What Happens When Your College Degree Differs From Your Career Goals?

UChic Career Corner

Career decisions loom for all college women, the only question is how does one sort through the maze of choices and dilemmas? Never fear! UChic is here to remedy whatever next-step decisions you face! Read on and to find out how Ursula UChic turns a would-be career crisis into glowing opportunity.

The Dilemma
Meet Ursula UChic. Ursula is looking at her final semester, ready to graduate with a degree in finance. Only Ursula has a problem – lately, she’s not sure she wants to go into finance. In fact, ever since she did that internship in the finance department of a hospital, she’s been thinking a lot about social work. She wants to help people. But she’s so close to graduating! And staying for another couple of years is not an option!

What’s Ursula to do???

The Solution
UChic ladies, if you see a little of yourself in Ursula, you are not alone. Like “cold feet” before a wedding, feeling jittery before a big life step can either be nerves or your gut trying desperately to override your brain. What do you do when you’re so close to finishing your degree, but it won’t take you where you want to go anymore?

Crunch the Numbers
Is changing your major really impossible? Before you nod yes, check in with an undergrad adviser. You’re a senior – you’re probably burning through elective credits. You may have already taken key introductory courses toward your potential new major. Check to be sure: you might only need one additional semester of work to change tracks. That might be money well spent.

Ursula visits the social work undergraduate adviser and learns that even though she has many requirements done, it would take her at least a year after her senior year to finish. She doesn’t have enough money for a fifth year of tuition, so this option doesn’t work for her.

Turn What You Have into What You Want
While some jobs require a certain degree (doctors and lawyers jump to mind), many do not. Some ask for coursework in the field over the full degree. The path you’re on may still have some punch and give you a unique background to offer an employer. And heck, you’ve liked it for three and a half years. Why not see it through?

Ursula’s down, but not out. She talks to some of the people she interned for, and one mentions his cousin’s career as a debt counselor. Another talks about a neighbor’s job in financial aid at a community college. Ursula’s intrigued – her finance background may still get her where she’d like to be!

Work for a Paycheck—Volunteer for the Soul
Many organizations will gladly take volunteers with any background and give them the training they need. Do you like animals, but no luck with vet school? Check out the local animal shelter. Interested in PR but never took a course? Volunteer to help plan a party to raise money for a good cause. Love the idea of teaching, but not going back for a teaching degree? Help out with local summer enrichment programs or sign up to be an athletic coach.

Ursula’s feeling good now. She’s planned her final semester to finish her degree in finance, but she’s also taking a few elective courses in psych and social work. She went through a 10-hour training in order to be qualified to volunteer for a mental health crisis hotline. And she’s following the leads from her former internship about careers that will use her training in finance and her interest in counseling.

A Final Note…
I hear a lot of seniors say they plan to “come back” a year or two after they graduate to get a different degree. A little probing, and it comes out that they expect their past credits to count toward future requirements. Many colleges do NOT allow this. If you graduate, and want to earn another undergraduate degree, you have to start over from credit one. If you’re in Ursula’s shoes, and thinking this solves your problem, check out the specifics before you commit.

Happy job hunting!

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Erica’s 10-second tip of the month:
Business cards aren’t just for employees anymore. To get your name out at professional events, consider having 100 professional cards printed with your name, contact information and a very brief description of your qualifications. Remember, when a person is offered a business card, their instinct is to return the gesture, allowing you to start building your network seven square inches at a time.

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