Making Career Decisions from an Arts Degree 18th December, 2012 John Hannon Career Development Centre
What’s this session all about? • Arts, happiness and career decisions • How do we spread the news? Subject, career and course paths and progression routes... • Arts and employability Career Development Centre NUI Galway
The Value of an Arts Degree • “All art is quite useless” Oscar Wilde “Art is the expression of the profoundest thoughts in the simplest way” Albert Einstein Career Development Centre NUI Galway
What do students want? Career Development Centre NUI Galway
.....Expectations….from Guidance Counsellors? Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Geography of Happiness Green= Happiest >Blue>Purple> Orange>Red= Least Happy; Grey= Data not available
Believe it or not! • In the past people didn’t value happiness. • Instead, they valued virtue and greatness, which may result in suffering. [We might be going back that way!] • Happiness was [is] considered an unworthy pursuit!
Related Research: How Do We Make Irrational Choices? • People make decisions based on their current situation. • People tend to adapt to things around them eventually. • People tend to remember feelings that they expect to remember, not actual feelings that they experience.
“Indicators of intent”
Archaeology Information technology Instructional technology / training Programmer Police Officer / Garda Quality (assurance, control) Safety Doer (Realistic)...archaeology, IT Career Development Centre
Actuary Computer science Economist Finance Lawyer Market researcher Mathematics Physician/Medical school Teacher /Lecturer e.g. maths Psychologist Psychiatrist Statistics Sociologist Systems analyst Journalist Thinker (Investigative)....all subjects! Especially economics, psychology, maths, soc. and pol. Career Development Centre
Creator (Artistic)...majority of subjects especially languages, history • Actor • Advertising copy writer • Director • Dancer • Editor • Musician • Museum curator • Patent agent • Producer • Teacher (e.g. Languages) • Technical writer • Web designer • Writer • Poet Career Development Centre
Advocate Guidance counsellor Therapist / counsellor Care worker Education/teacher Health promotion officer Occupational therapist Psychologist Social worker, probation officer Theology / religious life Social Worker Speech-language therapist Helper (Social)...Sociological and Political Studies, psychology, education Career Development Centre
Administration Business Communications Insurance Investment Banker Journalism Law / Politics Marketing / Advertising Management Management Consultant Public Health Publishing Public relations Public policy Retail Stockbroker Sales Persuader (Enterprising) ...Economics, law Career Development Centre
Accountant Actuary Administration Banking/Investment banking Business Clerk Copy Editing Financial analyst Information officer Lexicographer Librarian Proofreader Secretary Technical writer Organiser (Conventional)...economics, mathematics, languages Career Development Centre
NUI Galway BA graduates (and postgraduates) 2011 • Further Study/Training 58.5 (19.1)% • Seeking Employment 5.3 (9.4)% • Yr. Out/Not Available Emp. 3.6 (2.8)% • In Employment 30.6 (67.7)% Career Development Centre NUI Galway
‘Traditional’ career sectors from Arts...how do we get this across? [ and go beyond it] • Public Service and Teaching • Media / PR / Advertising • Arts / Culture • Leisure / Tourism / Travel • Library / Archives / Information • Insurance/Marketing/Retailing/HR/Finance • IT • Law
The economic factor? Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Fastest Growing Industries Information Technology Healthcare Energy Efficiency / Environmental E-Learning Microelectronics Manufacturing Productivity Composite Materials Social Networking Business Services – esp. Multilingual Telecommunications Food Ref: Enterprise Ireland - HPSU’s IDA Ireland – Competence Centres Career Development Centre NUI Galway • Care of the Elderly • Business & Personal Coaching • Personal Wellbeing • Medical Devices & Technology • Accounting (some aspects more than others) • Digital Media – e.g. -gaming, mobile media, animation • Alternative Power Generation • Financial Regulation and Control • Corporate Compliance • Life Sciences • Biotechnology
Importance of Arts, Humanities, Business and Social Science • Underpin sectors such as finance, business, legal, communications, cultural, tourist and education and social services • Knowledge of foreign languages and understanding of world cultures can be an asset to any exporting enterprise • Understanding of consumer and natural behaviours • Hybrid and blended skills • Linking with the Natural Sciences Ursula Halligan, EGFSN Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Great Skill Combinations Languages and logistics Languages and marketing/sales Product knowledge and sales Finance and quantitative modelling Law and finance Statistics and software modelling Software architecture and business Web design; animation; programming Source: National Skills Unit Career Development Centre NUI Galway
What are employers looking for?? Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Graduate Recruitment Trends Survey 2012 (gradireland) • 57.7% Graduates ‘who can demonstrate core competences’ • 59.2% Must have studied specific degree • 57.7% Require a 2.1 • 25.4% Must have relevant work experience
Communication Motivation Analytical skills Managing own learning Problem solving Confidence Independent working Flexibility Writing Administration + org. Fluency in foreign language Basic computer skills Leadership Project management Numeracy Shortfalls in Soft skills Hard skills
Task/Goal Orientated Cultural Flexibility Highly Motivated Communication Skills Organisational Skills Research Skills Presentation Skills Intelligence Work Experience Critical Thinking Skills Planning/Organisational Skills Time Management Independent Working Skills Specialised Knowledge Networking skills Career Focus….? In Summary: What Can Arts Graduates Offer Employers? Career Development Centre NUI Galway
The ‘Language Divide’ Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Some Career Paths with subjects e.g. Psychological Studies • Social Work • Counselling, Guidance and Counselling • Community & Youth Work • Business / Management/HR • IT – e.g. training, systems analysis, management • Media, journalism • Pharmaceutical industry • Research /Administration • Teaching (mainly primary and higher education) • ABA • Retail and marketing Not to mention the other subject…and the BA!
Some Career Paths with History • Heritage, museums, archives • Teaching • Research • Library • Tourism • Genealogy • Media e.g. journalism Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Languages: two career paths • Specialist language occupations • Translation, teaching, interpreting • Occupations with languages • e.g. bilingual accounts, market research, international sales, bilingual customer support, admin. In Euro. Commission, software localisation, consultancy services, export / trading….. Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Postgraduate Conversion Programmes PhD POSTGRADUATE CONVERSION PROGRAMME MASTERS (TAUGHT/RESEARCH) DEGREE Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Seven Categories of Conversion Programmes Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Arts: General Examples… • Archaeology, NUI Galway • Psychology, NUI Galway, UCC, UCD, TCD, DBS • Journalism, NUI Galway, DCU, DIT, Griffith, Fitzwilliam Institute • Planning and Sustainable Development, UCD,UCC, QUB • Arts Admin./Policy & Practice, NUI Galway, UCD • Literature and Publishing, NUI Galway • Digital Media NUI Galway and Multimedia, DCU Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Business: Examples • Business (e.g. H Dip Business Studies) NUI Galway, UL • Accountancy, GMIT, DCU, DIT, UCC • Marketing & also Advertising, DIT • Economics (H Dip– NUI Galway Career Development Centre NUI Galway
IT: Examples • Software Design & Development, NUI Galway • Information Systems Management, NUI Galway • Computer Engineering (need maths) UL • Computer Science, Letterkenny IT, IT Tralee, UCD • Information Technology, NUI Galway, NUIM Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Information Overload!
www. gradireland.com Career Development Centre NUI Galway
Career Development Centre NUI Galway
How can we convey these key points? • Most students don’t choose a career path until their final year. • Most students worry about being typecast by their discipline…yet the degree seldom limits options. • Most students gain new interests during their studies. • Arts course provide key skills for employers. Career Development Centre NUI Galway
