After graduating from the University of Georgia last year, William Landrum was thrilled to be hired by one of UGA’s top 25 employers, Georgia-Pacific.
“UGA does an incredible job of preparing you for post-grad by actually bringing some of the nation’s top employers directly to our doorsteps,” said Landrum, who received a bachelor’s in marketing.
Through the different career services offered to UGA students, Landrum discovered his strengths and how to leverage them in the workplace. “Being able to apply my unique skills has been huge in my first year of career development at Georgia-Pacific,” said Landrum, “and I can largely attribute that to my experience at UGA.”
Now serving as a regional sales specialist, he enjoys visiting UGA’s campus on behalf of his company and supporting students just as other alumni did for him.
According to UGA’s Career Outcomes Survey, the top 25 employers hired a combined 760 graduates from the Class of 2017. Eighty-seven percent of those 760 graduates remained in the state of Georgia.
The top 25 employers (in alphabetical order) are:
- Amazon.com Inc.
- Aon plc
- AT&T
- Chick-fil-A
- CVS Health
- Deloitte
- Emory University
- EY
- Georgia-Pacific
- IBM
- Insight Global
- KPMG US LLP
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Macy’s
- Newell Brands
- Piedmont Healthcare
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- State Farm
- SunTrust Banks Inc.
- Teach for America
- The Home Depot
- The Kroger Company
- University of Georgia
- UPS
- Wells Fargo & Company
Georgia-Pacific was one of the top 25 employers of UGA graduates. Recruiter Hayley Johnson (center) is pictured with Tom Sturdevant of Georgia-Pacific (left) and Kelly Kerner, UGA vice president for development and alumni relations.
Hiring UGA graduates not only benefits students, but employers as well. Hayley Johnson, a UGA alumna and Georgia-Pacific recruiter, appreciates UGA’s partnership with her company that gives them opportunities to interact with students and faculty and participate in on-campus career programming throughout the year. Thanks to this partnership with UGA, Georgia-Pacific speaks in classrooms, has networking lunches with students, participates in career fairs and has introductions to key UGA faculty members.
She values the traits UGA graduates bring to the workforce. “UGA students are equipped with skills that translate well into the workplace,” said Johnson. “The university provides companies with unique opportunities to engage with students and provide them with career opportunities.”
Many of these companies go beyond hiring UGA students. They fund scholarships, professorships and offer matching gift opportunities to their employees who donate to the university. These companies also offer internships and share guidance with students through mentorship programs. Several companies even host UGA alumni corporate chapters.
For more ways companies can get involved with UGA, visit itstartswith.uga.edu/corporate.
