5 Reasons Why College Major Doesn’t Determine Your Career Goals

April 5, 20199:51 am2081 views

As you think, so shall you become?” – Bruce Lee

Many people believe that when we have gotten into one major, then we have to pursue a career that is in line with that field. However, does it have to be that way? In a day where interdisciplinary studies become a new norm, why should your college major decide the career you would like to be a part of?

In a recent case study, Prof. Eric Stevenson of MyAssignmenthelp revealed, “I had never planned my career as an academic writer. Writing was only a passion I used to pursue back in the days. Being a student of engineering, I was almost of the opinion that I would probably end up fixing bugs in the code. And here I am, working as an academic writer for the past six years. It truly gives me immense pleasure to make a career out of my passion.”

From Prof. Stevenson’s inspirational story of passion triumph, we get a meaningful message that our career objectives should not be defined only by what we learn at school. While some students might think that their majors will influence their future career goals, others might treat majors merely as a degree.

It goes without saying that being educated and holding a scholarly degree can help you make smarter career choices and better decisions, regardless of what subjects you are studying at school. This means that college major should not limit or even force you to compromise your career interests in the longer run. It is perfectly natural for an individual who study science at school, turns out to embrace the career of an independent filmmaker in the near future. After all, it is about your choice and the passion you would like to hold onto.

College major should determine your credibility, and not career goals. Here’s why.

1.      Your major does not need to align with the job domain

Forbes has cited a particular research study that showed 62 percent college graduates are working in jobs that ask for degrees. However, quite interestingly, only a mere 27 percent are in the jobs that relate to their majors. This is a clear indication that your major would hardly matter when you step into the world of work, especially in this era of competitive workforce. If you are passionate about something and able to showcase enough skills and industry expertise, then just go hit the bull’s eye. What’s stopping you?

2.      Bagging a dream job is all about getting noticed by the big fishes

A college major is good, but to get noticed and appreciated by the who’s who of your industry should be something you better aim for. You might have a seamlessly successful academic career on a written resume, but that does not automatically make you a fully-skilled newbie in the block.

You get to earn your place with effort, precision and passion. For example, you might have a degree in graphic designing, but that does not make you a skilled graphic designer right away. You need to learn about the technical aspects of graphic designing in detail, get on-the-job training, and invest enough time in creating demo designs for the industry experts to notice your skills. Nothing works instantly, especially when it comes to major degree and practical skills.

3.      The lines written on your resume matters more than your major

According to LinkedIn, an average employer takes only eight to ten seconds to screen your resume. And what would he look for? No prize in guessing; it is your skills and your choice of words to define your opinions. In fact, no one asks you to send across the soft copy of your academic qualification or certificates during the initial round.

Instead of written proof your formal education, recruiters are more interested in knowing about technical expertise you possess as well as how you can contribute to their company if accepted. That being said, it is crucial for you to map things out accordingly. When you have completed your education, you need to start looking for what you want to do by trying out internships; joining a start-up, and finally kicking-start a career. The idea is to get the hang of it, acquire professional knowledge and sharpen your skills.

4.      You can perform better when your job has a purpose

What’s the point of pursuing a career as an HR manager if you are no longer interested in the job? When you are in the same job and routine for years, chances are, everything will turn to be mundane reoccurrence. The task will soon lose its purpose, meetings will have no meaning, and eventually you will end up being frustrated with your job. As a result, your performance will degrade, and you have to answer questions raised by the management.

On the contrary, if you have a newfound love in entrepreneurship, isn’t it better to start something of your own? You will finally have a purpose to stay motivated, work hard and upgrade your skills in an absolutely productive way. There is no fun in working if you do not love your job, another reason why a mere college degree should not decide your career or the domain you will be working in.

5.      Your college major doesn’t lock you into one career

Lifelong career is a myth.  I know a guy who was a student of commerce, and today, he is a successful travel blogger and gym trainer. He could have been a part of the 9:00-5:00 job trend, but he didn’t allow his degree to bring limitations to his futuristic aspirations.

Choosing a major does not necessarily mean that you will end up locking yourself into something and closing your eyes from others for the rest of the life. There are so many great things to explore and know about. The point is to always stay hungry, never settle for less, and refrain from buying the misconception of college majors that limit your credibility.

In the end, college majors should not take control of the career choices you would make. The idea is to believe in what you dream or aspire to achieve. Imaginations have great power, only if you know how to materialise them like a pro. Just look at the mirror and shout out loud “Yes, I can”, and half the battle will be won right there. Good luck!

Author Bio:

Nathan William is a professional guest blogger who has produced many good write-ups on career topics. At Myassignmenthelp.com, he assists the students in completing their assignments like writing CDR, essay or dissertation.

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