With their June 13 commencement just days away, more than half the members of the Oregon MBA class of 2014 have already obtained positions at a range of high-profile organizations.

“It's been a great year for successful job placement for our graduates," said MBA career services advisor Sally Bell.

Lauren Loepp and Eric Ringer will head to Hitachi Consulting in Portland; James Ball and Nathaniel Rotta will join Intel; and Elizabeth Brock has secured a spot at Nike.

These are just five of this year's graduating class of thirty-six, all of whom have either already found employment or are well on their ways to landing their dream careers.

Strong numbers like these at this time of year augur well for a stellar report at the three-month mark, the standard time period universities use to tally their grads" employment rates.

What's behind our MBA grads" job-search success?

Although an improved economy has played its role, much credit for these results must be given to the enhanced career development resources that—thanks to generous gifts from supporters—the program now offers.

“Given today's highly competitive landscape, it is essential that students keep career management at the forefront of their experience here," said assistant dean Rebecca Monro.

In keeping with this career-oriented philosophy, MBA candidates are asked to begin developing strategies early. From the get-go, the program connects students with the resources that will enable them to identify their target companies and to formulate the plans that will get them there.

The same career-specific focus extends to course selection. Even within the Oregon MBA's specialized tracks, students are charged with picking the courses that are most tailored to their career goals.

MBA candidates also learn the essential skills behind building and cultivating relationships that are related to their chosen career paths. Thanks to the program's visits to industry hubs and the frequent seminars that bring industry experts to campus, students have plenty of opportunities to meet and connect with professionals from a wide range of fields.

“We teach our students ways to take the conversation from ‘oh, this is a fascinating business," to ‘this is fascinating and how might one step into a role at your company,"" said Bell.