“Oh you’re a Liberal Arts major? So, what are you going to do with that?”
Good question!
Prior to graduating last May, I was facing bombardment at every family get-together, every small talk at the grocery store, and every first impression about what I was going to do after college. I’ve always had a dream of becoming an author, but what do I do now to support myself? What fields would a Liberal Arts major like me even fit into?
Since losing my first “big girl” job in October due to company budget cuts, I’ve once again been thrown into the world of uncertainty. I dedicate most of my days to polishing my resume and portfolio website, applying for jobs, networking, etc. As a result, I feel equipped to share some of my insights with you to hopefully give you confidence as you enter the “real world.”
Creating a resume
Many employers now use ATS (applicant tracking system) to review their applications for them. As a result, we now need to ensure our resumes are not being incorrectly thrown out by the AI. There are templates online that you can simply plug your information into. Be sure to include your education (with an anticipated graduation date), experience, skills, certifications, etc. The Career Center at the Mount is also a great resource to help with this.
Promoting yourself
Even for my non-creatives, I strongly recommend some sort of portfolio or collection of work you can submit alongside your resume and/or cover letter. This could consist of projects or papers you’ve done for classes, anything you’ve created that’s been published, etc. For myself, I’ve uploaded the best of my work to a website I designed using Wix. Other softwares like Squarespace or Webflow are also strong options.
On my website, the home page offers a brief summary of myself with a link to download my resume, as well as a space to contact me using the Wix platform. The main page is dedicated to my portfolio, which I’ve separated into categories based on the type of work. Make this as complex or simple as you’d like. Whatever works for you is the best choice.
Finding positions
In our current climate, even finding open applications can be daunting. A few databases in particular have stood out over the course of my job hunt.
1. Hiring Cafe. This database compiles applications from all over the internet. The interface is easy to view multiple positions at once, and allows you to save your past searches. From their website, the developers “decided to build a job site that we would want to use ourselves. A job site that delivers near-perfect search results, has super advanced search filters, and is free of scams.”
2. ZipRecruiter. The “1-Click Apply” feature here makes it easy to send out many applications in very little time. Simply create a profile and upload your most updated resume, and you’re good to go. If you sign up for their emails too, they’ll recommend postings to you based on your history.
I also recommend some sort of system of keeping track of your applications. Record the company, title, date you applied, and where you found the position. That way, if several weeks have passed by with no response, you can either follow up or cross the position of your list.
Your niche
The Liberal Arts curriculum at the Mount teaches us skills that make us better students in the classroom and better humans in the world. Our literature classes teach us to embrace our inner creativity. Our history classes teach us to learn from and be inspired by the past. Our philosophy classes teach us to think broader, to open our minds to new ideas. Our religion classes teach us to find the commonality in those different from us. As a result, there are many fields where we can fit our skills.
I can’t tell you what or what not to pursue. Nevertheless, here are some positions and titles to consider as you’re finding your niche:
- Copywriter. We’re trained to read comprehensively and have a strong eye for error.
- Market/Financial Analyst. We recognize patterns and can predict what may come next.
- Archivist/Historian. We have a passion for preserving history and educating others.
- Researcher. We’re familiar with the research process (thanks to our many papers).
- Data Entry/Reviewer. We can study complex reading or data and make it digestible.
Keeping the faith
At the time of writing, I can’t give you a satisfying ending to my own job search story. I’m still searching and waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.
No matter how many applications you send, interviews you have, or rejections you get, do not forget this:
You are worthy. You are capable. And you will find your way.