<p>I'll be graduating this year in academic fields that unfortunately have practically non-existent job prospects. I'm hoping there are entry-level jobs out there that only require a university degree and not a specific subject in hand. I don't mind if the pay is low (I can go as low as minimum wage if needed) as long as there is tremendous room for improvement so that I can hope to pay down my student debt. </p>
<p>Any major can have prospects if you are well-rounded and creative in your job search. I work in retail, and if you get into a good, solid company (there aren’t many left, unfortunately, but they’re out there) you can work your way up fairly quickly. You have an advantage because many retail employees who work their way up don’t have college degrees, or pursue them at a later time. You can pursue general office positions doing secretarial work, learn the business, and branch out from there. You could also pursue teaching in your field.</p>
<p>I could probably offer more appropriate suggestions if you shared your field of study. Many liberal arts subjects develop skill sets that can be utilized in a variety of professions.</p>
<p>NovaLynnx: That’s a good suggestion, however, I’m highly skeptical of the probability of one working their way up from a mundane retail job. I know this is more common in commercial banks with bank tellers, and that is something I’m looking into at the moment. </p>
<p>I’ll graduate with a double major in mathematics and physics. I’m sure that might sound impressive to people outside of STEM, but both degrees are practically as useless as are degrees in the liberal arts as far as getting a job. Like the liberal arts, they are academic degrees that are of little relevance to industry. </p>
<p>So, for any further suggestions, I’d highly appreciate it if you assume I’m your run-of-the-mill liberal arts graduate as far as employable skills go are concerned. </p>
<p>Many entry level federal, state, and local government jobs only require a degree (of any kind). </p>
<p>Magma, the thought that majors in math and physics is useless is flat ridiculous, as is the thought that majors in the liberal arts are useless. Anyone can find a job with any major if you know where to look and are prepared to look for a long time.</p>
<p>So you are graduating with a double major in math and physics. What do you want to do when you grow up? You can say you don’t care as long as it’s a job, but you aren’t quite at that point yet… it’s only April, after all. Forget about what you think you are qualified to do - you’re not qualified for anything, and no matter what anyone else says, they are also not qualified to do anything yet either. Even people in “pre-professional” programs go through a period of rapid learning, growth and development during their first three to six months of employment, and that is what you will be doing as well. So don’t worry about it. What do you want to do? What industries seem interesting? What do you find yourself gravitating toward on weekends?</p>
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<p>No industry in particular, I can find enjoyment in just about anything really. However, my real passion is to do with highly esoteric and impractical things (pure math, theoretical, and experimental physics with little to no practical applications). However, that’s more a hobby now than anything else. One thing my undergraduate education has equipped me with at least is that I can spend my free time reading and enjoying academic papers in these fields. </p>