“So, what are you going to do with your humanities degree?”

This has got to be the most frequently asked question humanities majors get asked about, and to some extent, HUMSS students. Unfortunately, the Humanities and Social Sciences aren’t perceived as valuable as STEM or ABM. Some corporations, institutions, and even families question the value of humanities in today’s realities. HUMSS jobs seem to be as rare as they can get.

Contrary to popular belief, there are a lot of HUMSS-related job opportunities in the Philippines. From the biggest social enterprises to tech companies, people are finally realizing that in order to tackle today’s social and technological problems, we need to think about these challenges in a human aspect. Although these jobs aren’t as “in demand” as other STEM jobs, they’re as valuable for businesses and organizations of varying scales.

Humanities graduates aren’t limited to being politicians or news reporters. Here are some jobs you should consider when you’re equipped with a degree in the humanities.

Psychology – Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology

Psych majors are equipped with the necessary skills that cover both arts and sciences-related tasks. Although a handful of psychology graduates become professional psychologists, a lot get to work in related fields.One of these fields include commercial and industrial companies. Psych graduates can pursue a career in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) psychologist.

What do they do?

Simply put, they work on projects that improve the employability of the organization members. If a clinical psychologist puts a single patient on the couch, an I/O psychologist puts the whole organization on the couch. I/O psychologists determine the success of the members by studying factors that improve work behaviors and apply it to the whole organization.

History – Product Marketing

History majors earn analytical, communication, and research skills from their degree. Employers see these skills as highly valuable, regardless of the industry. They can go beyond the path most history majors take by taking a career in product marketing.

What do they do?

Most marketing departments of companies are usually composed of members who come from different kinds of educational backgrounds. If one were to find a history major in that department, it would be in the product marketing segment. Product marketers build products backed by creativity and research, two of the many skills that history majors possess. Since product marketing is all about understanding the customer, they have leverage thanks to their ability to approach problems with an open mind, and to think objectively.

Anthropology – Public Relations

A degree in anthropology doesn’t automatically mean one should dive exclusively in anthropological work. Somehow, anthropology majors can be valuable to organizations that require traveling or directly interacting with people.

Anthropology majors diving into the world of public relations (PR) is actually viable. Subjects covered in anthropology include learning cross-cultural perspectives, which is very helpful in dealing with people from different walks of life. After all, anthropology is the study of the human animal, both cultural and biological.

What do they do?

PR is all about managing the reputation of brands or personalities. This includes influencing opinion and behavior of the target audience. Thus, PR practitioners are also responsible in fostering community relations through public events and community initiatives. They are also in charge of maintaining a good communicative relationship with key spokespeople for the client. These tasks can greatly appeal to anthropology majors since they will deal with concerns of the client’s stakeholders, which can be culturally diverse.

Role of HUMSS in the Job Industry

Evidently, a humanities degree does not limit you to a small number of job opportunities. This is something that HUMSS students should consider, as well. As problems evolve throughout time, the way people drive solutions evolve as well, even if they strayed far from their field of study. Hence, humanities majors exhibit the flexibility and creativity needed by our society today, and the near future.

So, how will you use your humanities degree?

Learn about the amazing career stories of distinguished individuals here.