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Was it hard to find a job after college that fit with your major?
Also wondering where you looked to find a job that fit your major? Did your major have a program that fed into a job like an internship? #Spring25
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Vikas’s Answer
I pursued Communications Management during my post graduation. My inclination was always towards getting into a field that involved creative writing. I graduated in 2013. We did have advertising firms visit our college for student placements, but I wasn't too keen as I had worked as a Client Servicing Intern after my first year and wasn't a big fan of the lack of discipline and work-life balance that plagues the advertising industry. I hear that not much has changed since. Anyway, the placement I could secure through college was in a Market Research Firm, which had nothing to do with creative writing. I had to take up the job because I was living in a different city, it wasn't my hometown, and I had to pay my rent and bills. But I always kept my passion for creative writing alive by reading and writing. Through the years, I gradually moved towards job opportunities and freelance projects that involved writing and ideation. I became an SEO analyst, then an entertainment writer, a copywriter, a technical writer and kept on writing for movie websites, lingerie brands, student short film scripts, my Instagram, poetry, prose etc. Fast forward to the present, I am a Communications Manager at one of the biggest BUs under HP Inc. and doing what I love.
What I am trying to tell you through this long-winded answer is that when you are about to graduate, you may or may not find a job opportunity that aligns with your college major or true calling. But that shouldn't adversely affect your drive and passion to achieve it. Have patience and keep working towards it. Every effort - big or small, wonderful or trashy - counts. It will take you closer to the work you want to do. Keep looking for opportunities, appear for interviews, improve your skills, and accept your failures. One day, it will all come through.
What I am trying to tell you through this long-winded answer is that when you are about to graduate, you may or may not find a job opportunity that aligns with your college major or true calling. But that shouldn't adversely affect your drive and passion to achieve it. Have patience and keep working towards it. Every effort - big or small, wonderful or trashy - counts. It will take you closer to the work you want to do. Keep looking for opportunities, appear for interviews, improve your skills, and accept your failures. One day, it will all come through.
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Jason’s Answer
Hey Kiriana,
Great question. So it really depends on the school. Some schools are target schools for different programs and career paths. So employers will be very in tune with the students and staff to help provide opportunities like internships and full time employment post graduation. Others might not be as connected. None the less there are often a variety of college hire programs in many fields that are created by employers to attract new college grads. These programs can be competitive and some also have feeder internships you can apply for while in school. So look for the top employers in your field and see if they have them. Also your campus career center can likely help you in this search and preparation.
Great question. So it really depends on the school. Some schools are target schools for different programs and career paths. So employers will be very in tune with the students and staff to help provide opportunities like internships and full time employment post graduation. Others might not be as connected. None the less there are often a variety of college hire programs in many fields that are created by employers to attract new college grads. These programs can be competitive and some also have feeder internships you can apply for while in school. So look for the top employers in your field and see if they have them. Also your campus career center can likely help you in this search and preparation.
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Kiriana, please understand that after completing my undergraduate degree in accounting, transitioning into the management consulting field required a strategic approach, given that my undergraduate education wasn’t directly aligned with my current career path. However, leveraging my advanced academic credentials, including my Master’s and MBA degrees, positioned me to pivot successfully. While my accounting background provided a solid foundation in financial analysis, the skills I gained through my graduate programs, such as strategic thinking, leadership, and problem-solving, were instrumental in navigating the transition into consulting. My MBA experience, in particular, provided exposure to broader business concepts, such as operations, marketing, and corporate strategy, all of which are critical in the management consulting space.
Finding a job that aligned with my career goals involved a multifaceted approach. Initially, I relied heavily on networking and connecting with industry professionals, utilizing platforms like LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com to build relationships with people already working in consulting. Participating in professional associations such as the Consulting Club at my business school and attending career fairs organized by my university also proved invaluable for learning about job opportunities and building connections with potential employers. I also looked for consulting roles through specialized job boards like Indeed - https://www.indeed.com and Glassdoor - https://www.glassdoor.com, which provided a wide range of opportunities across various consulting firms.
Additionally, Kiriana, my graduate programs played a critical role in facilitating this transition. Many business schools, including those offering MBA programs, have strong relationships with top-tier firms that actively recruit from their pool of graduates. These schools often host on-campus recruitment events, career counseling services, and specialized consulting networking opportunities, which directly feed into job openings and internships. For example, my MBA program provided exclusive access to internship opportunities with leading consulting firms, which allowed me to gain relevant experience that later proved essential in securing a full-time position. Websites such as Poets&Quants - https://poetsandquants.com offer insights into the top MBA programs with strong consulting placement records, which can be helpful for those looking to explore this path.
Ultimately, Kiriana, the process of finding a job that fit my aspirations was challenging but rewarding. The key was leveraging my education, internships, networking opportunities, and strategic job search methods to land a role that aligned with my long-term career goals. If you’re aiming for a career shift like mine, tapping into your graduate school’s resources, and utilizing online job platforms, can significantly enhance your chances of success.
Finding a job that aligned with my career goals involved a multifaceted approach. Initially, I relied heavily on networking and connecting with industry professionals, utilizing platforms like LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com to build relationships with people already working in consulting. Participating in professional associations such as the Consulting Club at my business school and attending career fairs organized by my university also proved invaluable for learning about job opportunities and building connections with potential employers. I also looked for consulting roles through specialized job boards like Indeed - https://www.indeed.com and Glassdoor - https://www.glassdoor.com, which provided a wide range of opportunities across various consulting firms.
Additionally, Kiriana, my graduate programs played a critical role in facilitating this transition. Many business schools, including those offering MBA programs, have strong relationships with top-tier firms that actively recruit from their pool of graduates. These schools often host on-campus recruitment events, career counseling services, and specialized consulting networking opportunities, which directly feed into job openings and internships. For example, my MBA program provided exclusive access to internship opportunities with leading consulting firms, which allowed me to gain relevant experience that later proved essential in securing a full-time position. Websites such as Poets&Quants - https://poetsandquants.com offer insights into the top MBA programs with strong consulting placement records, which can be helpful for those looking to explore this path.
Ultimately, Kiriana, the process of finding a job that fit my aspirations was challenging but rewarding. The key was leveraging my education, internships, networking opportunities, and strategic job search methods to land a role that aligned with my long-term career goals. If you’re aiming for a career shift like mine, tapping into your graduate school’s resources, and utilizing online job platforms, can significantly enhance your chances of success.