Remember how excited you were when you landed your first job? Whether it meant scooping ice cream, waiting tables or hawking retail, everyone can identify. Even so, people go to college to escape from these name-tag jobs. The big question after graduation, especially if you’re in the liberal arts, is what can you do with your degree? What can’t you do is more like it.
With a little over three months left on the shot-clock until graduation, some seniors may be wondering if they will be making a return as baggers at the local Piggly-Wiggly. Most students have probably spent more time complaining about Barone cuisine than they have thought about their future. This is it, next stop mom and dad’s finished basement.
Some liberal arts majors may fear that their major will limit their career choices. Wrong. Now you’re thinking like a business student. Liberal arts students are supposed to be open-minded. While business students tend to have more focus and job contacts as a result of starting their major courses early in their college careers, liberal arts students should not think that they will be blacklisted because of their chosen interests.
Michael Dalton, Director of the Career Planning Center, explained the appeal of a Fairfield education. Dalton noted that recruiting companies appreciate the “Fairfield experience,” recognize the “accomplishments of students” and realize that Stags are “part of a community.” Who knew? The CPC has so many great resources-career panels are offered and there are counselors to help tweak a resume or polish interviewing techniques. It does everything short of handing you your first paycheck.
The post-graduation report of 2003 Fairfield grads reveals that their average salary is $39,027. Personally, I’d rather have my parents direct-deposit Fairfield payments into my bank account to jump start my own career, but I guess I should have stayed a marketing major because I have yet to convince them.
Case in point, while at Harvard Conan O’Brien majored in Literature and U.S. History. No wonder he’s so funny-he had to amuse himself to keep awake. The witty Jon Stewart majored in psychology at the College of William and Mary. Can you imagine “Dr.” Jon Stewart as your shrink? He’d have endless material for his show. Is there a correlation between liberal arts and late-night TV success? Hope so!
No one can expect to land a job overnight. You can and should do whatever you want to do. A few suggestions: design the next Vera Bradley pattern, apply to be in season two of “The Apprentice,” look for the weapons of mass destruction, but just don’t let 10 courses in a specific field determine your life.
Leave a Reply