As STEM degrees became all the rage, liberal arts degrees were labeled worthless. However, some experts are coming around to the critical skills a liberal arts degree provides. We list some surprising jobs that are seeking candidates with this type of degree and resume examples to help you nab an interview.
You've heard it all before: the parent who admonishes their child's decision to pursue a liberal arts degree in lieu of a "real" education. Or the helicopter parent who insists that only studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects will prepare their child for high-paying technical, computer, or business jobs.
It's true that STEM degrees were all the rage for years, but that might be changing. In fact, more and more companies are seeking college graduates who display the skills a liberal arts education emphasizes. Among those are soft skills, those hard-to-measure personal qualities that are proving to be assets in today's job market.
Support of the liberal arts has come from unexpected individuals. The late Steve Jobs is just one example. In 2011, the Apple CEO and co-founder stated, "Technology alone is not enough. It's technology married with the liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our hearts sing."
Read on to learn more about the newfound value of a liberal arts degree, the surprising job titles that are hiring those with this degree, and a selection of resume examples to help you get the job you want.
Being a team player is also indicated in many job postings for accountants. From delivering reports to collaborating with various other departments in a corporate setting, these skills honed through your liberal arts education are highly advantageous when you're pursuing a career in accounting.
The Value of a Liberal Arts Degree in Today's Workforce
Mechatronics engineering. Business. Computer science. Nursing. What do these college majors have in common? They're on the 2018 "8 College Majors With Great Job Prospects" list by U.S. News and World Report. You won't find English, philosophy, or any other liberal arts degrees mentioned in the article.
But that doesn't mean such an education is worthless. In fact, a growing number of employers are seeking candidates who display just the kinds of skills built through liberal arts studies. In a 2015 survey of business and nonprofit leaders by the Association of American Colleges & Universities, 91 percent stated that critical thinking, problem-solving, and strong communication skills were important for career success.
In its 2018 Skills Gap Report, LiveCareer found that the most cited skills in job ads and on resumes include customer service, communication, scheduling, organization, and problem solving.
Soft skills are so important, in fact, that the study found that "even job ads for occupations deemed tech-centric — accountants and software developers — emphasize the need for candidates to have these kinds of abilities."
When technology fails, what will you need to address the issue? Problem-solving skills. Even to write a simple email, you'll need to rely on written communication skills. Now who's calling that liberal arts degree a waste? Not hiring managers.
Not Mark Cuban, the "Shark Tank" entrepreneur who gave a startling prediction regarding the liberal arts. In 2017, Cuban said, "In 10 years, a liberal arts degree in philosophy will be worth more than a traditional programming degree."
The continued influence of AI technology will change the job market, he explained, making those who demonstrate effective critical thinking and assessment skills more valuable in the workplace.
George Anders, author of "You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a 'Useless' Liberal Arts Education," states that many companies are looking for job applicants who demonstrate problem-solving and analytical skills, an understanding of group dynamics, the ability to inspire, and a willingness to "tackle unchartered areas."
5 Professions Seeking Liberal Arts Majors (Plus, Resume Examples)
You might be surprised at the job titles for which a liberal arts degree is important. Of course, there are those you'd expect — public relations specialist, social worker, and teacher, to name a few. But intelligence analyst, IT project manager, and software developer may come as a surprise.
Check out some job titles and accompanying resume examples to see the influence that liberal arts can have on many careers.
1. Software Engineer
Knowledge of HTML, XML, JavaScript, and Linux — of course that's what you'll need to meet the technical requirements of being a software engineer. But a number of companies are seeking software engineering applicants with strong written and oral communication skills, creative and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in teams.
Whether you're presenting at a software development meeting, providing a creative solution to a development issue, or writing a report about the results of your software testing project, these soft skills will be a much-needed asset to your career.
Need help producing a killer software engineering resume? Check out our software engineer resume examples.
2. Intelligence Analyst
An educational background in criminology, criminal justice, or law is important for those who wish to become an intelligence analyst — but a liberal arts degree can help tremendously with many aspects of this job. Employers are increasingly seeking candidates with strong public speaking, written communication, and reasoning skills.
As an intelligence analyst, you'll be called on to write complex reports, speak in group settings, work closely with others, and make operational decisions. The soft skills you cultivated through your liberal arts education will pay huge dividends in this type of career.
LiveCareer has the tools to help you learn how to write a resume for an intelligence analyst role. Or use our free professional resume builder to create your own intelligence analyst resume in less than 10 minutes.
3. Accountant
Crunching numbers and running accounting software are definitely skills you'll need to be a top-notch accountant in any company. But employers are also seeking job candidates for this role who have strong communication, organization, and in some cases, customer relations skills.
Being a team player is also indicated in many job postings for accountants. From delivering reports to collaborating with various other departments in a corporate setting, these skills honed through your liberal arts education are highly advantageous when you're pursuing a career in accounting.
Need help putting together a resume for this profession? You can count on our accountant to get you started.
4. IT Project Manager
Familiarity with project management software? Check. Ability to conduct auditing procedures? Check. Creating project cost estimates? Check. These are all needed abilities and skills for IT project managers.
However, according to many job postings, there are several soft skills that are equally important. Writing skills — particularly technical writing skills — are an asset. Your ability to create schedules, resolve issues, manage teams, multitask, and produce documentation along all stages of a project's development will be key to your success in this role.
Check out our project manager resume examples to help you create an effective resume that you can use to land your dream job.
It's true that STEM degrees were all the rage for years, but that might be changing. In fact, more and more companies are seeking college graduates who display the skills a liberal arts education emphasizes. Among those are soft skills, those hard-to-measure personal qualities that are proving to be assets in today's job market.
5. Business Operations Manager
To be a successful business operations manager, you'll no doubt need to be familiar with the day-to-day operations of a business. A strong sense of financial management, budgeting, internal procedures, purchasing, production, and human resources will be vital for this position.
Many companies also call for candidates to possess many soft skills that will support your ability to meet the demands of this career. Leadership, problem solving, communication, critical thinking, and team building are consistently listed as desirable by companies seeking to fill this position.
These abilities will come into play as you address business operations issues, mentor or coach employees, analyze operational procedures, and communicate changes and plans to improve operations in various areas.
Our business operations manager resume examples can help you create the resume that will help you land your next job in this field.
