Factors for STEM Graduates' Career Tracks

The goal of research is to study the existing career strategies of graduates of technical universities and the influence of various factors on the processes of its formation and implementation to ensure successful career trajectories of future engineers. Based on the analysis of the theoretical base, a model of research was developed including career trajectories: 1) to leave the engineering profession and 2) to stay in the engineering profession; career paths: entrepreneurial, non-business, managerial and professional careers; and the group of factors of career trajectories of graduates of engineering specialties: 1) social capital, 2) socio-demographic factors, 3) personal factors and 4) organizational factors. In the process of research, the correlation analysis and essential analysis in percentage differences using the Chi-square test were used. An analysis of the empirical data showed that within the framework of the research, the organizational factors and factors of social capital are more influenced by the career paths of graduates of engineering professions. We have drawn up recommendations for employers and universities that are aimed at retaining graduates in the engineering profession. The obtained results show that for graduates of engineering specialties, a well-equipped workplace and the opportunity to develop as a professional and a leader are the most important. However, the conditions of the location of the place of work relative to place and residence, and the work schedule play a small role and do not affect their commitment to the profession and organization. It was also revealed that in the first year of work on the specialty the career choice of the graduate is formed; therefore, the presence of positive experience in the specialty of graduate engineers positively influences their desire to stay in the engineering profession