Career
Options for
Women’s
Studies Majors
Amy Hoag
The Career Center
www.careercenter.umich.edu
Agenda
 Majors and Careers; The
Truth About Your Future
 Marketing Your Major to
Employers
 What Can You Do With Your
Major?
 “Experience” Your Future;
Internships and Jobs
You Majored in What?
Match the Major to Career

Sociology

English

Chemistry

Kinesiology

Math


Women’s Studies
Anthropology

Director for Risk
Management/Trading

Head Women’s Basketball
Coach

Director of Conference and
Event Services

Technical Account Manager

VP for Global Operations

Marketing Assistant

Pharmaceutical Sales
Representative
Transferable
Skills
Transferable Skills – Skills
that are transferable from
one experience to the next.
Communication Skills
Critical Thinking Skills
Leadership Skills
Teamwork Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Creativity and Innovation
The Top 20 Skills Employers Seek in
Candidates
(NACE, 2007)
1. Analytical Skills
2. Communication Skills - verbal and
written
3. Computer Skills
4. Creativity
5. Detail-Oriented
6. Entrepreneurial Skills/Risk-Taker
7. Flexibility/Adaptability
8. Motivation/initiative
9. Honesty/Integrity
10. Interpersonal Skills
11. Leadership/Management Skills
12. Motivation/Initiative
13. Organizational and Time
Management Skills
14. Real Life Experiences
15. Self-Confidence
16. Strong Work Ethic
17. Tactfulness
18. Teamwork Skills
19. Technical Skills
20. Well-mannered/Polite
Communication Skills
How has your major helped you develop these
skills?

Confident oral presentation skills.


Creating and presenting ideas in front of a
class provides the opportunity to develop
your presentation skills.
Effective writing skills.

Writing powerful essays and reports that
highlight the achievements of women will
allow you to hone your writing skills while
developing the ability to compose and edit
complex documents.
Communication
Skills
Where else have you developed these skills through
your experiences at U of M?
Critical Thinking Skills
How has your major helped you develop these
skills?

Women’s studies students gain the ability to
solve problems and think creatively about
potential solutions.

You will learn from the work of influential
thinkers throughout history.

Then, you will learn how to apply theory to
practice to identify new solutions to
complex social issues.
Critical Thinking
Skills
Where else have you developed these skills through
your experiences at U of M?
The Bottom Line

Employers are interested in Women’s
Studies majors for the skills sets you
develop both in and outside of the
classroom!

Employers value your skills, passion and
interests, regardless of the specific major
you choose.

You are employable and have a world of
opportunity available to you!
Know Yourself
Analyzing
Data
Communication
Skills
Research
Assessing
Your Skills
Teamwork
Solving
Complex
Problems
Innovation
and Ideas
Women’s
Health
Community
Improvement
Research
Assessing
Your Interests
Data and
Analysis
Artistic
Expression
Leadership
and
Persuasion
Aesthetics
Community
Improvement
Wealth
Assessing
Your Values
Curiosity
Organization
and Accuracy
Autonomy
Exploring Your Career Options – Let’s
Brainstorm
Realistic
Investigative
Artistic
• Hands-on
Building/Fixing
• Mechanical
and likes to
use tools
• Enjoy nature
and the
outdoors
• Enjoy physical
activity
including
sports and
athletics
• Enjoy figuring
out how things
work and why
• Enjoy using
science and
math to
analyze and
solve problems
• Enjoy theory
and research
• Enjoy art,
design,
creativity and
self expression
• Often
imaginative
and original
Social
• Enjoy helping
others
• Enjoy working
in groups
• Have idealistic
values or
assisting,
coaching or
empowering
others
Enterprising
Conventional
• Enjoy leading
and persuading
others
• Often value
status and
wealth
• Tend to be
competitive
and are excited
about taking
risks
• Enjoy
organizing
numbers and
information
• Enjoy working
with computers
and data
• Value
accuracy,
dependability,
and stability
Exploring Your Career Options
Realistic
• Detective
• FBI Agent
• Forensics
• Coach
• Outdoor Education
Director
• Athletic Director
Investigative
• Health Researcher
• Social Scientist
• University Professor
• Biologist
• Geneticist
• Anthropologist
Artistic
• Artist
• Publisher
• Writer
• Designer
• Media/Journalism
• Attorney
• Public Affairs or Public
Relations
• Advertising
Social
• Teacher
• Counselor
• Social Worker
• Non-profit Director
• Occupational Therapist
• Midwife
• Doctor
• Health Educator
• Chiropractor
• OBGYN
• Grant Writer
• Advocacy
• Government
• Human Resources
Enterprising
• Small business owner
• Management
• Buyer
• Fundraising/Development
• Sales
• Marketing
• Business Analyst
• Public Official
Conventional
• Web designer
• Loan Officer
• Financial Planner
• Data manager
• Archivist or Curator
Facts about U of M Women’s Studies Majors…

Based on 2007-2008 follow up data for graduating WS
seniors:

94% were employed or in graduate programs 6 months
after graduation

50% were employed in meaningful work experiences
(80% indicated their position had clear career potential)

44% continued their education

Most common fields of employment were Education,
Health Care, Non-Profit, and Law/Paralegal

Most common locations for employment were Michigan,
New York, California and Chicago


Average salary was $25,000-$35,000/year
Of the successfully employed, 76% began their job
search 3-6+ months before graduation and 67% had at
least one internship
More Facts about U of M Women’s Studies
Majors…
 Of those continuing their education, 57% are
pursuing Master’s programs, 29% are in
professional programs (Medical/Law), 7%
are in Ph.D. programs and 7% are
completing a second Bachelor’s degree
 Most common graduate programs for
students continuing their education include
Law, Public Health, Education, Social Work,
and Nursing
Exploring Your Job/Internship Opportunities
Career Center Resources

Career Center website ( www.careercenter.umich.edu )
 Explore career paths (www.onetcenter.org)
 Explore jobs/internships (Career Center Connector and other
industry/employer/networking websites)
 Sample internships/jobs posted include…
 Children’s Rights Law Intern, New York
 League of Women Voters Intern, Washington DC
 American Red Cross: Public Relations Intern, MI
 U of M Depression Center: Communications Intern, MI
 Acumen LLC: Research Analyst/Writer, CA
 American Lung Association: Program Coordinator, MI
 Mew York City District Attorney’s Office: Paralegal, NY
 Prepare resumes, cover letters and practice Interviews (Optimal)

Job and Graduate School Fairs
 Graduate School Information Fair, Law Day, Medical School
Information Fair, Non-Profit Career Expo, Government Career Fair,
Multicultural Career Fair, Internship Fair, Job Fair, etc.
Questions?
Amy Hoag
Assistant Director, Counseling and Advising Services
The Career Center
amyhoag@umich.edu
www.careercenter.umich.edu