What is a major that I'd be able to use in any part of the world?
I am currently going into my Junior year of college and I am kind of undecided with regards to what I want to major in. Due to some circumstances, I don't know how long I will be able to reside within the United States. I want to graduate before that decision has to be made, but I want to major in something that I could continue pursuing in any part of the world, just in case I have to move. Any kind of input would be highly appreciated. Thank You!
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3 answers
Ken’s Answer
Very interesting question. Many career areas can be used universally anywhere in the world. The important task for you is to find that one that best fits your personality traits and interests. Let's say that you wanted to buy rubber boots, which can be used anywhere in the world. Would you just go to the shoe store and pick up a pair without trying them on and walk out of the store hoping that they will fit? Probably not, unless you could stand to have foot problems from ill fitting boots. The same situation goes for careers, many of which can be used anywhere in the world. However, it is important for you to determine which "fits" best for you. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I encountered too many people who had studied the wrong majors and did not like the practical application of which they had studied, as they had not done the proper process to determine if the career area "fit" them. From my experience, I offer the following suggestions, which may help to answer you question.
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Bryan’s Answer
I would expect the current shortage of technical workers to continue. Computer-related jobs will be around for a long time, much of the work can be done remotely, and you'll always be able to find a job. Different majors can vary from the more business-oriented CIS or MIS degrees, to programming and software development focus of CS or a more engineering-related Computer Engineering degree is also an option.
Businesses operate in every country in the world. A basic business degree would likely be useful no matter where you live. It's not my area, but you don't have to get an MBA. If you are looking for transferable skills you could try for a degree in Business or Finance without too much focus on U.S. specific rules and regulations and find coursework that'll apply in other countries.
Writing will benefit you in every field, and writing clearly in English can open doors for lots of different jobs. Making a career out of being an author is out of reach for most of us, but being able to express yourself clearly in writing will benefit you in every job.
Social skills are something that are just as important as technical or knowledge-related ability. There are a lot of complex problems and very large organizations in the world. Being able to work on a team to solve a problem is probably the most valuable skill you can learn if you intend to work for a company of any size. Find ways to learn to work together with people to solve even simple tasks and remember to 'work friendly' even if it is difficult. That will open many doors for you.
Good luck and best wishes, wherever you may be in the world.
Bryan recommends the following next steps:
Wayne’s Answer
Antonio, the responses given here are excellent, however it appears you may be asking a different question than what we are attempting to answer. It sounds like you are looking for a degree that will command respect with potential employers in the country you expect to be going to if your fears come to pass and you have to leave the US. It sounds like you feel that some degrees will better enable you to get a job than other degrees.
To a certain extent this is correct. If you have a degree in accounting but try to apply for a job as a Dr, then yes, the degree matters and would not be accepted as a valid degree for that role. However, that same degree would be looked on with favor if applying for an accountant position. The degree matters most when applying for jobs that require a specialized skill set. Many other employers look for a degree, but they really don't care about the major. The important thing is that the degree shows your ability to stick with something and complete it as well as a willingness to learn. Many companies in my experience can train a person to do the job the way the company wants it done but they need someone who is willing to put in the time and effort to do it so they look for the degree.
For example: I got my degree in Animal Science with a minor in Math. That degree helped me get several jobs including: Meat Market manager, Food sales, Food distribution operations manager, Dry goods warehouse supervisor, Food manufacturing quality control manager, Furniture laminate manufacturing research & development and currently high tech manufacturing inventory control manager.
The important thing is to pick something you like to do (I enjoy working with animals), get a degree in that area so you know you will be happy with a career in that field, and then begin your career which is a journey and not a destination. It may (as it did in my case) lead you through several career categories but each experience gained was valuable for the next step in the journey.
If I were to add to the list of items to check out in the other responses, it would be to look at the area you expect to be going to and do some research there as well. Who are the employers? What jobs are available in the area you are interested in? How can you build a skill set that will bring value to the prospective company?
Take that information with you to the advisers and others you meet as you continue your research. Always remember that it is you who will be "stuck" with the job so it is better to be stuck with something you like rather than some "job" where you draw a paycheck. If you are unsure of what you like, look at what you do in your spare time now. Are they outdoor activities or inside? Are they helping others or solving puzzles? These are clues you can use since someone who loves to be outdoors exploring new things would most likely be very unhappy in a job working in a cube looking at numbers all day.
I would also recommend getting the Strengths Finder 2.0 book from the bookstore or online and taking the survey in it. That will help you filter out what your strengths are and when you talk to others, it will help lead the discussions.
Good luck in whatever your choose to pursue.
Wayne recommends the following next steps: