Degree Options to Careers

Good afternoon!

For today's blog I will be investigating how degree options can relate to your various career options. Many students come to me and ask "how does this degree translate over into a career?" I would like to present those various options to you and please provide any feedback you have!

There are certain career fields that there is a very specific degree you will need to obtain. These careers include (but are not limited to): K-12 teachers, doctors (and other medical related jobs), lawyers, counselors and CPA's- pretty much anything you have to hold a license or certification to do. If any of these careers is something you are interested in, you should gear your education towards this career path from the start. Many of these areas it is difficult (but not impossible) to switch mid-stream on another program.

If you plan on working in almost any other field than the ones listed above, your degree doesn't have to be in a certain area. Many students come to me and worry that if they are going to continue a career in corporate America, they have to have a business degree. This is not true. Now will it help your resume to have business degrees? Perhaps, but it does not eliminate you from the candidate pool. Take me for example... I received my bachelor degree in art. Have I created paintings and drawings since I graduated? Absolutely. Did I paint my way into working in corporate America or even into education? Absolutely not. When I applied and interviewed for every job I've ever had they were looking for a degree. Never once was I questioned on what I studied.

For the majority of jobs, if the requirement is a bachelor degree to be hired, there is usually not a specific field in which they are asking your studies to be from. When you get to the master level, that is where employers look for more field specific work. Many master level programs do not require your bachelor degree to be in the same field as your master degree.

There are two different ways to approach education and your career. One is to put your career first and the other is to put your education first. Both ways are explained below.

Career:
The most important thing to think about as you decide on your degrees is what you want to do with your life. Look at your 5, 10 and 20 year goals. From there, think of potential employers that you would like to work for- and shoot for the moon. If you are thinking of working for IBM at an upper management level in 20 years, go to their website NOW and check job postings. Check what the education requirements are for the 'dream job' you are thinking of. And then as you work towards getting that job or something like it, set your education to mirror that.

Education:
On the other side if you're not sure what you want to do with your education and career, my suggestion is to figure it out by way of your education. Take classes in different fields and areas of study (of course as your degree plan allows) and see what sparks your interest. Take English, science, psychology, anthropology, etc., see what you find interesting. Many students take psychology classes and end up finding a true passion for it. From there you can build your career around your love for your subject area. Your career goals don't always have to come first, you can always put your education first and see what careers are available after you've graduated. Use your faculty as a guide. Most of them are working professionals in the field. Tell them you love the subject area for which you are studying and ask them what entry level careers there are in the field and how to market yourself to get one of them.

Conclusion:
At the end of the day the most important thing is to go with your heart. I cannot tell you how many students I have seen struggle with completing their degree because they picked a field that is not really interesting to them. If you cannot make it through the coursework, chances are you won't be able to make it in that career either. People who start the education path and find problems with dealing with children are probably not going to succeed as a teacher. Consider your options and use your resources as a guide. Ask your advisor and faculty members you trust your questions and concerns. We are here to help. It doesn't make a difference to me (since I work as a generalist) which degree you graduate with- I'm here to help you get a degree and then guide you into a career and job after. If you keep your concerns to yourself, you will never know what options are out there. Don't be afraid to ask. Your advisor would rather be kept in the loop and help you through your questions and struggles than have you get overwhelmed and drop out of school.