I pursued my BA in History and Archaeology and did a minor in Philosophy. I am having difficulties finding a job as employers are asking for specific degrees and years of experience, which I do not have. What advice can you give me on how to seek out jobs that might match my area of study or qualification? Also, I am starting my MA this September in Heritage Studies, even though I would like to change this major as it does not seem marketable.I am looking forward to your reply.

PURSUING philosophy, history and archeology will present problems to secure employment, even in times when the economy is booming.

However, all is not lost. You do have options.

In order to identify jobs which match your area of study or qualification, you need to research the companies or agencies that may employ you. These will fall under the field of culture and include entities such as the Cultural Commission, the Institute of Jamaica, the Jamaica Memory Bank, Registrar of Births and Deaths, and in the education sector as teachers of history and social studies.

In a more general way, a university graduate at the bachelor’s level in this area should be able to find a job in any sector or organisation. Organisations are not only looking for people who pursue certain areas of specialisation. Some organisations are looking for people with broad-based skills and competencies – people who are able to think analytically, with good communication skills (oral and written), and who have a strong sense of commitment to meeting organisational goals. They are also interested in people who are lifelong learners, who possess good interpersonal and information technology skills and who are creative thinkers.

With your qualifications, you should be able to do historical research, write reports, think critically and analytically, and manage your time well. Hopefully, with your co-curricular involvement, you can be confident that you can plan and organise events and relate to a variety of people. You therefore need to do an analysis of your skills and competencies and relate these skills and competencies to the various job profiles. Areas such as customer service and administration in a variety of organisations should also be considered.

The résumé

How you write your résumé is also going to be very important. You will have to include those skills and competencies you possess that are relevant to the job. Remember the résumé is that important job search tool that will help you to get that crucial interview.

The résumé, for someone like you who does not have much work experience, should reflect your skills and competencies, involvement in community, co-curricular activities or volunteer activities.

Also, how well you present yourself at the interview will later prove important. It is not only the type of degree you pursue; you must be confident that with your general degree, you can bring greater variety to the job. If you think that you are at a disadvantage, you will bring negative thoughts and feelings to the interview which will be observed by the interviewer.

Pursuing graduate studies

Pursuing graduate studies should be carefully considered. Unlike your bachelor’s degree, it is a highly specialised area of study. Is this the area in which you want to pursue a career? What are the major occupational areas/skills and competencies which will be learnt? These, along with its marketability and your interest in the area, should be considered.

You also need to consider whether the time is right for pursuing graduate studies, since you are unsure of which area of specialisation to pursue. Why did you choose heritage studies? Is it that you believe that your options at the graduate level are limited? You may need to get advice from a career counsellor. Remember that you will be investing a lot of time, energy and money in graduate work, so you will want to be sure that you are pursuing the right area of study.

When you pursue what you enjoy doing and what you think is leading you in the direction of your career objective, you will get a greater sense of purpose for studying and making all the sacrifices. Based on all of these factors, you are more likely to succeed.

The job search has many challenges and must be properly planned if success is to be achieved. The job-seeker must be aware of his/her skills and competencies and be able to link these with related vacancies. A high level of self-confidence and patience are required for success.

Merrit Henry is the student services and development manager at the University of the West Indies, Mona. She may be contacted at merrit.henry@uwimona.edu.jm.