| Skills and the Liberal Arts |
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"In
my opinion, a liberally educated person is still the type of
individual needed at the highest levels of corporate life.
We need people with a broad base to their educational pyramid."
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- President, Major New York Bank |
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| "A
liberal arts education is not a dead end! In this time of specialization,
many companies find themselves in short supply
of personnel who have the ability and talent to be communicators." |
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- Vice President, Large National Insurance Company |
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| The above quotations attest to the value that senior
business executives place on a liberal arts education in the world
of work today. In
recent years, the number of students receiving degrees in the liberal
arts has risen, partially due to the fact that businesses and other
organizations have a growing appreciation for a liberal arts background
as preparation for the work environment. Surveys indicate that today
organizations are hiring and promoting more liberal arts graduates
than ever before. Organizations realize that in today's fast changing
world the most valuable employees are those who can learn quickly
and communicate effectively liberal arts graduates. |
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| However, many students continue to ask the question, "What
can I do with a liberal arts major?" This is not an
easy question to answer since there are so many career fields a liberal
arts graduate
can enter. Majors such as English, history, political science,
or psychology do not directly indicate the job skills you have
to offer an employer. As a liberal arts major you need to clearly
communicate the connections between your skills and those required
by the job. Be prepared to identify the career field you want to
enter and your ability to perform specific job functions. |
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| Career Related Skills |
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| When job searching,
it is important to be able to articulate to an employer what your "transferable skills" are.
The chart on the next page lists some of the many marketable skills liberal
arts majors can acquire during their education at Brooklyn College. |
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| Adapt the chart to your own experiences and add other skills and
activities to the list. |
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| Helpful Hints |
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In addition to a broad education, many employers are also looking
for specific accomplishments and knowledge, such as:
· Exposure to business courses, such as finance and accounting;
· Exposure to quantitative courses, including computer science and mathematics;
· Internship or work experience before graduating.
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| Suggested Reading |
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The following resources can all be found in the Career
Services library, 1305 James Hall:
- Liberal Arts Jobs, Burton Jay Nadler, Peterson's Guides, 1986.
- What Can I Do With A Major In..., Lawrence Malnig, 1984.
- College Majors and Careers, Paul Phifer, 1987.
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Jobs