Seven careers you can enter with any degree

Choosing what to study at university can be a daunting task - the possibility of choosing the ‘wrong’ subject, and having opportunities closed off to you because of it, is enough to worry anyone.

But according to research, only 27% of graduates are working in a job related to their degree subject. In fact, there are plenty of rewarding, well-paid careers open to all graduates, leaving you free to choose the subject that interests you the most. Here are just seven of them: 
 

Management consultant  

What you’ll do 

Management consultants help organisations to work efficiently and solve problems. They often take employment with a management consultancy firm, such as Deloitte or KPMG. Organisations then hire them to advise on things like business strategy, human resources, and IT. 

Some management consultants specialise in a particular sector, such as healthcare or hospitality. 

What you’ll need 

• excellent numeracy and IT skills
• presentation skills
• problem-solving skills
• interpersonal and communication skills

Management consultancy is open to graduates with any degree, although a subject that develops strong numeracy and problem-solving skills (such as business, mathematics, or science) might be advantageous. Alternatively, you could study a subject related to the sector you want to work in, such as health or engineering. A 2:1 is required for many graduate training schemes. 

For more information on salary, career progression, and qualifications, take a look at our management consultant page in the Careers library.

Journalist

What you’ll do 

Journalists (also known as reporters) investigate and write up stories for newspapers and magazines. The type of story depends on the publication they work for – they might write a news report on a political event for the national press or a feature on Nordic Noir thrillers for a film magazine. Whatever their specialism, they need to keep a finger on the pulse for new stories.

What you’ll need 

• research skills
• excellent writing skills
• strong listening and questioning skills
• determination and resilience

Although most journalists have a degree, it doesn’t need to be in journalism or English. Any essay-based degree subject (such as history, anthropology, classics, or philosophy) would strengthen your research and writing skills, and a degree in science or technology would benefit anyone who specialises in that field of journalism. Many American Scientist writers, for example, are experts in their field of science. 

If you complete a non-journalism undergraduate degree, you can then complete a professional qualification or post-graduate degree in journalism. 

For more information on salary, career progression, and qualifications, take a look at our newspaper journalist and magazine journalist pages in the Careers library.

School teacher 

What you’ll do 

School teachers look after the educational, social, and emotional development of children. They teach younger children (within a primary/elementary school) or older children (within a secondary/middle /high school). A typical day will include lesson planning, teaching, marking, replying to emails, and updating class records. 

What you’ll need 

• the ability to inspire and motivate
• the ability to manage classes and deal with challenging behaviour
• creativity, to design activities and materials
• organisation and planning skills

The entry requirements for becoming a teacher vary from country to country. Although you can choose to study for a degree in education, there’s often the option to complete a degree in any subject you want, followed by teacher training. If you want to teach in a secondary school, you'll have to teach a subject related to your undergraduate degree.  

For more information on salary, career progression, and qualifications, take a look at our primary school teacher and secondary school teacher pages in the Careers library.
 

Lawyer 

What you’ll do 

Lawyers provide legal services to their clients. In some countries, such as South Africa and the UK, there are two types of lawyers: solicitors/attorneys, who give legal advice to their clients and prepare cases for court, and barristers/advocates, who represent their clients in court. In other countries, the two roles are fused together. 

Many lawyers specialise in one area of law, such as criminal law, property law, or family law. 

What you’ll need

• the ability to understand and interpret complex language
• research and analysis skills
• excellent communication skills (including public speaking if you want to become a barrister)
• the ability to manage your time, prioritise, and meet deadlines

You can study law as an undergraduate degree (sometimes known as a Bachelor of Laws LLB), but many countries also offer law as a graduate degree (such as the Juris Doctor in the US), which means that you can first complete an undergraduate degree in any field. 

For more information on salary, career progression, and qualifications, take a look at our barrister and solicitor pages in the Careers library.

Politician

What you’ll do 

If you want to influence the way your country is run, it’s worth considering a career in politics:

• Government representatives (such as Members of Parliament and Members of Congress) represent the political beliefs of those who live in their area and vote on new laws and policies.
• Diplomats create, preserve, and repair their country’s relationships with other countries.
• Lobbyists create campaigns to influence policy and law.

What you’ll need

• a strong understanding of the current political issues in your country
• excellent communication skills, including public speaking
• strong research and analysis skills
• the ability to persuade and motivate others

Many people who work in politics hold a degree, but enthusiasm for your cause is valued more highly than your degree subject. That said, a humanities degree (such as politics, history, or philosophy) would provide you with valuable research and communication skills. 

For more information on salary, career progression, and qualifications, take a look at our MP, diplomat, and lobbyist pages in the Careers library.

Intelligence officer 

What you’ll do 

Intelligence officers help to keep their country secure by gathering and analysing intelligence data. This could mean detecting organised crime, assessing the reliability of a source, working undercover, or analysing data using specialist software.

As well as government agencies such as India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the UK’s Military Intelligence, Sections 6 (MI6), and the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), you could work for your country’s police service or armed forces. 

What you’ll need 

• excellent communication and presentation skills
• the ability to build strong relationships with people
• research skills and the ability to pay attention to detail
• analytical skills to write and understand complex data

The intelligence community recruits people from a diverse range of backgrounds, and many agencies (such as MI6) offer training schemes to graduates with any degree. Your choice of degree might influence the area you can specialise in, however. An intelligence officer who needs to get information from a foreign chemical warfare scientist, for instance, would benefit from a degree in chemistry! 

For more information on salary, career progression, and qualifications, take a look at our Intelligence officer page in the Careers library.

Investment banker

What you’ll do 

Investment bankers help companies to achieve their financial goals, whether that’s to merge with another company, begin a big project, or increase profitability. They provide their clients with expert advice and serve as a link between the company and its investors. 

You could work for an international investment bank (such as Goldman Sachs), the investment banking department of a large commercial bank (such as Deutsche Bank), or a specialist independent investment bank (such as Lazard and Rothschild). 

What you’ll need 

• dedication, energy, and commitment
• attention to detail
• numerical and analytical skills
• the ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines

Investment banks recruit graduates from across all academic disciplines, but competition is fierce, and you’ll often need a 2:1 degree or higher with a strong, consistent academic record. Some international investment banks, such as Morgan Stanley, will favour applicants with a second or third language.  

For more information on salary, career progression, and qualifications, take a look at our Investment banker page in the Careers library.


Good to know: Graduate schemes

If you're still unsure which career you'd like to pursue after your degree, a graduate scheme can be a great way to start your professional journey.

Graduate schemes are training schemes businesses offer to graduates, so you can learn the skills of one or several different roles in the company, whilst earning an income. They usually last one or two years, and can sometimes (but not always) lead to a permanent job offer.

Industries which offer graduate schemes include:

- finance
- law
- HR (Human Resources, sometimes called People teams)
- IT (Information Technology)
- charities
- healthcare
- transport
- retail and sales
- marketing and media
- public services (like government departments).

Take a look at the websites and social media channels of companies you're interested in to see if they offer a graduate scheme.
 

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