More Students finding Careers outside their Majors

Nearly half of college students find their first job in a field unrelated to their area of study. That is according to a new survey by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder.com. Michael Erwin, the executive career advisor for CareerBuilder.com, says students should keep that reality in mind.  “Nearly half of workers said that their first job outside of college was not in the major that they studied in and 32% said that they never went into that area through their whole career.” According to the survey, 47% percent of graduates get their first job in a field unrelated to their area of study. “College education is definitely going to give you a significant advantage over the competition when you come out of school, but the one thing that you need to remember is to be flexible.  The more flexible you are the better chances you are of getting employment.” Realities of today’s job market often re-define career paths, adds Erwin.  “Try different internships so you can see if there are other career paths that might be a better fit for you than the one that you are in that may not have as many jobs.” Erwin encourages students to stay in school and earn that degree. “If you are still in school, I say stay the course, the economy is constantly changing and the job market is constantly changing, so there is a good chance that you are going to have something when you get out of school.” To read the Harris Interactive survey on career majors, visit www.CareerBuilder.com.