Throughout college, it's not uncommon to catch yourself thinking about the future — namely, the career path you'll end up taking. You'll probably take many steps to work toward this goal, including related internships, extracurriculars, and, perhaps most importantly, selecting a major tied to the career you have in mind. However, it's important to remember that not everything goes according to plan, and you may not use your college major in the ways you expected.
But getting a job in a field that's different from your major isn't the end of the world. A recent graduation survey found that 52% of graduating respondents said they're planning on looking for jobs outside of their college majors. Taking a different path isn't just common — for some, it's desirable.
You Might Find Your Passion Outside of Your Field of Study
Even after four years studying something else, some people can't shake the "what if" idea of pursuing what they care about more deeply. "Coming from an immigrant background, I believed I had to pursue something like law to prove I was 'successful,'" Annmarie G. says. After completing her undergrad in computer information systems, she found a different calling. "I realized I had been ignoring what I actually wanted. I chose to pivot and build a career in media, where I could be creative, independent, and aligned with my values." She now works as a multimedia host, writer, and travel creator. "I had to unlearn the idea that a creative career isn't 'real' or valuable. Now, I see it as building something on my own terms."
Sometimes, students know in advance that their major won't lead to their dream job — so they find other ways to get there. "I hated my major!" says Mana Faye, who graduated with a degree in economics. "I did that major to appease my parents, and used internships to do what I actually wanted to." She now works as a writer and freelance event and project manager.
Your Major Might Lend Itself to Your Job in Unexpected Ways
You might be surprised by how transferable certain skills can be. DJ G. attended Cornell University for information science and music, but ended up becoming a social content producer. "I was expected to work in UX/UI, or front-end development, or something super techy," DJ says. "But there's a demand for creativity and having your own approach to problem-solving."
Lauryn J. majored in public relations but wasn't thrilled by that choice. "More than halfway through, I realized that I didn't like it," she says. "I stuck with my major simply because I was already a junior." She eventually found a path that made it worthwhile. "I've primarily pursued a career in journalism, copywriting, and social media management. The best part about PR is that it's slightly interchangeable with journalism and marketing."
You Might Need Some Time to Figure Out Your Next Move
Timelines are not real. There's nothing wrong with taking the time to figure things out and explore new opportunities — or at least earn some money while you decide what's next.
For Ravien B., who graduated with a mass communication degree, media opportunities were limited near where she lived. Now in retail sales, she still does content creation and reporting at events on her days off. "Overall, I just think that it's preparing me for the bigger picture in my future."