Making the Leap: Recent College Graduates’ Early Career Experiences in Computing Fields

Prompted by participation gaps in the tech industry, this study explores the relationship between recent college graduates’ college experiences and their perceptions of their tech work environments. Using survey data from 15 research universities across the U.S., the findings suggest that gender and racial/ethnic identity influence the likelihood of viewing the field of computing as inclusive. Participants who were computing majors or felt a strong sense of belonging within the computing community were more likely to view the computing career environment positively. Notably, positive predictors of perceptions of an inclusive tech work environment, including majoring in computing as an undergraduate and feeling connected within computing, directly related to early career professionals’ undergraduate experiences. This study’s implications are relevant to various higher education stakeholders, including STEM department leaders, career development staff, and student affairs staff focused on fostering a strong pipeline from computing undergraduate programs to computing careers.