From Classroom to Career: How to Leverage Your Major (and What to Do If You Don't)

In the journey from college to career, students often wonder: "Will my major actually matter in the real world?" Whether you're studying business, engineering, or anthropology, this question inevitably comes up as graduation approaches. The good news? Your major can provide valuable preparation for your career—but perhaps not always in the ways you might expect.

When Your Major Aligns with Your Career Path

For some professionals, there's a clear line from their degree to their profession. Shadi, now a Head of Product with ten years of experience in product management, found that focusing on relationship-building in his business management major created a foundation for his success. "In whatever relationship I had with my professors or peers, [I] did my best to put in my best work," Shadi explains. "The folks who stick around, who are going to be effective, are the ones who others want to be around."

Similarly, Ryan, a Sales Onboarding Trainer at Salesforce, found his business degree gave him a comprehensive view that proved valuable in his career: "Business school really set me up for success. I took a business admin degree, so it gave me insight into sales, marketing, accounting, [and] operations, which was super helpful. I felt like having a good understanding of how the entire business works, versus pigeonholing [myself] into just marketing or just accounting, was really helpful."

When Your Major Takes You in Unexpected Directions

Not everyone follows a straight path from their major to their career. In fact, many professionals find success in fields seemingly unrelated to their studies. Nima, now an Architect at a firm in Boston, took an exploratory approach during his undergraduate years: "The way I ended up as a triple major was partially because I was undeclared for the first year and a half, and it was like an excited undeclared. I didn't know what I wanted to be, so I [thought], I'm going to just be curious about a lot of different things."

Nima credits this curiosity and willingness to explore with his eventual success: "Holding onto that intuition was the most powerful thing in undergrad, [as well as] taking a variety of classes, and meeting a variety of people and faculty in very different fields, and feeling comfortable taking a class and saying, I don't really know how this is going to slot back into my life down the road, but I know I'm interested in this."

Michael, a Project Manager in high-end residential construction, found his path through differentiation: "I differentiated myself. I think architecture is a very portfolio-heavy profession to get your foot in the door, and so I did everything I could do to make myself feel different from the next person who was submitting for a job."

Transferable Skills: The Hidden Value of Any Major

Regardless of your field of study, college develops transferable skills that employers value. These capabilities—critical thinking, communication, research, teamwork—transcend specific majors and remain relevant throughout your career.

Josh, an international relations major who now works as a Program Manager at Meta, explains: "I think public speaking is something as an international relations major that really helped when I moved into technology, because there's a lot of people, especially in tech, that come from more of that technical background that don't do well in front of other people."

Practical Steps for Leveraging Your Major (Or Pivoting Away From It)

1. Gain Relevant Experience Through Internships

Olivia, a Global PR Manager, emphasizes how transformative internships were for her career trajectory: "Internships totally changed my post-grad trajectory. So if you have the opportunity to intern, I really recommend doing it. Even if it's just part-time, it'll be really beneficial and not only help you figure out what you like, but start to build your resume."

2. Build a Strong Professional Network

Networking remains one of the most powerful tools for career development, regardless of your major. Chihiro, a Private Equity Director, regrets not doing this earlier: "I didn't do that until much later in life. And so I'm glad that I eventually learned that lesson and I benefited from it greatly. But I just did not realize that I had so much to learn and gain from finding mentors in life, whether within my campus or beyond it."

Chihiro advises students to actively seek mentors: "Find people within your network. The easiest way to do this is through LinkedIn, but find alumni from whatever school you attend and reach out to those people who are doing what you're interested in... Maybe one of them will respond to you and agree to have a 15 or 30 minute conversation with you."

3. Develop In-Demand Skills Outside Your Major

Lauren, now Head of Employer Brand and Belonging at Qualtrics, recommends getting involved beyond your coursework: "Internships, programs, and social groups are the big three... Try to get the internships where you're actually given real work that you can go practice and start working on, and where hopefully you have good coaches and mentors to help you grow."

She explains that programs and social groups provide additional value: "You often get connected with people who are in the working field. They're giving you advice, they're showing you more about their role and what it takes. And so you're getting these insider tips. It's like all of this stuff is behind the scenes content that helps [you learn] what you can do, how you can grow, what's going to make you a more attractive candidate."

4. Learn to Articulate Your Value

Travis, an Account Executive at Route, emphasizes the importance of hard work and discipline, regardless of your field of study: "Nothing replaces just working hard. Doing mechanical engineering, it's definitely one of the harder degrees to do... And I also was working throughout college as well. The best thing you can teach yourself, or prove to yourself, is that you're able to work hard. And if you can put yourself in positions to prove that you can work hard, it's just going to pay dividends throughout your whole life."

What If Your Major Doesn't Match Your Career Goals?

If you find yourself interested in a career path that seems disconnected from your major, take heart. Many successful professionals have navigated this transition. Arnav, a Sr. Manager in Financial Alliances & Strategy, recommends pursuing professional certifications alongside your degree: "If you are coming from a non-finance major and you want to get into finance, it doesn't hurt to add value to yourself using a CPA, CFA, or any other degree that you feel is commensurate with the sort of field that you want to get into. Professional certifications are a great way to embellish your resume."

Conclusion: Major in Something, But Minor in Everything

Your major provides a foundation of knowledge and skills, but it's rarely the sole determinant of your career success. What matters most is how you leverage your education, seek out experiences, build relationships, and develop transferable skills that will serve you throughout your professional life.

Whether your career path follows directly from your major or takes unexpected turns, remember that your undergraduate education is just the beginning of your professional journey. By remaining curious, building connections, and continuing to develop your skills, you can create a fulfilling career regardless of what appears on your diploma.

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Wishing you success,

Emily McSherry

Founder & CEO