Your Major Might Not Matter Much to Employers

If you are a recent or soon-to-be college graduate, you know how valuable your diploma will be in the workplace. There are lots of statistics about how much a college degree can increase someone’s lifetime earnings. And these days it’s often nearly impossible to get an employer’s attention without a degree. But while the degree is important to employers, does your college major really matter?

Obviously that depends on your specific major and professional field. Certain fields do tend to require specific academic backgrounds. But for the general workplace, experts and employers are increasingly saying the major doesn’t matter as much as it did in the past.

As this article says, employers are now often focusing more on your skills, talents and abilities when deciding whether you’d be a good fit for their needs.

Both recent and not-so-recent college grads often switch jobs—and entire career fields—several times, so it is becoming very common for someone to end up working in a field that is far removed from what they studied in college. And employers are recognizing this fact. Many companies will be more concerned with your practical skills, and what you can bring to the table as far as your abilities and hands-on experience.

This is why it’s very important to emphasize your skills, technical abilities and work experience. If you don’t have much work experience, highlight any training you’ve had with computers programs or equipment, as that may give you an edge over older candidates who have more work experience but may lack tech skills.

Do you think your major matters to employers? Share thoughts in the comments.

Image courtesy of HansOnExperience