What Kind of Jobs Can You Get with A Liberal Arts Degree?

Contrary to the popular assumption that technical degrees yield the most promising careers, liberal arts degrees offer greater flexibility in career choices due to the wide application of skills one cultivates during the study of it.

Technical degrees in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields might offer more lucrative careers due to the high level of specialisation, but specialisation also tends to limit one’s career choices. In contrast, liberal arts subjects such as literature, philosophy, and social sciences teach a good balance of communication, social, historical, and scientific knowledge and skills to allow one to explore a wider range of jobs and career tracks.

So what kind of jobs can you get with a liberal arts degree? Here are six to get you started:

1. Psychologist

If you’re passionate about connecting with people and helping them overcome their mental and emotional pain, being a psychologist allows you to make a direct contribution to society while offering you the flexibility of working from home. The financial rewards tend to be quite lucrative as it’s a specialised service and one that tends to be quite emotionally draining.

2. Archaeologist

The study of historical human activity and the recovery and analysis of “material culture” is quite fascinating indeed, as it takes one back to prehistoric times and allows one to glean further insight into how our ancestors lived and the societal structure during those times. Plus, there’s the added bonus of travel involved as excavation sites tend to be in exotic places.

3. Sociologist

Sociologists typically work as social workers, counsellors, correctional officers and government consultants in social policies. It’s challenging work as it deals with issues such as health, crime, education, family, population, gender and poverty, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling to be able to make a positive difference to those who need it most.

4. PR/Communications

Well suited for those with a major in English, communication, literary and linguistic studies, Public Relations and Communications are both critical roles in corporate and government organisations. Strong communications and relationship-building skills are always in demand wherever you go.

5. Copywriter

More specialised than a Communications role, a Copywriter is even more essential in today’s competitive business environment than before. Besides strong writing skills, a good copywriter is able to speak to the audience with his or her words in text form. This is where a background in sociology adds immense value, as ultimately, communication is about understanding the audience and crafting messages that resonate with them.

6. Economist

If you love numbers and have a passion for studying and analyzing economic trends, you were born to be an economist. Skilled economists are highly sought after, as their insights are invaluable to businesses, governments and individuals. Economists are needed in a range of industries such as business, health, education, the environment, and energy.

Stand out with a Liberal Arts degree

Amish Shah, founder of Millennium Search, observes that students who apply the exploratory, liberal arts ethos to their off-campus experiences are much more likely to succeed in modern times. Shah’s advice is simple but sound: ‘Travel as much as you can. Go overseas. Get as many experiences as you can. That will not only help you figure out what you’re interested in and what’s out there, it makes you more competitive than, I played rugby, I was in a fraternity.’

Despite the increasingly rapid pace of innovation we’re witnessing and the steady demand for technical skills, ‘the next generation of workers will need to keep exploring, adapting, and broadening their experiences—something a liberal arts degree has always offered great training in’ (as cited in Fast Company).

Examples of successful liberal arts graduates include famous late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien who majored in history and literature, and Howard Schultz, Chairman and Chief Executive of Starbucks, a Communications major.

Explore your options prior to graduation

Get a head start by exploring your career options before you graduate. Be it through volunteering, part-time jobs, participating in extracurricular activities or applying for internships, each experience will be valuable.

Not only will you get to explore your interests and passions, but you’ll also be building practical skills and growing your professional network at the same time. It’s a win-win situation whichever way you look at it, so get out there and try as many different things as possible. For added insights into the career market and employment trends, check out Career Insights for the latest facts and figures.

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