Thinking outside the box: Does my future career have to relate to my degree?

Take it from a History and International Relations student- panicking and overthinking the utility of your degree is an all too real, canon event in our generation of students.

No matter how on-track we are, there are always times when we question what the right balance is between passion and profession. Do we want to pursue our dreams and interests (with the undertone of a “no matter the cost” approach), or do we choose to sacrifice some of that in exchange for stability and reliability? Can we have the best of both worlds? Do we even want our passions to be linked to our jobs? These are all big questions that weigh on the minds of university students and young professionals everywhere.

The UK system of higher education inherently forces you into specialisation. In comparison to other system, like the US, you choose depth over breadth when you enrol in a British university. This system has so many benefits for those who choose it, but it comes with some drawbacks. Firstly, you have to choose what you want to study as your undergraduate degree when you are still in high school. No matter how well informed you think you are, there are always a few surprises ahead when you actually start your degree. Second, the depth at which you explore your chosen university degree sometimes feels like you are acquiring a narrow set of skills and knowledge.

For those of us who do not want to work in the field of our undergraduate studies (for example, I do not want to become a historian), the daunting task of reorientation can seem like a whirlwind. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will see that choosing a career that seems nonobvious to your degree is not only possible, but actually quite common!

The first step in the process has to be the internal reconciliation that what you study does not make or break your career. Not to be overly sanguine, but every degree has useful knowledge and skills that you can benefit from and utilize in a wide array of future careers.

Finding out what it is that your degree actually offers has to be the next step. To draw on a personal example, though I do not plan on using my knowledge of the history of childhood in Victorian England for my future in the professional world, taking that module taught me valuable skills in research of niche topics and information condensing.

After finding the skills that you have been invariably strengthening throughout your degree, build on them! Find skills that you may be lacking in too and figure out ways in which to develop them. Reflect and identify your strengths and weaknesses, and you will see just how well-qualified you are for a whole lot of professions.

Lastly, take advantage of all that KCL has to offer in terms of extracurriculars. Not only are societies a great way to socialize, network and have fun, there are so many amazing events, that allow you to learn (about basically anything) outside of your degree. Meet people who are interested in different things and learn from their career paths. It’s a great benefit of university, take it for granted and you will be sorely missing out.

While I cannot tell you what career you should pursue, I can tell you that fewer than 47% of graduates work in careers directly connected to their degrees. It's not about your degree itself, but about how you use it to achieve your personal career goals! Think outside the box and you will be well on your way to a career that fulfils you.