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Career preparation workshop gives humanities majors the tools they need to build a successful future

Humanities majors at ������Ƶ develop more than a deep understanding of their particular discipline; they develop valuable skills that can lead to career success in a variety of fields. In the fall, Jordan Biro Walters, associate professor of history and Katherine Holt, Aileen Dunham Professor of History, led a new workshop to help history, philosophy, and other humanistic social science undergraduates explore possible career options and develop the tools they need to be competitive in the job market.

“I’ve had a lot of conversations in my mentoring with students where they thought that if you were a history major, it meant you had to be a historian,” Holt said. “Through this class, we want to help students think about how the skills they’re learning, such as critical thinking, writing, analysis, and teamwork, are related to a diversity of careers.”

Katherine Holt, Aileen Dunham Professor of History

The class attracted a variety of students, from undeclared sophomores who weren’t sure what they wanted to do with their lives to senior history majors who had a clear path ahead of them. Walters and Holt designed the class to meet students where they were in their career journey. Students interested in applying for a job or an internship refined their cover letter and resume as part of the course, for example, while students who were applying for graduate school worked on their statement of purpose. For their final project, students created a comprehensive portfolio of polished materials to assist them with the next stages of their career exploration.

Several alumni spoke to the class about their career paths. Megan Conklin ’23, assistant director of annual giving at ������Ƶ, discussed using the communication and digital skills she developed while earning her History degree to make her an attractive job candidate. Megan Smeznik ’14, educational technology designer at Kent State University, explored the importance of building interdisciplinary skills. Abby Blinka ’19, a doctoral student in social history and policy at Case Western Reserve University, and Theresa Dunne ’17, who received her master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and now works as a community development research analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, discussed their graduate school experiences.

Jordan Biro Walters, associate professor of history

“We wanted students to see success at different career points, especially early career,” Walters said. “A lot of times students have somewhat skewed expectations of what kind of job they can get when they first graduate. We thought bringing in alumni who are very early in their career could help students realize what a good job straight out of college might look like.”

Walters and Holt collaborated with Director for Career Planning Ashleigh Best and other staff from APEX, ������Ƶ’s Center for Advising, Planning, and Experiential Learning, to develop the course. In addition to presentations on everything from using ������Ƶ’s alumni network as a source for warm leads to academic life coaching, APEX staff provided readings, videos, and other resources. Global and international studies major Ben Byars ’24 also presented on his APEX Fellowship experience with the World Affairs Council.

Mia Mann ’24

“The workshop allowed me to dedicate time and energy to figuring out what my personal career goals are and what values I want to uphold when looking for employment,” said Mia Mann ’24, who is double majoring in anthropology and East Asian history. “One of the most impactful assignments we had was in our career conversations unit. We were instructed to schedule a meeting with ������Ƶ alumni who hold careers in a field or company we were interested in. Through this project, my peers and I were able to create some very strong connections that will be helpful to us in the future.”

“This workshop has played a crucial role in boosting my confidence and easing my communication with professionals, whether alumni or individuals whose careers I find inspiring,” said Fridosse Adam Idrissou ’26, a French and history double major. “The tangible plan I’ve developed provides me with a clear direction for my future. Moreover, the class has positively influenced my perspective on issues such as burnout and setting boundaries.”

Fridosse Adam Idrissou ’26

Walters and Holt plan on teaching the course again in spring 2025. “Depending on demand, we might build on it from there,” Holt said. “I think word of mouth will demonstrate its value. Students are coming out of it with a lot of things that are going to be really helpful, whether they’re looking for an internship over the summer or applying to law school.”

Posted in Experiential Learning on January 12, 2024.