General Studies graduates work in a wide range of careers in a variety of industries including health care, business, pharmaceutical, non-profit, finance, technology and education. They also attend graduate and professional schools. Because General Studies is such a flexible degree, the key to successfully reaching YOUR goal is to tailor and market your degree (Tips for Marketing Your Degree) by earning certificates and minors, participating in internships, or by carefully selecting courses that will serve you when it is time to look for a job or apply to graduate or professional school.

Following are some of the jobs held by graduates of General Studies. Click on the titles to find out more about these graduates, how they secured their position, the reasons they chose General Studies and their advice to General Studies students.

Community Planning Consultant

Pre-Press Specialist

Assistant Professor, Executive Director of the Institute for Emerging Careers and Director of Outreach and Grants

Report Manager

Academic Advisor

Southern Field Supervisor

For assistance with defining your goals and ways to achieve your goals; applying for an internship, job or graduate school; and creating a resume and interviewing for a job go to the IUPUI Career Center http://www.career.iupui.edu/studentsf.html. The Career Center holds workshops throughout the semester. Be sure to check their list of Upcoming Events to find events that will be helpful to you.

Career Resources

The Career Center has a library of resources that is open to students. They also publish two student guides every year. "STEP Ahead to Your Future" walks students through the STEP (Self-assessment, Target, Evaluate and Plan) model which is designed to assist students in planning their career goals. The IUPUI Career Guide prepares students for the job search by providing information about writing resumes and cover letters, conducting a job search, and interviewing. Both publications are free to students.

For more information on writing a resume, interviewing, conducting a job search, and networking, consult the Professional Job Search Tips of the IUPUI Career Center website.

Tips for Marketing Your Degree

Resume
Objective – write an objective that is specific to the type of career or job that you want. You might need to have more than one resume if you are looking for more than one kind of job.

Example Objective:
I would like to utilize my knowledge of non-profit management and public relations to obtain a position organizing events for a non-profit organization.

Do not have a general, generic objective. Example:
I would like to utilize my organizational abilities and people skills to work for a secure company in a position with potential for advancement.

Highlight relevant academic accomplishments including

GPA

Certificates

Minors

Internships

Information from your portfolio

Activities

Volunteer experience


Articulate in your resume or cover letter the advantage of pursuing a General Studies Degree.
For example, do not say that you can finish more quickly with a General Studies Degree. Rather, explain that the flexibility of the degree allowed you to incorporate more of the credits you earned, utilize your life experience, and pursue specific interests.