Should I worry if many graduates do not enter jobs directly related to their major?
Not necessarily. Knowledge, analytical thinking, and practical experience gained through a major can be useful in different types of jobs, and career choices are also affected by a student’s preferences and the job market. However, closer examination is warranted when a program is intended to prepare students for a specific profession but few graduates enter related work, or when information and support for career decisions appear insufficient. Check official, faculty- or program-level data by graduating year, the actual nature of employers’ work, qualifications, and career support.
Key points
- Knowledge and transferable abilities from a major can be useful in jobs outside the major’s subject area.
- For programs designed for a specific profession, examine outcomes in related fields more carefully.
- Look beyond employer names to the actual work and the nature of career support.
Things to check
- Definitions of career categories and what counts as being related to a major vary by university, faculty, and year, so figures should not be compared mechanically.