What can I do with a degree in…..
Sociology
People who study sociology go on into a wide variety of jobs. You will gain a range of very valuable
skills. You will learn how to work independently. You will learn how to find information, extract what
is important from it and turn it into an argument. Most courses now include exercises in team
working, so you will learn to work in collaboration with others, but also how to work effectively
without close supervision. All sociology degrees teach research methods. From these you will learn
how to generate new knowledge and information using a very wide range of tools from the large
social survey interpreted through statistics, to in-depth interviews, to analysing the language used in
media texts or situations like GP surgeries. You will learn to conduct research both with others and
on your own.
Take these skills together with your insights into the workings of society and it is not surprising that a
very wide range of employers see a sociology degree as highly relevant. Beyond this many people
today study sociology for the personal enrichment it brings them, broadening their minds and
enabling them to see their world in new and interesting ways.
British Sociological Association http://www.britsoc.co.uk/WhatIsSociology/studyingsoc.aspx
What do Sociology graduates do?
6 months after graduating 89.6% of 2012 Warwick students were in jobs or further study.
Example jobs of 2012 graduates include:
Broadcast Journalist
Account Analyst
Sales Manager
Learning Support Assistant
Local Authority National Management Trainee
Human Resources Researcher
Public Relations Intern
Associate Auditor
Sectors where graduates were working include:
Media
Education
Public Relations
Management consultancy
Charity
Retail trade
Social care sector
Recruitment and human resources
Public sector / local government
Courses 2012 graduates progressed into include:
Postgraduate Certificate in Education - Primary Teaching, MSc in Social Research, MSc in Business
(Marketing), MSc in Management, MA in Social Work, MPhil in Social Policy.
6 months after graduating 87.1% of 2011 Warwick students were in jobs or further study.
Why
Warwick?
 In the Complete University Guide for 2014, Warwick came 3rd in the UK for studying
Example jobs of 2011thand 2010 graduates include:
Sociology and 5 in the Guardian's league table.
Campaign Coordinator
Responsibility & Diversity Assistant
 According to a 2013 survey of theCorporate
top 100 Graduate
recruiters, Warwick is their No. 1 target
Trainee Recruitment Consultant
Education Coordinator at local city council
University.
Business Manager
Charity outreach worker
Refuge Worker
Marketing and Events Co-ordinator
Tutor and activities organiser
Marketing and Events Executive Officer
Sectors where graduates were working include:
Advertising and market research
Education
Retail trade
Social care sector
Graduate recruiters tell us that what they
want from applicants is:




A good degree from a good University.
Work experience.
Involvement in extra-curricular activities.
The ability to describe and articulate
their unique achievements and skills.
At Warwick you have the opportunity to
access all of the above to support you in
achieving your goals.
70% of graduate recruiters do not require
graduates to have a specific degree,
perhaps the most important question to
ask when choosing your degree is not:
“What degree will get me a graduate
job?”
but
“How can I make the most of my time at
Warwick so that I can get the job I
want?”
I graduated in 2008 and immediately after graduation I began working
for the SU as a Welfare Officer leading on welfare related campaigns and
representing students on welfare issues.
After Warwick I moved to London and gained a place on the NHS Graduate
Management Training Scheme. I worked mainly as a Project Manager in a Mental
Health Trust and as a Service Manager running several busy departments in a large
hospital. Following this I went travelling around Asia and Africa as I had secretly
always wanted a gap year!
On my return to the UK I continued my NHS career by taking up another operational management role as
a Business Performance Manager. I still work for the NHS but my career path has taken a different route,
moving from operational management to service improvement, leading on large scale strategic projects. I
currently work as a Quality Improvement Manager leading on a review of services across Lancashire and
Cumbria, improving patient outcomes by implementing specialist Arterial Centres.
My Warwick degree in sociology has most definitely helped me to gain a successful career in NHS
management. Employers really value a Warwick degree as its graduates have a proven track record and
reputation for being a real asset to organisations and businesses. A sociology degree is particularly valued
in the NHS as it gives graduates the ability to appreciate the health economy as a whole and recognise
that health outcomes are affected by race, gender, age and social class. This knowledge and
understanding is invaluable when leading on service reconfiguration to improve the population’s health.
The University and the Students’ Union are committed to ensuring their graduates leave university
entering into a successful career. For me, without a Warwick degree in Sociology I don’t think this would
have been possible.
Stephanie Jones BA Sociology 2008
Alison Boffin – Student Recruitment and Marketing Officer Sociology Department
Clare Dawson, Senior Careers Consultant – September 2013