Oh the Humanity: Studying the Humanities in College and How to Use them in Life

“I hope they’re hiring at the English factory.” It’s an old joke, and not a particularly good one, but it encapsulates what some people think when they hear a young person say that he is planning to major in English or history or art or philosophy, or anything that’s not culturally deemed a “practical” course of study. But there are, in fact, a variety of benefits to majoring in the humanities and you can actually end up being something other than a museum curator or high school English teacher or philosophy-minded barista. I’ll be honest: it may not be an easy or direct path, but it can pay off in the long run.

I often share my personal story of post-college employment tribulations with my students who have that family member who says “I hope the History factory is hiring.” My first job with my shiny, new English degree, you may ask? I was a customer service clerk at a grocery store. Yup, a job for which British Lit, iambic pentameter, and literary terminology are obviously prerequisites. After that, I endured a (seemingly) endless number of retail jobs that didn’t exactly tap into my English skills. Slowly and through persistence, though, my experiences in retail and other fields not directly related to my studies began to lead to opportunities. My humanities background has helped immensely in speaking to and working with people. It has allowed me to exploit my writing abilities and venture into fields such as marketing and copywriting. It has allowed me to experience the book business and to become ensconced in the world of education. Even today, my resume continues to expand, as I’m now adding freelancing and blogging to my LinkedIn profile.

Though I am clearly a supporter of majoring in humanities-related areas of study, I certainly do not think that studying humanities is somehow superior to studying anything else. My focus on the humanities was simply right for me. I am a bookworm. I’m not a salesman, I stink at math, and I don’t thrive in high-pressure situations. I do, however, enjoy talking to people, listening, and being able to teach and help those who need it. My small college humanities experience helped greatly with my latent ability to create dialogue with students and to tap into my empathic side when listening to them.

I know many English majors who have gone into law school. While not a path I would take due to limitations mentioned above, many of them have segued into successful law careers at firms and non-profits alike. Others have gone on to be teachers at both the secondary and graduate school levels. Still others have branched out into Psychology, counseling, and social work. The point is that while the humanities are sometimes maligned (see “English factory” joke above), they can offer a foundation upon which one can build a multitude of impactful skills which can lead to career success.

I myself am currently venturing into graduate-level studies in Psychology, something I doubt I would have become interested in or been prepared to understand without the bedrock my English major provided. In the field of education, for instance, a humanistic viewpoint is essential. This is at the foundation of the humanities, and it clearly provides an invaluable insight into working creatively and flexibly, understanding others, and being successful and effective in fields such as education or psychology, which rely so heavily on human understanding.

Written by Phil Lane