GENDER STUDIES
WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR HELP?
For career and job-related information:
Kate Whetman
Career Services Counselor
kwhetman@sa.utah.edu
801-585-5032
350 Student Services Building
Make an appointment with me to talk about pursuing jobs, fine-tuning your resume, perfecting your interviewing skills, and negotiating the best possible salary.
For academic advising contact:
Gerda Saunders
Bldg. 44,
room 218
801-581-8094
Gerda.Saunders@m.cc.utah.edu
She can best answer questions about the nuts and bolts of classes/schedules.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN GENDER STUDIES?
Perhaps a better question is what can’t you do? Gender Studies is a good liberal arts degree that can open all kinds of doors. As a general rule, people with this major demonstrate a lot of energy and passion for what they do. What qualities could be better for an employer?
Typical Career Paths:
- The most “typical” career paths are working for nonprofit associations, in government and/or in social service situations, or research/academia.
- Many students use this liberal arts degree to pursue jobs in business. There is some evidence that liberal arts grads climb the corporate ladder faster than business majors.
- Why? Because their liberal arts education has taught them to be flexible, willing to try things a new way and embrace change as a positive experience.
- Most students who want to focus their career on social service will plan to get more education down the road. This will not only increase their marketability, but will increase their earning power.
- Research and academic fields usually require a Ph.D.
Volunteer experience and internships:
Volunteer opportunities abound in social service, nonprofit and political arenas. These can be just as valuable as a paid internship. Both situations offer you a true hands-on, close-up view of what a job is really like. Volunteering doesn’t have to be a major time commitment to be a great resume item. If you need upper division elective credit, read all about our Internship program to see if it’s right for you. Jobs may be paid or unpaid.
TIMELINE CONSIDERATIONS:
Freshman
- Sign up with UCareerLink at http://careers.utah.edu. This will give you access to both student and career job listings and put you in the loop for occasional emails.
- Attend Student Employment fairs to connect with employers hiring part time.
- Still struggling with your major? Visit the Career Library for excellent resources.
- Come see me! We can talk about future plans and academic emphasis.
Sophomore
- Consider taking the Career & Life Planning class (Ed Psych 2610).
- Start considering your first internship.
- Attend career fairs to get a broader picture of employers who hire our students.
- Join student groups and volunteer (great resume items!)
Junior
- Start in-depth career exploration and do information interviewing.
- Continue to attend fall and spring career fairs.
- Do your first internship for credit.
- Start working on your resume.
Senior
- Consider a second internship for credit.
- If you are interested in business positions, start interviewing here in our office with both local and national employers. They often hire up to a full year before graduation.
- Let me know the minute you secure your job! Our goal is to turn you into a statistic
GRADUATE SCHOOL:
You will certainly want to give graduate school some serious consideration if you plan a career in social service (MSW) or public administration (MPA). A graduate degree will add considerably to your level of responsibility and your paycheck. Gender Studies is also an excellent undergraduate degree when pursuing other fields like an MBA or law school. The Career Services library has one entire bookcase devoted to information on graduate programs. And for an overview of every accredited graduate program in the nation, check into the 6-volume Peterson’s Guide to Graduate Programs.
PLACES TO LOOK FOR WHO’S DOING WHAT INTERESTS YOU:
- Human Services Directory is a listing of social service and nonprofit agencies along the Wasatch front. There is also a very user-friendly hard copy in the directory section of the Career Library located here in our office. Use this resource to identify what agencies are involved with the issues/populations that interest you.
- Utah Nonprofits Association has over 300 member organizations. The job board on this web site will show you a huge variety of opportunities, from custodial positions to running the show!
- UCareerLink is our own database of job postings targeting both current students and new grads. If you haven’t registered for this access yet, click here.
RESUMES:
- There are two basic formats for resumes. The more traditional is the chronological which lists your education and work experience (with job duties outlined) in reverse chronology. With liberal arts majors (that’s you!) there tends to be such an eclectic mix of experience and interests that an employer reading such a resume says, “Wow! Great stuff…but where do I fit in?”
- For this reason, I often recommend the functional/targeted format. This allows you to focus on certain skills and accomplishments while de-emphasizing or ignoring items that do not relate to this particular job search. Check out some sample resumes in the resume section of our home page. Then come see me so we can really fine tune your resume to make sure it will show you to best advantage.
What is the difference between a resume and a curriculum vitae (CV)?
- A resume is a one-page overview of your skills and accomplishments. Short, incomplete sentences are used to convey essential points without going into great detail. Because of the brevity of a resume, each word must pack a punch. Utilizing good design tools is essential here to keep your reader’s eye moving down the page. Resume readers generally give a resume 20 seconds (!) to draw them in.
- A CV is easier to write because you are encouraged to include evertthing and in great detail. Particular emphasis is given to academic accomplishments, research, publications, presentations, and affiliations. A CV is typically required only when applying for graduate programs and/or job seeking in academia or research
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:
The information provided here is intentionally non-specific. Your Gender Studies major is very unique in what draws students to it. You have a myriad of diverse interests and options. I recommend reading through Job Info by Major for other majors that relate to your considered path such as, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, just to name a few. You, by nature, refuse to be pigeon-holed and I applaud you!
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