Job Alternatives for graduates with a degree in Liberal Arts
"Liberal arts - you've got to be kidding!
What does that even include anyway?
And what type of a job are you going to get if you graduate?"
If you have a major in liberal arts, you've probably heard questions like those.
To begin with, "Liberal arts" can mean different things to different people.
Sometimes when people refer to the liberal arts, they may be referring to all the sciences and also the humanities, but other individuals limit the term "liberal arts" specifically to just mean the social sciences and humanities.
Even if we only consider the most narrow definition, liberal arts refer to a wide range of disciplines like anthropology, international relations, gender studies, and history.
But after you have finally reached a consensus on what exactly "liberal arts" includes, it can nonetheless be hard to explain to someone how you will turn your liberal arts degree into a paying job.
Nevertheless, you will discover a wide selection of career possibilities open to liberal arts graduates.
Employers these days are looking for communications skills coupled with a strong work ethic, teamwork, initiative, interpersonal skills, critical thinking and problem-solving and analytical abilities.
All of these are abilities that most liberal arts students typically acquire training in as part of their undergraduate and graduate research.
That doesn't mean that getting a job when you graduate won't take effort and persistence.
A little bit of creative thinking could be required to enable employers to realize the worth of a liberal arts degree.
To start with, don't limit a job search to just the most obvious possibilities.
An English major could make a decision to become a journalist, but other possibilities that use similar editing and writing skills include media, public relations, and publishing occupations, as well as sales or graphic design in some situations.
And the analytical expertise of a history student could be put to use within the technical writing, journalist, and even legal assistant fields.
And geography majors are well suited to positions in location-based urban planning as well as public policy and administration.
One more successful technique to get the most from your liberal arts degree is often to pursue a more practical minor or get additional experience in a topic which is more job-oriented.
It can be worth making the time to search for universities and colleges that do have dedicated programs to boost the job-readiness capabilities of their liberal arts majors.
Through these practical programs an art history major could earn a certificate in art appraisal, or perhaps a Spanish major could complete the courses for a certificate in translation.
And internships are a time-tested solution to get your foot in the door with prospective employer.
Internships give liberal arts majors a hands-on chance to find out more about their selected career.
Summer jobs, part-time jobs, and volunteer work can also be beneficial possibilities for those students who need to gain valuable practical expertise plus a greater understanding of the challenges and rewards of their selected profession.
Working as an intern or perhaps a volunteer not only provides liberal arts degree students with exposure to the world of business or community service; it also provides the students an opportunity to demonstrate maturity, reliability, timeliness, courteousness, and also other traits essential to employers.
And this extra knowledge will help ensure that your resume will catch the attention of potential employers so that your liberal arts education truly is the pathway to a successful professional career within your chosen field.
What does that even include anyway?
And what type of a job are you going to get if you graduate?"
If you have a major in liberal arts, you've probably heard questions like those.
To begin with, "Liberal arts" can mean different things to different people.
Sometimes when people refer to the liberal arts, they may be referring to all the sciences and also the humanities, but other individuals limit the term "liberal arts" specifically to just mean the social sciences and humanities.
Even if we only consider the most narrow definition, liberal arts refer to a wide range of disciplines like anthropology, international relations, gender studies, and history.
But after you have finally reached a consensus on what exactly "liberal arts" includes, it can nonetheless be hard to explain to someone how you will turn your liberal arts degree into a paying job.
Nevertheless, you will discover a wide selection of career possibilities open to liberal arts graduates.
Employers these days are looking for communications skills coupled with a strong work ethic, teamwork, initiative, interpersonal skills, critical thinking and problem-solving and analytical abilities.
All of these are abilities that most liberal arts students typically acquire training in as part of their undergraduate and graduate research.
That doesn't mean that getting a job when you graduate won't take effort and persistence.
A little bit of creative thinking could be required to enable employers to realize the worth of a liberal arts degree.
To start with, don't limit a job search to just the most obvious possibilities.
An English major could make a decision to become a journalist, but other possibilities that use similar editing and writing skills include media, public relations, and publishing occupations, as well as sales or graphic design in some situations.
And the analytical expertise of a history student could be put to use within the technical writing, journalist, and even legal assistant fields.
And geography majors are well suited to positions in location-based urban planning as well as public policy and administration.
One more successful technique to get the most from your liberal arts degree is often to pursue a more practical minor or get additional experience in a topic which is more job-oriented.
It can be worth making the time to search for universities and colleges that do have dedicated programs to boost the job-readiness capabilities of their liberal arts majors.
Through these practical programs an art history major could earn a certificate in art appraisal, or perhaps a Spanish major could complete the courses for a certificate in translation.
And internships are a time-tested solution to get your foot in the door with prospective employer.
Internships give liberal arts majors a hands-on chance to find out more about their selected career.
Summer jobs, part-time jobs, and volunteer work can also be beneficial possibilities for those students who need to gain valuable practical expertise plus a greater understanding of the challenges and rewards of their selected profession.
Working as an intern or perhaps a volunteer not only provides liberal arts degree students with exposure to the world of business or community service; it also provides the students an opportunity to demonstrate maturity, reliability, timeliness, courteousness, and also other traits essential to employers.
And this extra knowledge will help ensure that your resume will catch the attention of potential employers so that your liberal arts education truly is the pathway to a successful professional career within your chosen field.
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