California State University, Fullerton

Creating Your Career in Humanities & Social Sciences

Debbie Darling

    Debbie Darling
    Industry Specialist; Humanities, Social Sciences, and Government

    (657) 278-2604
    ddarling@fullerton.edu

Are you a humanities or a social science major who is trying to map out a career? Sometimes mapping a career with a humanities and social science degree can be a challenge because it might seem that your degree does not prepare you for a narrowly defined profession. So, will your education limit your options in the search for that great job? Not if you refuse to accept the attitude that your career is a particular degree or that career advancement occurs because of a specific technical education.

Discover Your Career Path

This adjustment requires that you change your mindset and stop thinking in terms of who recruits in your major area. Try to develop a clear vision of what seems right for you, and ask yourself the following.

  • What career is a good fit with my interests and goals?
  • How can I find a job that matches my passion?
  • Where do I want to be in 5 years or 10 years?

Explore Careers

Exploring careers will help you identify options in different job functions and work environments. Begin your career exploration by considering the following.

  • Seek out specifics on occupations, industries, and their occupational outlook.
  • Utilize the numerous Career Center resources, such as Ferguson's Career Guidance database, Eureka database, and library resources.
  • Spend time on internet sites with career-related information.
  • Identify skills and experiences needed for your desired career.
  • Locate companies that interest you and are seeking people with your fundamental skills and attributes.

Expanding Career Options

If you want to expand your employment opportunities, consider the following.

  • Take supplemental courses that can help better define your skills/interests in functional areas like accounting, statistics, or computer information systems.
  • Participate in internships, volunteer activities, and part-time jobs that strengthen your skills and experience.
  • Join extracurricular activities relevant to your career that complement your academic studies.
  • Begin molding yourself for an industry in which you are interested.

Interviewing With a Humanities and Social Science Degree

During an interview, you should focus on the skills and experiences that make you the best candidate for the job. Your advantage is that you possess the strengths that meet the needs of employers in a variety of job markets. The key is to convince employers that you are someone who has the coursework and skills to help them achieve their social and business responsibilities.

  • Focus on what makes your program unique.
  • Tell employers how you can think analytically and express yourself articulately.
  • Sell yourself as someone who understands human behavior, culture, history, and science.
  • Communicate the qualitative value of your curriculum.
  • Convey your ability to adapt and accept change.
  • Be prepared to give employers specific examples of how your knowledge relates to the workplace and what you can bring to the job.