The Under-Appreciated Value of an Arts Degree
"It's in Apple's DNA that technology alone is not enough – that it's technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our hearts sing." - Steve Jobs
We've all heard it before - "What're you going to do with your bachelors degree?", or "What does a Communications degree prepare you for in the workforce?".
Well, in this article by The Globe and Mail, author Scott Stirrett explains the under-appreciated value of an arts degree, stating that these degrees are viewed by employers as very valuable. Whether one chooses to work in advertising, journalism, public relations, or even business (yes, Communications Studies graduates can certainly work in business), the skill set that we students have refined over the past four years, which include writing, communicating, and learning how to think critically to name a few, are all viewed very highly by potential employers. Especially with the development of social media networks and an overall increase in the implications of the media, we Communications Studies students harbour the knowledge to understand the world in a modern way that will be highly attractive to employers looking to shape their business in a way that analyzes the current cultural and social situation of the world.
For me personally, I dream of working in the film and television industry, perhaps at the capacity of a producer. I believe that the skills I have developed over the past four years, which include my excellent writing and communicating skills, coupled with my refined ability to assess situations and decisions critically, have prepared me for that career choice exceptionally well. So I ask you, fellow Communications Studies graduates, what is your dream profession, and how do you think your degree has prepared you for that field of work?
Thanks for reading!
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/talent/why-liberal-arts-degrees-are-more-valuable-than-you-might-think/article34031330/
We've all heard it before - "What're you going to do with your bachelors degree?", or "What does a Communications degree prepare you for in the workforce?".
Well, in this article by The Globe and Mail, author Scott Stirrett explains the under-appreciated value of an arts degree, stating that these degrees are viewed by employers as very valuable. Whether one chooses to work in advertising, journalism, public relations, or even business (yes, Communications Studies graduates can certainly work in business), the skill set that we students have refined over the past four years, which include writing, communicating, and learning how to think critically to name a few, are all viewed very highly by potential employers. Especially with the development of social media networks and an overall increase in the implications of the media, we Communications Studies students harbour the knowledge to understand the world in a modern way that will be highly attractive to employers looking to shape their business in a way that analyzes the current cultural and social situation of the world.
For me personally, I dream of working in the film and television industry, perhaps at the capacity of a producer. I believe that the skills I have developed over the past four years, which include my excellent writing and communicating skills, coupled with my refined ability to assess situations and decisions critically, have prepared me for that career choice exceptionally well. So I ask you, fellow Communications Studies graduates, what is your dream profession, and how do you think your degree has prepared you for that field of work?
Thanks for reading!
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/talent/why-liberal-arts-degrees-are-more-valuable-than-you-might-think/article34031330/
Hi Adam! Great post! I am confident you will make an excellent producer and I wish you the best of luck!
ReplyDeleteI have a clear plan for what I wish to achieve in the next 5 years or so. After two consecutive summers working at a tech start-up I am confident that the technology sector is where I am best suited. I am entering workforce this coming fall as a Customer Success Manager where I will be able to effectively implement the technology for our customers and work on customer retention and platform growth. I hope to then develop a Professional Services team to offload some of the responsibilities of the Customer Success team as I believe this will allow the company to run more smoothly. Eventually I would like to transition to outbound sales or product management.
More than anything my communications degree has taught me how to see the big picture and analyze situations critically. I have learned how to work quickly and efficiently with a keen eye for detail.
Good luck to everyone entering the workforce soon!
Hey Jace, how did you land a role in CSM? Do you previous technical experience or did some training that you can recommend?
DeleteThanks!
Hello Adam, My dream profession is in the advertising industry and I believe that Communications Studies did prepare me for it from a critical thinking perspective. Moving forward and actually considering day-to-day on the job, I often become nervous because I am lacking the applicational learning required for the job, such as writing a brief for example. That is something that college teaches its students. After talking with multiple people in the industry over coffee, I addressed my concern and they said that it is not necessary, as they see a university degree as more beneficial than a college diploma. All the details and formatting are taught on the job and it should not be something that I am worried about.
ReplyDeleteAdam, I really enjoyed your post and loved how you shared your professional dream with us about becoming a television producer. I wish you the best of luck and I'm sure you'll do amazing in that career path.
ReplyDeleteI think under-appreciated might not be the word I would use to describe my Arts degree. I would like to instead use the word under-estimated. I would use this word instead because all of those people who have been asking us for the last 4 years 'what are you going to do with your communications degree' just may not understand how smart we really are and I think a lot of the times we are under estimated when it comes to the work force. I think we all have big dreams (like yourself) and have now obtained incredible skills that will help us achieve those dreams. Our degrees are broad, yes. Although thats what makes them so great. Possibilities are vast and we have many talents. This is something that I don't think a lot of people see when they see 'arts degree'. We will prove them wrong, I know it!!