How Does Your Degree Subject Impact Your Job Prospects
At university, there are more subjects to study than you can keep track of, each potentially leading you down a different road in life. This can often make it difficult to see the specific job prospects of each, and it is fair to say that some subjects do have more than others.
That being said, there are multiple factors to consider when looking at the job prospects of each degree subject, and many people end up in disciplines unrelated to their degree. As such, here is a look at how degree subject impacts job prospects.
The Degree
The degree you choose to study does, at least in part, have an impact on your job prospects. Those studying subjects which are in high demand by employers will undoubtedly find it a little easier to find a job in a field related to their degree than those studying other degrees.
Jobs in fields relating to medicine, engineering and sciences tend to have higher salaries and a higher demand for employees compared to jobs in other fields, so it may at first seem as though there is a clear hierarchy in terms of degree subjects and job prospects.
Degree Vs. Experience
That being said, it is widely accepted that experience is incredibly helpful/important when looking for a job. A degree does teach foundational skills for particular fields, but many students now undertake a placement in a particular industry as part of their course in order to gain the experience employers are after.
It is also worth noting that many students go into a field which is completely unrelated to their degree once they graduate, so nothing is clear cut.
Transferrable Skills
Courses like English Literature do not necessarily offer a clear career path after graduation, but they do require a lot of hard work and dedication all the same. As such, they set you up with transferrable skills which can be easily advertised through websites like CV Library and other similar job related websites.
These transferrable skills (such as oral and written communication, analysis, critical thinking etc.) can easily be applied to many different job fields, meaning that the degree itself may be less important (in terms of job prospects) than the skills it teaches.
Ultimately, the degree you choose to study will likely have at least some impact on your career path, but it is unlikely that you will be forced into a particular career once you graduate. Whilst the degree will certainly give you an advantage in the field it relates to, getting experience in any given field, even if it is totally unrelated to your degree, will likely have a greater impact on your job prospects.
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