Some careers—nursing, for example—require specific majors and degrees, but most careers are open to a wide variety of college majors. Urban planning, for example, is a career path available to political science, history, economics, and architecture majors, among others.
While 80% of students think that their college major is an important factor in whether or not they will be hired, it turns out that only 50% of employers bother to list majors in their job postings. What do hiring managers and recruiters want instead?
- Communication skills. On your resume, list those instances when your communication skills played a major role, whether at college, a volunteer position, or a job. For example, if you make a presentation at school or if you contributed to an effort to raise money for a cause by talking or writing to potential donors, make sure you mention that effort in your resume.
- Ability to think critically. Critical thinking skills involve the ability to analyze information and make decisions. When you evaluate the materials you need for a job, compile and analyze customer feedback forms, or decide what steps to take to reach a goal, you are exhibiting critical thinking skills. Include in your resume a description of times when you had to evaluate and make a decision based on the information you or someone else gathered.
- Ability to work on a team. While this seems self-explanatory, as a college student, you may not recognize all the times you work collaboratively with others. Interdisciplinary projects, participation in sports or study groups, and mentoring of other students are all examples of a team effort.
You will want to demonstrate these skills during the interview as well as in your resume by asking thoughtful questions. Researching the companies you apply to is vital in part because the research enables you to ask thoughtful questions, show that you recognize where your role might fit in the organization, and identify what a company values in its employees.
Your college major is only one of the strengths you bring to your resume. Contact Robin’s Resumes®, and we will help make sure that your resume demonstrates your communication, critical thinking, and teamwork skills to hiring managers and recruiters.