Meet Jess. Jess is working toward a major in comparative literature (French/philosophy) with a minor in theater and art history. Jess asks herself, "Which employers are seeking comp lit majors with minors in theater and art history? Is there some sort of list available in Career Services?"
Meet Bill. His hiring organization is seeking skill sets, specifically strong communication and time management skills, the ability to work well independently and as part of a team, and solid quantitative skills. He is posting entry-level job opportunities at Dartmouth because he is convinced, as an alum, that Dartmouth undergraduates possess these skills in abundance. However, what he needs, before he can make a job or even an interview offer, is evidence.
Will Bill and Jess ever meet? Is there a vocational marriage in their future? Will Shonda Rhimes see the potential here for an Emmy award-winning television show? Unfortunately, we may never know the answers to these questions because Jess will never even make her talents known to Bill. In Jess' myopic world view, her major totally defines her career options. "What do comp lit majors with minors in theater and art history do after graduation?" is how Jess frames the question instead of asking, "What can I do with strong communication and time management skills, the ability to work well independently and as part of a team, and solid quantitative skills?" combined with a wide range of interests including a passion for writing and the arts.
The point is: Don't change your major just to accommodate employers, but do change your attitude about your major. It is meant to be liberating and empowering, not a vocational straitjacket. Employers seek skills. If they can't find the skills they are seeking in your major or minor, they will look elsewhere: at your internships, your extracurricular activities, your leadership roles and community service. Your major at Dartmouth is not meant to constrain or totally define your career choices. It is meant to offer you a satisfying intellectual experience and a solid foundation for future endeavors.
That's all well and good, I hear you say, but your advice doesn't sound very practical. Didn't I see a May 2006 CollegeGrad.com survey, "What Top Entry-Level Employers Want Most?" in which 37 percent of employers ranked a student's major as "the top priority for hiring consideration"? Of course, but the employers quoted in the article, such as Lockheed Martin, are often specifically looking for technical degrees and skill sets. The article goes on to say, "While many positions require a more specific major or skill set, other positions are open to a variety of majors." One top entry-level recruiter insists, "We look for a well rounded background that includes experience and activities that build leadership, communication, customer service and business skills. A candidate's ability to transfer their experience into examples during the interview is ultimately going to increase their success in landing a position."
As Jess indulges her academic passion for French, philosophy, theater and art history and continues to take full advantage of the intellectual opportunities that Dartmouth bountifully offers, she should keep looking for other ways in addition to her major and minor to expand her skill sets. Look for inspiration at "Alumni Stories" on the Career Services web page. The site currently features "Event Planning Career Worthy Of An Oscar," which describes how Ellen Harrington '85 became an exhibition curator and special events programmer for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. A modified fine arts and comp lit major during her time at Dartmouth, Ellen advises current undergraduates to "embrace the unlimited scope of opportunities rather than feeling anxious about an uncertain future, and don't compromise until you can't pay the rent." Amen.
