A lot of people think that going into liberal arts or humanities is not a good career path because they believe those fields do not offer much money.
This assumption is false!
Liberal arts degrees typically cost around 4-6 times more than a degree in business, technology, or medicine, but they are also very helpful in preparing you for life beyond work.
You will learn about various topics that have “importance” in our society today. You will get practice thinking about concepts and issues beyond what seems like an endless stream of numbers and graphs.
Furthermore, most employers look more closely at how well students can apply theories from the classroom to real life situations.
There are many ways to enter the field of liberal arts or teaching, so this article will go over some types of education positions and what skills and qualities needed for each position.
Stay focused on your goal and prepare yourself for all possibilities, it will help you pick up new experiences and knowledge.
Find out what the school is like
Many liberal arts colleges offer both student and staff jobs during an academic year, typically in the spring and fall semesters. These positions are not only for students looking to make some money while studying, but also for professionals who want to gain work experience.
Mostly these position offers include things such as working in a restaurant or office setting, taking care of the educational programs by giving talks and lessons, and doing campus tours to see how well-run the college is.
By being able to connect with other people and education, you will strengthen your own self-confidence and learn more about communication and leadership.
Make a list of things you like about school
In addition to learning new skills, studying liberal arts helps develop other qualities in students. These include literacy, communication, reasoning, teamwork, and creativity. All of these are valuable assets in life.
Liberal arts colleges focus more on educating their students than giving them specific jobs. A student might be trained as an accountant or a doctor, but they will also learn how to read, write, speak, and connect with others.
Some parts of the curriculum may seem unrelated at first, but working together later in life, these skills have everyone from reading classic texts to making lunch for people.
Students who study humanities find value in different areas. One example is literature, which teaches readers how to recognize stories and narrators and what makes a story powerful. Literature is often considered a form of storytelling, so this link comes naturally.
Other courses teach concepts and theories that help students understand the world around them. This connects education with real life because educated adults know why something is important and how to apply it.
Make a list of things you would like to change about school
Schools these days seem to be focused more on getting as many students in their program as possible, keeping those students there, and producing graduates that are only interested in going into higher-paying jobs.
This can sometimes put pressure on professors to teach courses that are directly related to what employers want to hear.
It also incentivizes teaching out of timew or if your topic doesn’t sell then get ready for a bad time!
Students will spend lots of time studying material that has little relevance to the career they hope to pursue afterwards. This can create empty heads with no way to apply what they have learned.
We need to reevaluate how we educate our young people. We should focus less on giving them knowledge that they can use immediately after college and instead emphasize helping them find their passion and job.
Talk to students who have gone through the process
One of the best ways to learn how to navigate the job search process for an undergraduate position is from other undergrads who have done it before. Many universities offer student employment resources that include career fairs, workshops, and even one-on-one counseling with professionals in related fields.
Participate in these events as a candidate looking for work and not just as a recruiter seeking candidates, and use their tips and tricks to improve your chances of being selected.
Student success stories are also helpful in showing what skills worked for them in the hiring process. If you’re too busy during the event, no problem! You can watch the videos later.
Find out what the culture is like
This article will talk you through some key factors that determine how well your career will go in the academic field. More than just which college you attend, it’s about who goes to this school and what kind of community they create there.
It’s not always the most popular choice among students or faculty members, but attending an intimate institution with a strong alumni network is one of the best things you can do for your career. People use their connections to gain employment elsewhere.
By creating a solid network of contacts, you’ll be proving yourself as a professional leader who knows how to promote yourself. You’d also show potential employers that you are aware of other professionals and what they mean to the industry.
There are many ways to identify people within academia that have connections beyond just their department. For example, research professors usually interact with other academics and top officials across campus, so keep an eye out for them!
They’re typically very friendly and willing to help others, making them great to meet for casual conversations. When talking to such individuals, don’t forget to ask about their experiences since becoming a professor – sometimes they’ll tell stories about things they had to deal with while working here.
Is it big or small?
A few years ago, people made fun of college students who wanted to teach middle school science. They would say things like, “Why don’t you just be an elementary teacher then?”
Well now we have middle school teachers who are looking for help with the discipline issues in their classrooms! And they are offering good salaries too – up to $30,000 per year depending on where you live and the position you apply for!
This is totally different from the situation many experienced educators face today where there are not enough qualified professionals to fill teaching positions.
What majors do they offer?
Majoring in business is definitely not the best way to land an entry level position at a liberal arts college. While having a degree in business may help you climb the ladder quickly, it can be limiting as you grow into the job.
Business classes focus heavily on how to make money, which is great if you want to work in finance or marketing but not so helpful for career planners or administrators that need education professionals who are creative and teach leadership concepts.
General courses like economics often use math as a tool to explain theory, making students feel overwhelmed instead of inspired.
They also learn about profit and loss statements, supply and demand, and other topics that have little application to the workplace. Companies looking to hire people with economic degrees will likely find those candidates more expensive than others with similar levels of experience.
Students majoring in art or humanities may discover that their field is overcrowded and there’s not much opportunity for creativity. Many employers look for candidates with a social consciousness or desire to inspire change, things that many artists don’t necessarily possess.
What year are you starting?
If you’re in your early stages of higher education, it is important to determine what level you are currently at. Are you still studying for your under-graduate degree or have you graduated already?
If you have already graduated, then you will need to make sure that you are preparing yourself properly for work. You should be making solid connections with other professionals in your field, attending meetings and events, and keeping up with the trends by investing in good resources.
For example, if you are looking to become an accountant, then listening to accountsation podcasts or watching accounting videos online can help you learn more about the profession.
As an aspiring student accountant, you could also speak to experienced students around you to see how they got into the career.
