# How Far Off is Your Career from Your Degree? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 12, 2004, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444 "2004-12-12T12:40:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/21 "2004-12-12T20:52:55Z")
Major: Graphic Design Minor: Art History Graduated _cum laude_ So of course I do Data Entry, now! I do a little freelance design, have tutored folks in the graphics capabilities of their Macs, have driven a taxi, worked for four summers cutting cheese (woo hoo!), worked as a puppeteer, 9 years in a garden shop as a cashier… But what I really want to do is direct. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/22 "2004-12-12T21:23:07Z")
Degree in English. Previous jobs: journalist, non-profit marketing/communications, financial services marketing/communications. Current job: academic marketing/communications. I’m the oddball who actually uses an English degree, I guess. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/23 "2004-12-12T22:23:49Z")
> [@davmilasav](#): > > Wow, Kitten! I hand my crown to you! When do you sleep? Sleep? Actually, since I graduated in '79 the jobs have been spaced out pretty much, except for the late 1990’s-early 2000 period when I was working one job full-time, working at a Godiva store part-time and subbing on my off days. And I wasn’t sleeping much because of the apnea. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/24 "2004-12-13T00:37:10Z")
Degree in Computer Science, manage a team of software developers. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/25 "2004-12-13T01:01:38Z")
A friend of mine - well, a friend of a friend - graduated with a major in chemistry. Well, now, and for the past decade or so, he has put vinyl siding on houses. The pay was just better. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/26 "2004-12-13T01:09:37Z")
I have a bachelor of arts in anthropology. I work as the departmental secretary in the property management division at a real estate firm, and write fiction at night. ---
**Author:** ![Lucretia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/27 "2004-12-13T01:58:29Z")
I think I might have the ‘doing the job your degree is in’ award locked up here. I have a BSN, and I am, indeed, a nurse. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/28 "2004-12-13T02:02:00Z")
Degree: B.A. with a major in Psychology Career: I’ve worked in geophysics since I graduated in 1980, and am currently District Geophysicist for an NYSE traded company. Now, I _did_ pursue an eclectic curriculum that included many geology, physics, chemistry and math courses that have probably seen few psych majors pass through, and I’m thankful that employers and the State Board that licenses me have considered that, but the actual degree is in psychology. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/29 "2004-12-13T02:23:54Z")
My original degree is Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in digital hardware. I’ve not used it much outside of hobby interests. However, I have been doing embedded software and systems engineering for quite a few years now, and I just finished a BS in Computer Engineering to formalize what I’ve been doing forever. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/30 "2004-12-13T15:54:54Z")
Degree: Music Therapy Current Job: Editor and writer and newspaper production In between: Used my degree for three years and then moved on to more managerial/teaching jobs in Special Needs; clinical team manager, staff trainer, after school program director, teacher amongst others ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/31 "2004-12-13T16:06:45Z")
Degree in Industrial Engineering. Worked since then running printing presses and doing service work for heavy machinery. I now do graphic design and Research & Development. Can’t say that I’ve ever used anything I learned in college. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/32 "2004-12-13T16:18:41Z")
Degree: Fine Art Illustration/Painting Career: Packaging Designer. I used a Mac once in college, and that was to e-mail somebody. Everything I know now I picked up on the job, although I still paint etc. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/33 "2004-12-13T16:32:49Z")
Oooh Oooh - can I post my sister’s career path? Degree: BA in Psychology, PsyD in Psychology (so she’s a Dr.) Career: Music Director/Performer/Composer for various groups (some famous, some not). She’d almost completed a degree in Composition when she decided there was no money in it & started over in Psychology. Turns out talking to the mentally ill all day kinda sucked. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/34 "2004-12-13T16:43:37Z")
Ph.D. in mathematics. I’ve been a college math professor; now I’m a mathematical statistician for the US government. So my career is fairly close to my degree. ---
**Author:** ![velveeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/13edae/32.png) [@velveeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velveeta)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/35 "2004-12-13T17:16:35Z")
Degrees: Psychology/Biology After college I did a short stint as a real estate title examiner. Career: Systems Analyst/DBA ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/36 "2004-12-13T18:16:22Z")
Journalism with a minor in Visual Communication Technology. I was a newspaper reporter for about a year and when I got sick of the long hours, low pay and near-constant abuse, I worked in public relations, fundraising and recruitment for a Catholic school. I then became a graphic artist for the Navy and now work as the webmaster and distance learning specialist for a University department. I’ve also been a pet sitter, an inventory specialist and a pharmacy technician in my spare time. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/37 "2004-12-13T18:18:16Z")
BA in radio/television. I work in broadcasting, so not far off at all. ---
**Author:** ![Miabella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@Miabella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miabella)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/38 "2004-12-13T19:20:34Z")
Degrees: B.A. Economics w/ minor in Mathematics M.A. Applied Economics Career: government Economist ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/39 "2004-12-13T20:37:03Z")
Degree - theatre I work in engineering and technical writing. Sometimes I feel like I was put on a different planet when I went to sleep one night. “Wha…where am I? How did I get here? And who are these strange creatures?” ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444/40 "2004-12-14T02:23:27Z")
**Degree** : Religious Studies – Minor in English **Career** : 16 years and counting as general manager of three retail stores selling gourmet natural foods, supplements, books and gifts. At least the stores are owned by a fringe religious organization… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-off-is-your-career-from-your-degree/279444.md?page=3)