When entering a college, one apparently has an idea of their future specialization. At least, they have little to no doubts regarding what sphere they are inclined to. However, it is not necessarily easy to choose a particular profession, hence a subject to study as a major and get a degree in. Education-related demands may differ considerably from one occupation to another, and so frequently does the wage. Furthermore, the potential job is to be fancy, which adds to the complexity of the choice. The only reasonable solution lies in considering the own interests, goals, and preferences in the first instance and possible income on a second-priority basis.
The essential point to note is that various vacations, even in the same field, presuppose various activities, not all of which are desirable for the same person. For instance, a general concept of a job in business administration involves such different specializations as human resource management and logistics (Torpey, 2016). While the former would only fit a sociable and friendly individual, the latter requires high concentration more peculiar to introverts. Therefore, it is critical to take personal characteristics into account when deciding what to specialize in.
Another factor is the phenomenon of an emotional burnout resulting from constant workplace stress. Maslach and Leiter emphasize that stress is considerably more severe in those who hate their jobs and gain no satisfaction from work (2016). This allows assuming that, in case one opts for an occupation that does not actually appeal to them, the risk to face a burnout soon grows substantially higher. Taking into account the possibility of both psychological and physiological consequences, a positive emotional feedback is of great importance.
Doing something pleasant and interesting is, however, not the only point to factor into job satisfaction. Stafford mentions a low-paying job among the aspects that can influence both physical and mental health of people (2017). Considering that, it is reasonable to try a profession from the list of most income-generating ones, hence a subject, a degree in which is needed to apply for the appropriate vacancy, as a major. According to Torpey, the highest-paying sectors in business involve finance-related management and analysis (2017). As long as such occupations apparently require a degree in accounting, it would be relevant to prefer this discipline.
In addition to all of the above, it is essential to remember that hardly any job is well-paid immediately after the employment. Normally, wages grow together with experience, which means the need for significant dedication and diligence that are crucial for acquiring a higher qualification. Also, a one who is speculating on what occupation to opt for needs to analyze the labor market thoroughly to ensure that there is a sufficient amount of vacancies (Torpey, 2016). In other words, an occupation with many jobs offers better employment prospects.
Nevertheless, job prospects should apparently not serve as the most reliable criterion for choosing a career. Stafford proclaims that people whose job does not fit them have worse health as compared to the unemployed (2017). Therefore, it would not be reasonable to regard the chances for employment in the future as the key factor to influence a career choice, although they are doubtlessly one of such.
To summarize, choosing a subject to study as a major is intertwined with the profession one would like to master, which, in turn, should first of all be appealing. The second important nuance is potential income, as, in case it is too low, this aggravates so-called job burnout, damaging a person’s health. Finally, it is essential to be sure that the chosen occupation provides sufficient possibilities for finding a job.
References
Maslach, Ch., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. Web.
Stafford, J. (2017). Having a bad job can be worse for your health than being unemployed. Web.
Torpey, E. (2016). Business careers with high pay. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web.