How Liberal Arts Degrees Help Your Job Search
“Your major was what?! What in the world are you going to do with that major?” Have you heard this before? If college was a time to major in a subject that was really interesting but not much consideration for future careers, then this blog is for you. Having a degree that doesn’t connect to an obvious profession doesn’t have to limit what you can do in life. In fact, it can open many opportunities.
Clarify your target:
The worst thing you can do is go into the job market thinking, “I can do anything” or “I can’t find a job for my major.” You need to have a specific career idea so you can focus your efforts. To narrow your focus, start with a list of things you are good at or have done in the past that you have enjoyed. For example, if you did volunteering during college that you really enjoyed, see if there are any career possibilities in that area.
Take advantage of internships:
Internships are not just for college students. Internships are great for getting your foot in the door at a company or in an industry you are interested in. You can find internships with good resume-building potential, you just have to know where to look. Make sure that you are clear on what you are looking for in an internship and what skills you want to build or learn.
Work your network:
You never know where your next opportunity is going to come from. Two summers ago, my friend who was a senior in college and majoring in cultural anthropology, went to a wedding where she met Tammy, who worked in event planning. Event planning happened to be an industry my friend was interested in. The conversation started by Tammy’s curiosity of my friend’s unusual major. My friend got Tammy’s contact information and on a whim called her up. Now, my friend happily works for Tammy’s company. You have to be ready to network at all times and not be afraid to talk to anyone about possible opportunities. Everyone has something unique to offer, you just have to ask and find a match.
Plenty of people these days have successful careers without a directly related major. Take Carly Fiorina, former CEO of HP, for example. She had a degree in Philosophy and Medieval history. With constant networking and good planning, your career will be off to a great start.