Being a philosophy major is something of interest to me but I often hear that it is useless when working- how do I get the most out of a philosophy class and at was school to make it worth it?

Hi Aukai,

Philosophy graduates are found working for almost every type of employer in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. They work in organisations such as the National Health Service (NHS), the Civil Service and for advertising, marketing and public relations agencies. The investment banking industry and legal sector prove popular choices, as do publishing firms, charities and recruitment agencies.

Skills for your CV
Studying philosophy helps you:

• analyse and construct sound arguments;


• distinguish fine differences between views and find common ground;


• present ideas convincingly through well-constructed, systematic arguments;


• write clearly and persuasively;


• generate ideas and come up with solutions to problems;


• be open to new ideas and ways of thinking.

For careers such as law, lecturing and teaching, further qualifications are essential. For careers such as journalism and advertising, a postgraduate qualification may be useful, but it is relevant work experience that is essential. To decide if further study is necessary you should research the career areas that interest you.

Many philosophy graduates continue with further study of their discipline, possibly with the intention of pursuing a career as a lecturer, but often due to their love of philosophy. Other graduates chose to study something vocational at postgraduate level - common areas have included law, publishing and journalism.

Here is some job examples:

• 
  

  Editorial Assistant
  Median Pay: $36,000
  The first avenue to look towards for a job-seeking philosophy major is one in which you can apply your skills at speaking and writing. Some of these opportunities might involve starting up the latter of the publishing industry as a publishing or editorial assistant for an established writer or firm. Editorial assistants are often flexible positions within a firm – they sometimes represent the company, write editorials, acts as assistants, read and edit manuscripts, and organize schedules.

  
  


• 
  

  Paralegal
  Median Pay: $38,000
  A paralegal performs legal work under the supervision of lawyers such as research and writing legal documents. These tasks are well-suited for philosophy majors, who are well-trained in writing and creating good arguments. A paralegal is also well-prepared to go on to law school and become a lawyer if interested.

  
  


• 
  

  Public Policy
  Median Pay: $57,000
  Public policy involves analyzing and solving problems that affect many people, often at the government level. Working in public policy involves policy research, communicating ideas with others, and creating arguments, as well as unraveling the arguments of others. All of these skills use the philosophy major’s ability to create and differentiate between good and bad arguments, along with research and writing skills.

  
  


• 
  

  Non-Profit
  Median Pay: $47,000
  The non-profit sector involves working for a cause, which can be anything, including education, hunger, the arts, or the environment. Working for a non-profit can involve outreach, communications, program development, or volunteer coordination. Philosophy majors interested in ethics and social or political philosophy get to put their writing and speaking skills to good use at a non-profit.

  
  

Other Possible Career Paths for Philosophy Majors:

Blogging
Journalism
Public Relations, Advertising, and Marketing
Copywriting, Technical Writing, Grant Writing

Things a Philosophy Major Should Learn and Do to Prepare:

If your strongest skills are those of writing and editing, it’s a good idea to start to create an online presence for yourself. A simple blog can, and increasingly is, a substitute for or facet of your online portfolio as a writer. When applying for jobs that require writing, employers are going to want to see some examples of what you can do, period. A foundation of writing samples and continued work on a blog site show dedication, applied writing, and your ability to create content for an audience other than yourself, if informally.

More detailed information in:

http://www.onedayonejob.com/majors/philosophy/
https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/philosophy

Best of luck!!

Hello Aukai,

I'm posting two links for you. One is for an article from Forbes magazine about successful business people that were philosophy majors: http://www.businessinsider.com/successful-philosophy-majors-2014-1#former-hp-ceo-carly-fiorina-was-a-medieval-history-and-philosophy-major-at-stanford-university-1

The second link is a HUGE list of possible careers that you can explore as a philosophy major - scroll all the way to the bottom as it has additional linked resources and information for you: http://whatcanidowiththismajor.com/major/philosophy/

Do what interests you in college - you still have time to change your major if you don't like it!

Good luck!

Christina

I think Philosophy is a great major because it teaches you how to evaluate information from different perspectives as well as how to logically analyze an point of view. The skills that you learn from Philosophy can help you in any job after college. If it is a subject you are interested in, trust your instincts and go for it!

Several people I know have majored in Philosophy but they also had another major (double major) that was more "practical" like economics, or politics or business. The double major allowed them to study what they wanted and land good jobs after college too. Many of them used the Philosophy major + other major to get into law school or business school afterwards.

College is a time to explore and try out different classes... Don't worry so much about the work... If you are doing something you love, the work will definitely come!