What career path would you recommend for a humanities major?

[Anonymous]

This topic always generates so many stupid comments and people who mistake snark for wit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This topic always generates so many stupid comments and people who mistake snark for wit.

Seriously. My firm hires humanities majors all the time--French majors, history majors, philosophy majors, Russian lit majors. We want people who know how to think, reason, and communicate effectively. That's what I learned with my double(!) humanities major--and what I refined when I went back and got a graduate degree in literature. My career and salary have steadily progressed since I graduated in the mid-90s, and my current salary is the same as my husband's when he was counsel at a law firm.

Humanities majors have to write long, well-constructed, and confidently argued papers; they have to participate confidently in class discussions about complex topics. They hone skills that are valued in consulting, marketing, communications, and web strategy. Do you think Google is just a bunch of CS majors pumping out lines of code?

OP, I don't know what your major is, but if you're a good writer, I'd look for editorial jobs--web editor/producer, proposal writer, corporate communications copywriter, etc. Start there, learn a lot, then look for the next interesting thing. Build skills and look for new ways to apply them. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This topic always generates so many stupid comments and people who mistake snark for wit.

Seriously. My firm hires humanities majors all the time--French majors, history majors, philosophy majors, Russian lit majors. We want people who know how to think, reason, and communicate effectively. That's what I learned with my double(!) humanities major--and what I refined when I went back and got a graduate degree in literature. My career and salary have steadily progressed since I graduated in the mid-90s, and my current salary is the same as my husband's when he was counsel at a law firm.

Humanities majors have to write long, well-constructed, and confidently argued papers; they have to particulates confidently in class discussions about complex topics. They hone skills that are valued in consulting, marketing, communications, and web strategy. Do you think Google is just a bunch of CS majors pumping out lines of code?

OP, I don't know what your major is, but if you're a good writer, I'd look for editorial jobs--web editor/producer, proposal writer, corporate communications copywriter, etc. Start there, learn a lot, then look for the next interesting thing. Build skills and look for new ways to apply them. Good luck!

Google doesn't employ many humanities majors. Only major in humanities if you attend a top school or have parents who know people and can get you a job after school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This topic always generates so many stupid comments and people who mistake snark for wit.

Seriously. My firm hires humanities majors all the time--French majors, history majors, philosophy majors, Russian lit majors. We want people who know how to think, reason, and communicate effectively. That's what I learned with my double(!) humanities major--and what I refined when I went back and got a graduate degree in literature. My career and salary have steadily progressed since I graduated in the mid-90s, and my current salary is the same as my husband's when he was counsel at a law firm.

Humanities majors have to write long, well-constructed, and confidently argued papers; they have to particulates confidently in class discussions about complex topics. They hone skills that are valued in consulting, marketing, communications, and web strategy. Do you think Google is just a bunch of CS majors pumping out lines of code?

OP, I don't know what your major is, but if you're a good writer, I'd look for editorial jobs--web editor/producer, proposal writer, corporate communications copywriter, etc. Start there, learn a lot, then look for the next interesting thing. Build skills and look for new ways to apply them. Good luck!

Google doesn't employ many humanities majors. Only major in humanities if you attend a top school or have parents who know people and can get you a job after school

You say it like everyone strives to work for google.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
This topic always generates so many stupid comments and people who mistake snark for wit.


Seriously. My firm hires humanities majors all the time--French majors, history majors, philosophy majors, Russian lit majors. We want people who know how to think, reason, and communicate effectively. That's what I learned with my double(!) humanities major--and what I refined when I went back and got a graduate degree in literature. My career and salary have steadily progressed since I graduated in the mid-90s, and my current salary is the same as my husband's when he was counsel at a law firm.

Humanities majors have to write long, well-constructed, and confidently argued papers; they have to particulates confidently in class discussions about complex topics. They hone skills that are valued in consulting, marketing, communications, and web strategy. Do you think Google is just a bunch of CS majors pumping out lines of code?

OP, I don't know what your major is, but if you're a good writer, I'd look for editorial jobs--web editor/producer, proposal writer, corporate communications copywriter, etc. Start there, learn a lot, then look for the next interesting thing. Build skills and look for new ways to apply them. Good luck!


Google doesn't employ many humanities majors. Only major in humanities if you attend a top school or have parents who know people and can get you a job after school

Clearly, you have no clue about Google's employment practices.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't know what your major is, but if you're a good writer, I'd look for editorial jobs--web editor/producer, proposal writer, corporate communications copywriter, etc. Start there, learn a lot, then look for the next interesting thing. Build skills and look for new ways to apply them. Good luck!

+1

There will always be a need for people who can write well. Also consider public relations and lobbying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This topic always generates so many stupid comments and people who mistake snark for wit.

Seriously. My firm hires humanities majors all the time--French majors, history majors, philosophy majors, Russian lit majors. We want people who know how to think, reason, and communicate effectively. That's what I learned with my double(!) humanities major--and what I refined when I went back and got a graduate degree in literature. My career and salary have steadily progressed since I graduated in the mid-90s, and my current salary is the same as my husband's when he was counsel at a law firm.

Humanities majors have to write long, well-constructed, and confidently argued papers; they have to participate confidently in class discussions about complex topics. They hone skills that are valued in consulting, marketing, communications, and web strategy. Do you think Google is just a bunch of CS majors pumping out lines of code?

OP, I don't know what your major is, but if you're a good writer, I'd look for editorial jobs--web editor/producer, proposal writer, corporate communications copywriter, etc. Start there, learn a lot, then look for the next interesting thing. Build skills and look for new ways to apply them. Good luck!

Agree with this. The problem with majoring in the humanities is not that you don't have the skills to get hired, it's that you have to figure out what it is you want to do which means networking and doing informational interviewing while you're in college.

[Anonymous]

It truly depends on what you want to do. I've known since jr. high I wanted to work in something related to gov't. I have an undergrad and grad degree in poli-sci. I spent 12 years in gov't and now I am a lobbyist for a Fortune 500 making in excess of $500k per year. I went to "fair" schools and my parents didn't find me a job, in fact I started out at $18k answering the phone in a Senate office. I managed to be successful because I was willing to work really hard and make a lot of sacrifices to put my career first. My life certainly isn't for everyone-I travel a ton-but you can succeed with a humanities major without a trust fund. I have a number of friends who are in similar situations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This topic always generates so many stupid comments and people who mistake snark for wit.

Seriously. My firm hires humanities majors all the time--French majors, history majors, philosophy majors, Russian lit majors. We want people who know how to think, reason, and communicate effectively. That's what I learned with my double(!) humanities major--and what I refined when I went back and got a graduate degree in literature. My career and salary have steadily progressed since I graduated in the mid-90s, and my current salary is the same as my husband's when he was counsel at a law firm.

Humanities majors have to write long, well-constructed, and confidently argued papers; they have to participate confidently in class discussions about complex topics. They hone skills that are valued in consulting, marketing, communications, and web strategy. Do you think Google is just a bunch of CS majors pumping out lines of code?

OP, I don't know what your major is, but if you're a good writer, I'd look for editorial jobs--web editor/producer, proposal writer, corporate communications copywriter, etc. Start there, learn a lot, then look for the next interesting thing. Build skills and look for new ways to apply them. Good luck!

I agree with this. Humanities majors have so many options and can often be far more interesting and well-rounded candidates with different perspectives than the same ol' business major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This topic always generates so many stupid comments and people who mistake snark for wit.

Seriously. My firm hires humanities majors all the time--French majors, history majors, philosophy majors, Russian lit majors. We want people who know how to think, reason, and communicate effectively. That's what I learned with my double(!) humanities major--and what I refined when I went back and got a graduate degree in literature. My career and salary have steadily progressed since I graduated in the mid-90s, and my current salary is the same as my husband's when he was counsel at a law firm.

Humanities majors have to write long, well-constructed, and confidently argued papers; they have to participate confidently in class discussions about complex topics. They hone skills that are valued in consulting, marketing, communications, and web strategy. Do you think Google is just a bunch of CS majors pumping out lines of code?

OP, I don't know what your major is, but if you're a good writer, I'd look for editorial jobs--web editor/producer, proposal writer, corporate communications copywriter, etc. Start there, learn a lot, then look for the next interesting thing. Build skills and look for new ways to apply them. Good luck!

I am sure your firm does hire them, depending completely on what school they went to and nothing to do with the major. Outside of attending a top school, and even then, a humanities major should plan on grad school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:law will come back in few year... how about teaching?

People, law is not "coming back." Law has changed forever.

[Anonymous]

What do humanities majors study?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anything dealing with old people. The elderly population is about to skyrocket.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This topic always generates so many stupid comments and people who mistake snark for wit.

Seriously. My firm hires humanities majors all the time--French majors, history majors, philosophy majors, Russian lit majors. We want people who know how to think, reason, and communicate effectively. That's what I learned with my double(!) humanities major--and what I refined when I went back and got a graduate degree in literature. My career and salary have steadily progressed since I graduated in the mid-90s, and my current salary is the same as my husband's when he was counsel at a law firm.

Humanities majors have to write long, well-constructed, and confidently argued papers; they have to participate confidently in class discussions about complex topics. They hone skills that are valued in consulting, marketing, communications, and web strategy. Do you think Google is just a bunch of CS majors pumping out lines of code?

OP, I don't know what your major is, but if you're a good writer, I'd look for editorial jobs--web editor/producer, proposal writer, corporate communications copywriter, etc. Start there, learn a lot, then look for the next interesting thing. Build skills and look for new ways to apply them. Good luck!

I am sure your firm does hire them, depending completely on what school they went to and nothing to do with the major. Outside of attending a top school, and even then, a humanities major should plan on grad school.

Nope. We want to see a strong academic record, excellent communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and strong performance on the editorial and analytical reasoning exercises we have them complete as part of the interview process.

I oversee two departments of about 50 people total. I'd say that 75% of our hires in the last two years have been from non-"top-tier" schools. But they all had great records, and they all have humanities degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This topic always generates so many stupid comments and people who mistake snark for wit.

Seriously. My firm hires humanities majors all the time--French majors, history majors, philosophy majors, Russian lit majors. We want people who know how to think, reason, and communicate effectively. That's what I learned with my double(!) humanities major--and what I refined when I went back and got a graduate degree in literature. My career and salary have steadily progressed since I graduated in the mid-90s, and my current salary is the same as my husband's when he was counsel at a law firm.

Humanities majors have to write long, well-constructed, and confidently argued papers; they have to participate confidently in class discussions about complex topics. They hone skills that are valued in consulting, marketing, communications, and web strategy. Do you think Google is just a bunch of CS majors pumping out lines of code?

OP, I don't know what your major is, but if you're a good writer, I'd look for editorial jobs--web editor/producer, proposal writer, corporate communications copywriter, etc. Start there, learn a lot, then look for the next interesting thing. Build skills and look for new ways to apply them. Good luck!

I am sure your firm does hire them, depending completely on what school they went to and nothing to do with the major. Outside of attending a top school, and even then, a humanities major should plan on grad school.

Nope. We want to see a strong academic record, excellent communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and strong performance on the editorial and analytical reasoning exercises we have them complete as part of the interview process.

I oversee two departments of about 50 people total. I'd say that 75% of our hires in the last two years have been from non-"top-tier" schools. But they all had great records, and they all have humanities degrees.

+1 We hire on this basis too.

My niece is 2.5 years out of college, working for a news service. she has changed jobs once and makes $80K/year now. Not bad for a 24yo Philosophy major.