Philosophy : Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Higher education lecturer - teaches academic or vocational subjects to undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18 and over, using methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical laboratory demonstrations and field work. You may also undertake research activities.
• Further education lecturer - teaches in a general or specialist college of FE, a tertiary college, sixth form college or adult and community education centre.
• Secondary school teacher - develops work and lesson plans and teaches in line with curriculum objectives.

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Civil Service fast streamer - works in a series of responsible roles as policy adviser, project leader, consultant or researcher to support the work of government, rotating around several of the government departments or agencies.
• Local government officer - responsible for assisting in the development of council policies and procedures and ensuring they are put into practice so that local services are delivered effectively. A diverse and wide-ranging role covering many specialist areas.
• Barrister - specialist in advocacy, representing individuals or organisations in court, under instruction from a solicitor or another designated professional. Also gives advice to their professional clients, who are usually solicitors.
• Health services manager - responsible for the provision and commissioning of local healthcare through the management of hospital, general practitioner (GP) and community health services. Liaises with clinical and non-clinical staff and staff in partner organisations, while considering the demands of political policy and local circumstances.
• Marketing executive - establishes and maintains contact with clients, organises and evaluates advertising campaigns and develops long-term marketing strategies. Involved in aspects of marketing, including: planning; advertising; promotion; public/media relations; product development; distribution; sponsorship; and research.
• Newspaper journalist - sources, researches and writes stories for publication in local, regional and national press and, increasingly, newspaper websites. Covers a range of topics, including news, politics, culture, sport, science, local and national events, entertainment, lifestyle and 'human interest' stories.
• Recruitment consultant - responsible for helping employer clients to recruit staff for job vacancies. Develops an understanding of the client's requirements, identifies potential staff by assessing candidates' skills through interviews, tests and background checks, then makes recommendations to the client.
• Solicitor - Solicitors advise and act for clients and give advice on areas of law such as property, tax, employment, finance, intellectual property or competition law.
• Psychotherapist - works with individuals, couples, families and groups to help them overcome a range of psychological and emotional issues. Helps clients find new ways to deal with, and alleviate, their distress.

Other options

You may want to consider enhancing your long-term employment prospects by gaining short-term work experience or doing voluntary work. Entry-level work, perhaps in an office, can provide an insight into the way a company or institution operates, the long-term employment options available and the general work environment. It can also help you decide on whether you want to work in the public, private or voluntary sector. Entry-level work in very competitive areas such as media, PR and publishing is also a very good way of ‘getting a foot in the door’ and may lead to rewarding long-term work.

Jobs can be found through personal contacts, advertisements in the local press, registering with a recruitment agency, your university careers service and jobcentres.

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.

Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.