Being able to go to college and, more importantly, being able to graduate is a great accomplishment. But with this very competitive job market, how do you know if your intended major will in fact get you the career you have always wanted? Is there really such a thing as a “bad major”? In order to find answers to these questions, you have to take the time to analyze all of the possibilities of your proposed plan.
Having dreams and goals of success is the first step to getting the career you want. However, you have to be ambitious yet realistic at the same time. No career happens overnight. In order to get where you want to professionally be, you have to make sure that what you want to do is truly doable. A simple way to think about whether or not your goal is achievable is to evaluate the level of motivation and determination you have.
To help you measure your level of determination, do some research on your intended major. You may think that you have to major in a subject because of an assumption. For example, being a Criminal Justice major will help you become a lawyer. Although it can be an apt analogy, there are different kinds of law that are studied in law school. Therefore, majors such as Philosophy, Business, English and History are subjects that will teach and have you practice reading in between the lines. Additional analytical, rhetorical and writing skills are tools that will help you succeed as a lawyer. Doing research on your intended career will allow you to see exactly what you need to have the profession you want.
Furthermore, talking to professionals in your potential field is a great way to directly find out what you need to have on your resume to be a part of their profession. LinkedIn is a great networking and social media platform that can help you connect and network with the right people in a place that is not too formal. Just asking questions about how someone got to where they are will let them realize how successful they are and in turn, they will be more willing to point you in the right direction.
If you are willing to put in the work in order to get the career you want, then you may not fall prey to the millennial crisis. The question also becomes what major will help me achieve my goals? Instead of, did I choose the right major? Have a plan, find the right people to create relationships with and remind yourself why you want to be in your prospective career, and your major will help you get your degree—a step into the real world.
