What did you want to do with them when you picked those majors?
Also, this. I'm trying reeeeealy hard not to give a side eye at picking majors w/out an end game/goal in mind.
oh, come on. not everyone wants to major in business. there's something to be said for learning for the sake of learning.
anyway, skipping, when all i had was my steller english/studio art BA, i applied for and was offered jobs as a:
-legal assistant -secretary at a small accounting firm -assistant to a cultural liaison at an embassy (clearly a DC-centric job) -assistant in an HR office -headhunter for a legal recruiter
essentially anything that required basic literacy and people skills.
Post by sunflower22 on Jan 1, 2013 21:14:25 GMT -5
Some type of state govt work? They typically have a wide range of job types. I'd concentrate on getting my foot in the door somewhere good w room to grow and gain better positions.
How far into school are you currently? Could you pick up a few extra classes in statistics or something to boost that part and drop one of the other majors?
I think a meeting w/ a career counselor is an absolute must at this point, and that you're probably looking at going back to school.
Most PhDs I know didn't get their degree in the same field as their Bachelors degree
Really?!? I don't know anyone with a Ph.D who didn't major (or at least minor) in that field. Why would a graduate program accept you without training in that discipline?
Flame away if you must, but I'm on Unemployment for right now. I have to do a minimum of 5 job contacts a week in order to get benefits. The UI site has jobs posted for Health and Human Services and I've been applying there like crazy and have been turned down for every single job. I'm waiting to hear back from a few office clerk/receptionist jobs that sound interesting (law offices, major businesses in the area, etc).
If you have a university nearby that offers continuing education degrees, you could see about getting a professional certification in something. It's cheaper than a masters and would at least get you some clout on a resume.
Paralegal certification would be a good start if you want to try something in that field. Most would give you an internship as part of the requirements.
Also, if you haven't joined linkedin, do that. There may be some good networking opportunities or groups nearby.
How far into school are you currently? Could you pick up a few extra classes in statistics or something to boost that part and drop one of the other majors?
I think a meeting w/ a career counselor is an absolute must at this point, and that you're probably looking at going back to school.
Flame away if you must, but I'm on Unemployment for right now. I have to do a minimum of 5 job contacts a week in order to get benefits. The UI site has jobs posted for Health and Human Services and I've been applying there like crazy and have been turned down for every single job. I'm waiting to hear back from a few office clerk/receptionist jobs that sound interesting (law offices, major businesses in the area, etc).
Have you had a professional look at your resume? It might be worth the few hundred bucks to have a professional in the field you want to be in write it up for you.
Have you had a professional look at your resume? It might be worth the few hundred bucks to have a professional in the field you want to be in write it up for you.
My alma mater offers free resume services and I had them look at it (they're HR managers and hiring officials). They've given it a green light.
Oh, I TOTALLY had a goal in mind when I chose theology. lol.
wtf? I'm side-eyeing DotandBuzz's side-eye!
you had your cave picked out for hermit-like deep theological thought, right? and started socking away the ends of candles and making your clothes from tanned animal skins?
like, when i picked english and studio art, i was all like "holla, i'm going to be a famous artist and live in a loft in chelsea even though now they're like $7800/mo and write the BEST descriptions of my work ever. or maybe work as an editor of art in america."
Since you asked what I would personally do, there's this course in Boston where you can get your Montessori teaching certificate. I'm sure it's available in other places too. It only takes a summer. Then they help you get hooked up with a job. Then I'd teach kindergarten or a combined age group. Good luck.
Have you had a professional look at your resume? It might be worth the few hundred bucks to have a professional in the field you want to be in write it up for you.
My alma mater offers free resume services and I had them look at it (they're HR managers and hiring officials). They've given it a green light.
I think Career Services offices are super valuable and helpful, but they haven't gotten you a job. Services like the one above will often times have a writer in the field you're in or want to be in draft your resume.
So, if you really want to work for a NPO they'll assign your resume to a NPO expert. If you want to be in insurance, and insurance expert.
Different industries are looking for different things, and in today's job market a standard, bland, career services resume probably isn't going to get the job done.
Also, are you on LinkedIn? Join. Are there any networking events in your area that you can join? A Young Professionals organization? An organization that you can volunteer with? The more people you meet, the more connections you make, the better off you'll be!
Oh, I TOTALLY had a goal in mind when I chose theology. lol.
wtf? I'm side-eyeing DotandBuzz's side-eye!
me too, not everyone has a life plan when picking college majors.
I've gone back and forth on this. I live in Chicago and there are a ton of art schools here. One day I was talking to the mom of some of my Sunday School kids about college, and I was saying, "I just don't understand spending all this money on an art degree when most of them won't make enough money to pay for it, or even work in their field!"
She said that most of us end up as a "cog in the machine" and that we don't work in a field that is specific to our degree no matter what. Why not, then, spend a few years learning something new. College is about more than the book/paper education that you get there.
I thought this was a really wise point, which I hadn't totally considered.
Really?!? I don't know anyone with a Ph.D who didn't major (or at least minor) in that field. Why would a graduate program accept you without training in that discipline?
Lots of people work between their degrees and change their field
My H's PhD is totally unrelated to his BA and only a handful if people in his program had a Ba in the same department as the PhD program they were in
Yeah, I guess that just doesn't happen much in the humanities. There aren't a whole lot of places to get work experience in the field with a B.A., as this thread demonstrates. Lol!
I'm on LinkedIn. It was part of a requirement by my career counselor on campus.
I haven't had much success because my career counselor sees about 10k students or more in a semester.
I've emailed my old advisor and some of my professors who remember me, who I did great in their classes and who I feel comfortable asking for advice, etc.
I'm looking for entry level. Nothing exciting yet. I'm 23 and have a lot of time ahead of me to create a wonderful career.
I'm getting frustrated and its causing mild panic attacks
Also, this. I'm trying reeeeealy hard not to give a side eye at picking majors w/out an end game/goal in mind.
oh, come on. not everyone wants to major in business. there's something to be said for learning for the sake of learning.
anyway, skipping, when all i had was my steller english/studio art BA, i applied for and was offered jobs as a:
-legal assistant -secretary at a small accounting firm -assistant to a cultural liaison at an embassy (clearly a DC-centric job) -assistant in an HR office -headhunter for a legal recruiter
essentially anything that required basic literacy and people skills.
I have no problem at all in learning for the sake of learning. I understand that plans and interests change, but when that happens, you work out a new plan, and adjust your studies accordingly. Heck, my own plans changed during my senior year of college. But I really don't get finishing a course of study with NO idea what you'll do with it. I know plenty of people do just that, and I'm sure it works out for them. Just not something I'd be cool with (or would want my kids doing).
Post by NachoProblem on Jan 1, 2013 21:34:01 GMT -5
I just had a huge repos pose typed out and then my iPad ate it...
- have you looked into consulting? Different firms I'm familiar with are flexible when it comes to academic backgrounds - are you active in your school's alumni group? Email local alumni and ask them for coffee for an informational interview. Find out what they do and how they got there and if they haven't advice for someone with your background. In my experience, people are very willing to help young alumns from their school get started - attend any and all networking groups you can find. You'll never know who you'll meet.
Basically as opposed to finding your dream job, I would try to get a starter job. See who would be interested in you but cinstantly outting yourself out there. Most people I know (I went to a small liberal arts school) got their first job through connections, made a few changes, and ended up someplace they're happy. Good luck!