More than 80% of UC Riverside alums find their first job in California. 

Of those, more than 60% stay in Southern California, primarily the Inland Empire, according to the UCR Career Center’s 2017-2018 annual report. 

The numbers are not surprising, said Linda LaTendresse, the Career Center’s associate director of employer relations. UCR’s graduates are high-caliber and are deeply connected to California and their communities. 

As this academic year comes to an end, thousands of graduates have already started their new jobs, or are getting ready to pack and move. Among those starting new careers are 11 alums now holding a diploma in one hand, and a job offer in the other. See the photo slideshow below.

Among them are Andrea Cruz Castillo, who started her job with NAVSEA in Corona; Gustavo Rodriguez, who took a job with DHL in Rancho Cucamonga; and Nathan Wong, who is moving to San Diego for a job with Deloitte.

Others are traveling further out. Jerry Jiang is moving north to work for Google, Chiamaka Offorjebe is moving to Las Vegas to work for PepsiCo, Judy Ta is starting with Goldman Sachs in Utah, and Enrique Campos is taking an international flight to teach in France.

“In 2017-2018 we had more than 25,000 in-person interactions with students. We are here to guide students into jobs and their future careers,” LaTendresse said. “We are beyond excited for these young professionals. They are bright, full of determination. I know they will excel in their jobs.”