Missing the Match: When Your College Course and Career Plans Don’t Align

The course of study we take while in college or university often dictates the profession we will have for the rest of our lives, or so we thought. Whatever your major may be, this seems to be the notion we’ve all believed for the longest time. Many people make shifts in their careers and people even take on roles that  don’t initially align with the career they wanted to pursue as undergraduates. Guess what: that is completely okay! It is normal to change your goals and have them evolve over time even when you’re still in school. 

In this article, we’re giving you practical advice on what you can do in the event your major does not match the job you want to pursue. 

1 Apply for an internship 

Who says that learning is only limited to studying for hours on end in a classroom? Expand your field of work,learn what you are passionate about, and what profession is tailor fit for you by applying for an internship. Go get that on-the-job training from experts in the industry you aspire to be in. 

By voluntarily seeking out new opportunities that can improve your professional skills, you can have hands-on experience that you can add to your resume or CV content. Regardless of whether or not you plan on going down a different path from what your course entails, internships are a great way to train in the workplace and create new networks and connections.

2 Leverage on your transferable skills

Let’s say you’re in a liberal arts course, and now you want to delve into the sales and marketing industry. Try to find transferable skills–or skills that are seen in both aspects–and make it your edge. Sales and marketing requires a lot of creativity and innovation, as well as good communication and writing skills. Try to find something in your major that you can apply to numerous fields. This tests your adaptability too!

3 Put up your own business based on your passion 

People have been starting their own businesses for a long time now,especially in recent years. We have all heard stories of entrepreneurs who started online selling or began a freelance career. This is an option you can explore if you want to be more adventurous and to pursue your interests on the side. 

Make sure you self-study and build your knowledge before starting your own business. Check out some online courses you can enroll in and attend talks & webinars. You have complete creative control and freedom over your business ideas, but be strategic about it!

4 Continue your studies after graduating 

You can venture into postgraduate studies and combine two fields of knowledge so you can get the best of both worlds while honing those transferable skills. For example, you might take up a course in social sciences as your undergraduate program but a course in business management as a postgraduate program. That way, you can merge both disciplines and implement your learnings into your future profession. 

5 Shift courses while in school

As many people say, college is the time to explore who you are and what you want to do in the future. Though college is not a concrete path towards the job you will have for the rest of your life (this is a rare case), it certainly helps to study something you are interested in. Consider shifting into a different course or changing your major while you’re still in your undergraduate years. This can help increase your motivation to study harder and graduate too!

Changing your mind is simply a part of life. People don’t only shift their career plans in college, but even as working professionals. There are many reasons why people job hop or shift plans around to meet their goals. Don’t be afraid to explore new paths and ideas that will help you find greater opportunities and a fulfilling career.

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Kalibrr is a recruitment technology company that aims to transform how candidates find jobs and how companies hire talent. Placing the candidate experience at the center of everything it does, we continue to attract the best talent from all over, with more than 5.5 million professionals and counting. Kalibrr ultimately connects these talents to companies in search of their next generation of leaders.

The only end-to-end recruitment solutions provider in Southeast Asia, Kalibrr is headquartered in Makati, Philippines, with offices in San Francisco, California, and Jakarta, Indonesia. Established in 2012, it has served over 18,000 clients and is backed by some of the world’s most powerful start-up incubators and venture capitalists. These include Y Combinator, Omidyar Network, Patamar Capital, Wavemaker Partners, and Kickstart Ventures.

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