The University of Tampere Career Center have regularly monitored the employment situation of those recently graduated. The studies focus on students taking the master's degree and on their employment situation after a year from graduation. Since 1994, those who have completed the master's degree have been surveyed in two stages according to the time of their graduation: either in spring or in autumn. Thus, those who have completed their degree have received the employment questionnaire approximately after a year from their graduation. Each dataset includes several questions about respondents' search for work, current employment situation, and employer. Background information covers respondent's gender, degree, the year when began studying, faculty, department, main subject and province. Employment Surveys of Tampere University Postgraduates have been conducted since 1996.
The survey charted the employment situation of people who graduated from the University of Tampere in 2003. Current employment status, employment history and experiences of unemployment after graduation were investigated. Respondents were asked about their employer, the nature of their current job, occupational title and whether the job was commensurate with their qualifications. They were also asked what kind of work they had done during their studies.
One topic pertained to respondents' job searching methods. Respondents were also asked which factors were most important in obtaining their current job and which factors may have hindered or prevented them from finding employment that would be commensurate with their qualifications. Opinions on what skills and abilities their employers value were probed.
Respondents were asked how satisfied they were with their degrees. They evaluated the supply of courses provided by the University of Tampere and they were asked what they were especially satisfied and dissatisfied with. The survey studied how university studies had improved the know-how skills needed in working life, for example, theoretical and practical knowledge of respondents' own field, social and problem solving skills. Background variables included respondent's gender, region of residence, province and information on the degree (level of degree, degree programme, previous degree, major subject, department, faculty, field of study and the time when studies began).
Total study. Questionnaires were mailed once a semester to all who had completed their degree at the University of Tampere in 2002. Respondents received the questionnaire about one year after their graduation.