easing the transition.; The dissertation concludes with a discussion of recommendations for improving the organizational socialization process and suggestions for future research. |
