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I don't know if there are any that peruse this forum. If so, I just want to say sorry. I know what you are about to go through, because I have been going through it for the last five years. You are about to be told by random folks in Corporate America that you have no value in the labor force because of your education. I know your professors told you the different areas you could go into after college with your degree. You probably did some research about what you can do with your BA in XYZ and the site you came across probably referenced 20 or so different prospective careers for you. I bet you came across some salary data that indicated that the median salary for people with your degree is around $45k, but your first offer out of school will probably be more like $30k.
Again, I'm very sorry about what you are about to enter into. If it is at all possible, please consider changing your area of study to something more practical and that has a clear career path after college. Otherwise, you will find yourself not really knowing what to get into. People will ask you why you picked such a (useless) major in the first place. You are likely going to feel awful, and that you wasted the last 4-5 years of your life, as well as whatever money you spent on your education.
My advice to you that can't make any changes at this point is to keep your head up and keep trying. Don't feel bad about taking a lower paying job in an unrelated field for the time being. Once you get your foot in the door somewhere, the opportunities will start to arise for you to advance in your career. I am doing something completely unrelated to what I studied in college. And believe it or not, I make alright money for someone my age. Sure, I didn't start off making $50k/yr, but five years and a few jobs later, here I am. And I don't plan on stopping now.
And please, more than anything, ignore all the naysayers. Certain people who majored in accounting, finance, or engineering are going to look down on you. Heck, even people who never stepped foot in college are going to try to look down on you. They will say some very wretched, awful things about you and your potential. Please don't take it to heart, these people are ruthless animals and don't care about you at all. Once you get started in your career, at whatever level that may be, continue pursuing your education. Get certified in areas that will help you with your job. Use company reimbursement plans to pursue another degree if you are able to. But whatever you do, don't give up. The road ahead is going to be long and rigorous for you. You have to stay positive and keep moving forward.
I graduated in 2010 with a degree in English Lit. I didn't have a problem finding a job in my field and making fairly good money, enough to save for a place and put myself through grad school.
It's not easy, but it's also not as bleak a picture as many like to paint it out to be. The key is to have a game plan (EVERYONE-regardless of their major, needs a game plan in this economy)and to work/have references before graduating and entering the workforce.
I work for one of the largest recruiting firms in the world. We hire thousands on LA majors for our clients a year.
I graduated in 2010 with a degree in English Lit. I didn't have a problem finding a job in my field and making fairly good money, enough to save for a place and put myself through grad school.
It's not easy, but it's also not as bleak a picture as many like to paint it out to be. The key is to have a game plan (EVERYONE-regardless of their major, needs a game plan in this economy)and to work/have references before graduating and entering the workforce.
I work for one of the largest recruiting firms in the world. We hire thousands on LA majors for our clients a year.
I am glad to hear that and thanks for sharing. People are downright rude sometimes and have no consideration for how their negative speak impacts those just entering into the workforce. There are even mods on this forum who contribute to it.
I've known a number of recent LA grads who either had jobs waiting for them or who were gainfully employed within a short period of time. Tekkie: based on your advice people should ignore you because you are a naysayer, correct?
Unless you're just getting started in which case you won't have much to lose if you were to switch majors to something that most likely won't get you a high paying job and drive you to post on City-Data complaining on how screwed up and unfair the world is.
Unless you're just getting started in which case you won't have much to lose if you were to switch majors to something that most likely won't get you a high paying job and drive you to post on City-Data complaining on how screwed up and unfair the world is.
Charles, you are one of the worst culprits on this forum for antagonizing and degrading people who aren't glorious and omnipotent engineers such as yourself. So just keep your harsh criticisms to yourself please!
I've known a number of recent LA grads who either had jobs waiting for them or who were gainfully employed within a short period of time. Tekkie: based on your advice people should ignore you because you are a naysayer, correct?
I'm not a naysayer. I'm a political science/econ major sharing with fellow LA majors what I have dealt with. I'm hoping that my OP will help them not be so discouraged by the sure to be non-stop criticism they will receive from others. At least that has been my experience and I hope the best for them.
Your Pol Science/Econs major isn't bad, compared with what I studied in my first degree
I don't know why you are getting constant criticism. It's good you are creating awareness, I try to do the same too.
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