When peers set up informational interviews with me to discuss my professional experiences with MSNBC, USA Today, the Obama White House, and Facebook, I almost always receive the question, "So, what's your major?" It's a simple question that stems from innocent curiosity, but also highlights an inherent misconception with college-aged students: Your specific major should define your internships and subsequent career path.
Based on my experiences, this could not be further from the truth, especially in the context of most marketing, business, technology, and journalism positions. Take my NYU history major, for example. Instead of the typical path (e.g., interning at museums and archives), I have interned in the political, media, and tech sectors. The reason is simple: Instead of seeing my liberal arts degree as a weakness, I leverage it to highlight my unique experiential background and insights.
While often scrutinized for not providing "hard skills," humanities programs offer a robust suite of skill sets which lead to success in professional settings. Personally speaking, working in local government and the Obama White House required succinct writing and editing abilities, as I drafted mayoral proclamations and wrote sections of my office’s Chief of Staff reports. Moreover, I found that my academic experience at NYU required critical thinking and active class participation, as opposed to rote memorization of formulas. In turn, I was more confident (and arguably, most successful) in a workplace environment like Facebook – where I helped shape my summer project.
Strong writing, analytical abilities, and interpersonal skills are hallmarks of a liberal arts degree, and underrated in a society which pressures students to pursue “practical” majors.
Granted, a humanities degree cannot unlock every career opportunity – but that’s true of all majors. If you are vying for a highly specified field (for example, software engineering), choose the appropriate curriculum.
That being said, do not discount the potential opportunities of majoring in the humanities. Many of my peers who graduated with these degrees now work at top companies such as Google, LinkedIn and McKinsey.
If you are unsure what your niche is yet, be flexible. The job market is as competitive as ever, but the advice of experts has lined up with my own experiences: As an undergraduate, select a curriculum you will succeed with – especially if you are considering law school or graduate programs. The professional opportunities, as I have learned, will follow.
In closing, be proud of your humanities major – whether it's English, history, or philosophy – and use it to your advantage.