Influence of an undergraduate quantum capstone course on students' post-graduation careers

As new quantum technologies are being developed in a rapidly evolving quantum industry, the need for employees with bachelor's degrees continues to increase. At a large R1 institution, an upper-division physics capstone course was developed to help meet this need by preparing students to work in the quantum industry through participating in an authentic industry project with a partner company. This capstone course began in the 2022--2023 academic year, and we investigated the experiences of the first cohort of students throughout their time in the course. One to one and a half years after graduation, we follow up with these students to explore how the course has influenced their career trajectories and shaped their engagement with current and future work. We find that, while finding a job of interest was challenging for the students, they continue to perceive the course as a positive influence on their career prospects and current jobs.