Career and College Major

[CyState85]

How many of you majored in something in college but are doing something completely different in your career?

I’ve thought about changing careers but feel like my college degree (education) wouldn’t translate to something else. I’m just curious what unique paths others have found professionally.

 

[Rabbuk]

How many of you majored in something in college but are doing something completely different in your career?

I’ve thought about changing careers but feel like my college degree (education) wouldn’t translate to something else. I’m just curious what unique paths others have found professionally.

I feel like 50% of the corporate trainers I've had have education degrees. Fwiw.

 

[CyCrazy]

No I don't but not completely different.

 

[cyfan21]

UNDERGRAD MAJOR TO DIPLOMA: Start out years 1 and 2 as Civ E major (did a few internships and struggled with a few engineering courses led to a carreer change), switched to a kinesiology "pre-med" major for years 3, 4, and first semester of year 5 and switched to Liberal Arts Independent Studies my last semester at Iowa State because I got accepted into graduate school on the condition that I would have to start in July of the same year. Graduated with a Liberal Arts Degree B.S.

I Graduated with a PhD from grad school and now have my own business. Undergrad hasn't done anything to help me in field of business other check a box for my graduate school applications.

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

Yes I am completely in the career path to my major. MIS to now Cybersecurity Consulting been IT all my career since even high school barring some random jobs as a 14-16 year old.

Like one person already mentioned our entire training org is run by a lot of previous professors or PHDs in education.

And honestly majors matter very little to us in my company. Experience and willingness to learn reign supreme

 

[Bipolarcy]

I majored in about 5 different things in college until I finally settled on one, but that took 8-plus years. When I first started in 1971, we were on the quarter system. I decided I wanted to teach elementary school, then I switched to history, then I switched to liberal arts, then I dropped out after switching majors every quarter for three quarters. After working for a few years, I went back in 1979 and was going to be Darren Stevens, working as an advertising executive, so journalism with an advertising emphasis was my major. Then I wanted to switch to creative writing after taking a writer's workshop course and thought about transferring to the pit of eternal damnation (Iowa). It was either that or Northwestern, but Northwestern was damned expensive. But then I came to my senses and switched for the final time to print journalism.

 

[Ms3r4ISU]

I majored in about 5 different things in college until I finally settled on one, but that took 8-plus years. When I first started in 1971, we were on the quarter system. I decided I wanted to teach elementary school, then I switched to history, then I switched to liberal arts, then I dropped out after switching majors every quarter for three quarters. After working for a few years, I went back in 1979 when we were on the semester system and was going to be Darren Stevens, working as an advertising executive, so journalism with an advertising emphasis was my major. Then I wanted to switch to creative writing after taking a writer's workshop course and thought about transferring to the pit of eternal damnation (Iowa). It was either that or Northwestern, but Northwestern was damned expensive. But then I came to my senses and switched for the final time to print journalism.

Um, semesters didn’t start until fall 1981. At ISU that is.

 

[ISUcyclones11]

I majored in Supply Chain but I don't really feel that I use that degree at all as a Freight Broker.

I feel closer to a car salesman than a transportation analyst

 

[Cybone]

I have a degree in Political Science. I have been working in IT for 20 years now. I am now management for an MSP. I am sure the degree helped a little in my career, just not entirely certain where these days…

 

[Dopey]

I learned today firefighters can make a boatload of money in California, and I’m questioning all my life decisions

 

[cyclonedave25]

Majored in Kinesiology & Health and now managing a gym and personal training.

To the post above mine, if I could do it all over again, I’d be a firefighter. At least in Chicago, the shifts are 24 hrs on, 48 off. Every day you show up to work is a Friday. Only need to take 2 PTO days and you have 8 days off. Not to mention the pension.

 

[Dopey]

Majored in Kinesiology & Health and now managing a gym and personal training.

To the post above mine, if I could do it all over again, I’d be a firefighter. At least in Chicago, the shifts are 24 hrs on, 48 off. Every day you show up to work is a Friday. Only need to take 2 PTO days and you have 8 days off. Not to mention the pension.

Manhattan Beach Firefighter Pay Averages Over $300,000 Per Year | California Globe

There is now a $300,000 club for California’s firefighters. In the City of Manhattan Beach…

californiaglobe.com

 

[Bipolarcy]

Um, semesters didn’t start until fall 1981. At ISU that is.

Hell, it was a long time ago and I'm an old forgetful man. But now that you mention it, I was still in school for the switch to semesters, so you're right.

 

[JM4CY]

Tried majoring in beer and chasing tail. Turns out you don’t make a lot of money in that. Had to change it up.

 

[BCClone]

Now, I guess. I have had several “careers” and some related and some didn’t. Most jobs train on the job for the most part I feel.

 

[CyCrazy]

Now, I guess. I have had several “careers” and some related and some didn’t. Most jobs train on the job for the most part I feel.

Agree but the paper gets you in the door. Its bass akwards. I could have went into sales right out of HS. The whole system needs a change.

 

[BCClone]

Agree but the paper gets you in the door. Its bass akwards. I could have went into sales right out of HS. The whole system needs a change.

I didnt need a degree for what I do now. I have been told that with the labor situation, that that paper is getting less and less important for several positions.

 

[throwittoblythe]

Two regrets of my college career at ISU: I never studied abroad and I never tried any other majors.

Started civil engineering and went right through to graduation. Did internships at different places but all in the same field. Then stayed for a masters in civil engineering as well. Did the traditional design route until about 5 years ago I shifted to more BD type roles.

I now do sales for a specialty contractor in the civil field. Definitely didn’t learn how to do this job in school but also use a lot of that knowledge in my day to day.

 

[ClonesFTW]

I don’t use my degrees at all but the network I built during my time at Iowa State played a major role in my career so far.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Finished with a JLMC major with a visual communication emphasis. Ended up being a technical writer for the Army where I'm a bit of a jack-of-all-trades - write operation and maintenance procedures, write in XML, draw my own illustrations, as well as review the work of contracted writers.