What Can I Do With My Degree? Find Careers That Fit

Start with what your degree taught you

Your degree represents a combination of subject knowledge, practice, and work habits. Make a list of what you studied, but also note what you actually did: analyze information, write for an audience, conduct research, make presentations, use software, coordinate a project, or solve a problem.

Separate knowledge from transferable skills. Knowing a subject may help in roles close to your major. Skills such as clear writing or organizing a project can apply across fields, but you still need to show how you used them. Connect each claimed skill to evidence: a class project, internship, paid job, community activity, or portfolio example.

Do not assume a degree title maps directly to one occupation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics explains how fields of degree can be linked to occupations using job-duty classifications. That is a useful way to widen your search, not a promise that every graduate qualifies for every listed job.

How to match your degree to careers that fit

A broader career search works best when you compare a role’s actual tasks with what you want to do and what you can demonstrate. List activities you enjoy or do well, such as explaining ideas, working with data, helping people, building things, or coordinating details. Then look for job postings that use those activities and check whether the work environment suits you.

Career guides can help you generate options. For example, the UC Davis Career Center’s “What Can I Do with This Major?” profiles describe common paths, types of employers, and ways to build opportunities across many majors. Use such guides as starting points, then confirm details in current job postings and official occupation resources.

Hypothetical example: A history graduate who enjoyed researching and explaining evidence might explore policy research, communications, or records-related work. The next step is to compare the day-to-day tasks and entry requirements, not to assume the major alone qualifies them.

Who benefits from exploring options, and what are the entry requirements?

Career exploration is useful whether you are a recent graduate, an experienced worker, or returning to work after a break. You do not need to have a fixed career goal before starting. Begin with a few questions: What tasks give you energy? What do you need from work, such as predictable hours or a particular location? What financial or accessibility constraints affect your choices?

If you are considering another degree or training program, read its admission requirements before assuming you qualify. Requirements differ by institution and program. Check prerequisites, application materials, schedule, location, and whether prior learning or experience is relevant. Ask an admissions office to clarify requirements in writing when needed.

A career assessment can support reflection on interests or motivations, but self-reported preferences do not establish ability or guarantee a good match. Assessment.com’s MAPP assessment may be a practical starting point for exploring motivations. Treat any results as questions to investigate alongside your experience, job research, finances, and real-world exploration.

Tuition, costs, and financial aid if you need more education

Looking for work and choosing another program are different financial decisions. If you are job hunting, account for expenses such as transportation, interview clothing, or training materials where relevant. If you are considering school, compare the full cost, not just the listed tuition. Ask the institution for a current cost of attendance that applies to your program and enrollment pattern.

Costs can include fees, books, equipment, commuting, housing, and income you may give up while studying. Financial aid availability and eligibility depend on your circumstances and the institution. Review aid information directly with the school and confirm deadlines before relying on an award or borrowing.

Do not assume another credential will pay for itself. Compare total expected expense and time with the specific jobs it may help you qualify for. If the program does not clearly address a requirement you have verified in job postings, pause and investigate lower-cost alternatives.

Factors to consider when choosing a program

When comparing programs, start with the career requirement you are trying to meet. Then review the curriculum, learning format, total cost, schedule, practical experience, and outcomes that the school can document. Ask whether courses teach the specific knowledge or skills employers request, and how you can demonstrate what you learn.

• Relevance: Does the curriculum match the target role’s stated requirements?
• Practical learning: Are projects, supervised practice, or portfolio work part of the program when relevant?
• Flexibility: Can you attend while working or meeting caregiving responsibilities?
• Transparency: Can the school explain total costs, completion expectations, and any additional requirements?
• Alternatives: Could a single course, certificate, or relevant work experience meet the same need?

Compare at least two options where possible. A program that is convenient is not automatically the best fit if it does not prepare you for your intended work.

Related degrees, credentials, and alternatives to a new degree

A career change does not always require another bachelor’s degree. Depending on your goal, you might build on your current degree through a targeted course, certificate, portfolio, supervised experience, or an entry-level role. Some occupations do require specific education or credentials, so verify that before selecting an alternative route.

Think in terms of the gap between your current qualifications and a specific job’s requirements. If postings repeatedly ask for a tool you have not used, a short course and a project may help you test the field. If they require a regulated qualification, a course that is not recognized for that purpose may not be enough.

Hypothetical example: A graduate interested in public relations might first create writing samples and seek a communications-related project. If target postings consistently request specialized preparation, the graduate can then compare relevant programs rather than enrolling based only on a broad career idea.

Credential levels, formats, and completion time

Education can range from a short course or certificate to an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or professional degree. These credentials are not interchangeable, and the level you need depends on the job. Some employers care most about a relevant degree; others may accept equivalent experience or a combination of training and demonstrated skill.

Programs also differ in format: in person, online, hybrid, full time, or part time. Completion time depends on the credential, course schedule, prior credits, and individual circumstances. Check the specific school’s current program information rather than relying on a general estimate.

Before enrolling, ask how the credential is recognized by employers in your target field, whether it meets any stated prerequisites, and what additional steps remain after graduation. A program’s advertised duration is not necessarily the time every student will need.

Careers, jobs, and employment outlook

Potential careers depend on your degree, experience, location, and the requirements of each employer. Some graduates pursue work closely related to their major; others apply general skills in fields such as communications, business, fundraising, or administration. These examples describe possibilities, not guaranteed outcomes or a complete list.

To research employment prospects, look up specific occupations rather than relying on broad claims about a major. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ occupation and field-of-degree resources can help you understand how education fields relate to jobs. Check the date, geography, duties, and entry requirements of any labor-market information you use. National information may not describe openings or pay in your local area.

Hypothetical example: A graduate who enjoys writing and organizing might compare grant-related work with communications roles. They should review current local postings, note required experience, and speak with someone familiar with the work before deciding which route to pursue.

Accreditation, licensure, and certification: what to verify

Many jobs do not require a professional license, but some occupations have rules set by a state or other regulator. A degree or general certificate does not automatically authorize someone to practice in a regulated field. Requirements can include particular coursework, supervised experience, examinations, or an application.

Check the relevant state licensing board or official regulator for the location where you intend to work. Confirm that the program you are considering meets the applicable education requirements, and ask what steps remain after graduation. For certifications, distinguish a voluntary credential valued by some employers from a legal license required to perform certain work.

If you are not sure whether a role is regulated, review official occupation information and current job postings, then verify with the appropriate regulator. Do this before paying for training marketed as a route into the field.

Affordability and ways to fund further education

Make affordability part of the career decision, not an afterthought. Compare the total program cost with your available savings, expected aid, borrowing, and the income you may lose if you reduce work hours. Ask the school about grants, scholarships, payment plans, employer assistance, and eligibility rules. Do not treat an unconfirmed award as guaranteed funding.

Consider lower-cost ways to answer your first question. A library resource, informational interview, introductory course, small independent project, or short-term work experience may help you test interest before committing to a long program. These options are not substitutes for required credentials, but they can help you avoid paying for education before you know what you need.

Compare the funding offer and conditions from each institution. If borrowing is involved, understand repayment terms and estimate whether the commitment is manageable for your circumstances. A career path that requires extensive retraining may still be right for you, but it should be a deliberate choice.

Next steps: evaluate whether a career path fits

Use this short process to turn a broad question into a practical decision:

1. Write down three skills or subjects from your degree that you can support with examples.
2. Choose two or three job titles that use at least one of those skills.
3. Read several current postings for each title. Note duties, qualifications, schedule, location, and recurring skill requirements.
4. Talk with someone who knows the work. Ask what a typical day involves, what beginners often misunderstand, and how people enter the field.
5. Test one option with a modest project, course, volunteer activity, or related assignment where accessible.
6. Only then compare any additional education against verified requirements, time, total cost, and alternatives.

Ask yourself: Do I want the daily tasks, not just the title? Can I meet the entry requirements? What would training cost in money and time? What evidence would help me decide whether to continue?

For career guidance, bring your shortlist, job postings, and questions to a college career center or counselor if available. An assessment such as MAPP can add a perspective on motivations, but your decision should combine reflection with evidence about the work and your own constraints.

Sources and career research resources

Sources used:

• University of California, Davis Career Center, “What Can I Do with My Major or Degree?”
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Linking college majors to careers”

These resources support career exploration and degree-to-occupation connections. They do not establish that a particular job is available in your area or that a specific program is required for your goals.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find jobs related to my degree?

Start with the skills and knowledge you used in coursework, projects, jobs, and other responsibilities. Search for job postings that use those skills, then compare their daily tasks and requirements with what you want and can realistically pursue. A degree-to-career guide can help you generate ideas, but postings and conversations with people in the field help you check fit.

Can I get a job outside my major?

Yes. Some employers recruit graduates from a range of majors for roles that depend on writing, research, organization, analysis, or communication. Requirements vary by job, and some occupations require a particular degree, license, or specialized training. Check current postings and official occupation information rather than assuming every role is open to any graduate.

Should I go back to school if I cannot find a job in my field?

Not necessarily. First compare the jobs you want with their actual entry requirements. You may be able to qualify through relevant projects, work experience, a short course, or an entry-level role. Further education may make sense when it is required for your target occupation or provides a clear benefit that justifies its cost and time.

Can a career assessment tell me what job is right for me?

A career assessment can help you reflect on interests, motivations, or preferences and generate ideas to research. Self-reported results do not prove that you have a skill, predict job performance, or guarantee satisfaction. Treat the results as one input alongside your experience, constraints, job research, and conversations with people doing the work.

How do I know whether I need another degree or certification?

Check the job duties, required education, experience, and any license or certification listed by employers and official occupation resources. Compare those requirements with your current qualifications. Where rules vary by state or occupation, confirm them with the relevant state licensing board or official regulator before enrolling in a program.

Can I change careers without getting a new degree?

Possibly. A change can be realistic when you can show relevant skills or build the specific qualifications an employer expects. Identify a target role, compare its requirements with your background, and test the transition through a project, course, volunteer activity, or related entry-level work before making a costly commitment.

People Also Ask

What careers can I get with my degree?

Your major is one clue, not a complete list of job options. Look at what you learned, the tasks you performed, and skills you can show. Then research roles that use similar skills, including roles in other industries. The University of California, Davis Career Center’s major profiles can help you explore common paths and employers for a range of majors.

Does a degree guarantee a job?

A degree can help qualify you for some roles, but it does not guarantee a job or a particular salary. Employers may also look for experience, specific technical skills, a license, or evidence of practical work. Review current job postings in your location and compare your qualifications with their stated requirements.

How can I match my major to a career?

Start with job titles that sound relevant, but do not stop there. Read several postings and note recurring tasks, tools, and qualifications. The Bureau of Labor Statistics connects fields of degree with occupations, which can broaden your initial search; verify current requirements and local opportunities before making a decision.

What jobs can I get with any bachelor’s degree?

Possibly. Some employers consider graduates from different majors for roles where communication, research, analysis, organization, or relationship-building matter. Whether you qualify depends on the specific role and your evidence of relevant skills. Some fields have strict education, certification, or licensing requirements.

How do I choose a career that fits me?

Begin with the daily work you want to do, not just a job title or assessment result. Compare your interests and strengths with job duties, entry requirements, work settings, cost of training, and likely schedule. Try a low-cost project, course, or informational conversation to test promising options before committing.

Is getting a second degree worth it?

A second degree may be useful when it is a clear requirement for your goal or offers a worthwhile route to needed skills. Before enrolling, compare the curriculum, total cost, time to completion, financial aid, and alternatives such as a certificate, prerequisite course, or relevant experience.