Careers For Philosophers

 

The kind of basic education provided by philosophical training is eminently useful in some major aspects of virtually any occupation. In fact, BestColleges.com recently published an article that thoroughly demonstrates how the skills acquired with a major in philosophy are invaluable in a variety of non-academic careers.

As the article shows, the skills acquired when studying philosophy (see Why Study Philosophy? ) are highly transferable in the job market.

Studies show that employers value skills such as the ability to solve problems, to communicate effectively, to organize ideas, and to analyze complex data.

In fact, training in philosophy is usefuly for many different careers outside of the academy. Two excellent resources for succeeding in the job market after earning a degree in philosophy are "Guidance for Philosophy Job Seekers" and "Beyond Academia: Professional Opportunities for Philosophers" .

Although the following list of non-academic careers is not exhaustive, it includes some of the many fields in which non-academic philosophers are currently employed:

  • Business

  • Clergy

  • Computers

  • Consulting

  • Engineering

  • Finance

  • Government (federal, state, and local)

  • Insurance

  • Journalism

  • Law

  • Marketing

  • Medicine

  • Publishing

  • Real estate

  • Research

  • Sales

  • Technical writing

 

For more information on philosophy in general, see the American Philosophical Association's Philosophy: A Brief Guide for Undergraduates and The Philosophy Major at www.apaonline.org .