Many college graduates are following career paths different from their major. According to a recent survey from CareerBuilder, 47 percent of college-educated workers said their first job after graduating was in a field unrelated to their major. As they grew older, many continued to work outside their area of study. Among workers aged 35 and older, 31 percent said they never found a job related to their major.
One reason for the trend could be a professional job market that worsened while many graduates were in school. During their time in college, 28 percent of respondents said demand for their major decreased, while only 13 percent said it increased.
"In a tough economic climate, college graduates must be flexible and open to taking positions outside their area of study, said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. "Taking the knowledge gained in college and branching out with it in unexpected directions is common after graduating."
As recent graduates continue to explore new fields, employers can try to accommodate their fluid career paths. Offering positions as temporary workers could allow recent grads to try out new industries without long-term commitment.
