How to Land a Great Job Even if You Have a “Useless” Degree

Truth be told, I don't believe any degree is useless. With a little reflection, I'm sure you can identify something you learned while you were studying that can be useful in any career. Even if you rarely see want ads calling for a degree in comparative literature, you can still launch a successful career no matter what you majored in. Careful planning and creative thinking will lead you to the best job opportunities for you.

If you’re stumped on how to look for a job with a degree that everyone says is useless, try these suggestions.

Preparing for Your Job Search Research your options. Your future direction probably is less clear than if you studied engineering. Interviewing others and taking an aptitude test will help you find what kind of work you’re suited for. Your college placement center will likely have such testing available. Explore nonprofits. While some corporations hire liberal arts majors as well as MBAs, other organizations may be targeting candidates just like you. Look up charities and professional associations that match your interests. Review your accomplishments. Draw on your activities outside the classroom and the office and highlight these on your resume . Maybe you’ve excelled in leadership or financial management by serving as chairperson of your theater group or keeping the books for your local animal shelter. Create a portfolio. Assemble work samples that will show an employer what you can contribute. Put together writing samples, videos, and other resources and place them on your own website solely for the purpose of sharing with potential employers.

Conducting Your Job Search

Project confidence. Speak enthusiastically about your philosophy studies. Either your potential employer will appreciate your individuality or you’ll keep looking for a culture that’s more compatible for you. Here's a tip; connect with hiring managers who also have so-called "useless" degrees and are doing the type of work you are interested in doing. They will be understanding because they've been in your shoes.

Choose keywords carefully. Automated searches may make it more difficult for employers to find you if your background is less oriented to their keywords. Edit your resume to include widely used terms in your chosen field or better yet, take a few minutes to match the keywords on your resume to the job announcement.

Forget about training. The job market has gotten tougher for recent graduates. These days many companies demand new hires that will start performing on day one. Downplay your eagerness to learn unless the interviewer seems enthusiastic about the idea. In other words, you need to be prepared to hit the ground running without additional on the job training. Look into internships. Internships are a great way to learn on the job. Clarify your responsibilities and inquire about any available stipends.

Focus on communications and problem solving. Most human resources studies indicate that these are the top two highly valued skills. Employers want people who recognize problems and come up with solutions to them rather than relying on the supervisor for direction. Rehearse short stories you can tell about the favorable feedback you received in one of your roles or volunteer activities. You can discuss how you found a less expensive venue for your chess club’s monthly meetings or a larger space for your companies annual management team building retreat.

Showcase additional skills. Many positions also require strengths in writing, and logic. Amazon is big on reading and writing and has implemented a writing assessment for many of its office roles. Think about how you can apply your current expertise in new contexts and practice honing those lesser used skills now in preparation for what's to come.

Network vigorously. Networking is always your best bet. Ask others how they arrived at their present position. You may find some great ideas. In my experience, when you support others first, they are more inclined to return the favor. For example, when I freely give LinkedIn recommendations, I almost always get recommendations in return without even having to ask for them. When you give first, people will inevitably give in return. It's a win-win.

Additional Suggestions

Think long term. Look at entry level jobs as one stage in your career path. Getting your foot in the door opens up more possibilities. Analyze any job offer in terms of its growth potential and not just the one offering the highest salary. We all have bills to pay and people and things to take care of, but we also need to think in terms of long term goals and not short term gains. Head back to school. Earning an advanced degree has many advantages in some fields. With a Master’s degree or a doctorate you may be able to teach or do consulting work. Sign up for training. On the other hand, you may decide that you’re ready for job-specific training. A community college or training center can prepare you to earn a good salary at many trades while you read psychology books at night. Work for yourself. Pursuing the studies you love without getting discouraged by tuition costs and employment figures proves your determination. Apply that resolve to starting your own business or doing freelance work. As a matter of fact, having your own business is one of the best things you can do for yourself, your income and taxes. With a small business you can supplement your primary source of income, give more, and write off many of your purchases such as laptops, phones, and other office supplies which saves you even more money and can increase your returns.

A university education does so much more than prepare you for a job. Learning develops communication and thinking skills that enrich your entire life. Your degree in history or film, or other subjects you don't often see in job opening announcements can help you succeed in the workplace and everywhere else you go.

As always, all my best to you in your job search, career advancement and business building!

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