MAJOR IN HAPPINESSDebunking the College Major Fallacies

SDES Institute 2016Emily Flositz, MACoordinator, Career Development

OBJECTIVES Perspectives on college majors “Valuable v. Useless” paradigm 5 common fallacies surrounding the college major 10 factors to consider when selecting a major Major in happiness and how self-reflection can assist Career Services resources

(Edmondson, 2016)

THE COLLEGE MAJORWhat is the purpose of selecting a major and how does one choose?

Use your phones to visit webpage“kahoot.it” and enter Game Code

(Edmondson, 2016)

THE COLLEGE MAJOR Seen as stepping stone, way to pay back loans Instead, it should be the first step to pursuing a

meaningful life based on leadership, purpose, and service

 Encourage students to select a major that will make them happy

Majoring in happiness will significantly increase chance of following career path(s) that: Inspire and satiate their passions Help them identify their purpose Contribute to a love of learning

(Edmondson, 2016)

VALUABLE V. USELESS Majors tend to be categorized

as “valuable” or “useless”, but how do we really make that judgement?

Flawed paradigm, based on assumptions or preconceived notions about the world of work Past experiences, positive or

negative Learning about others’

experiences, positive or negative

What we see on TV or in movies, or read about in books

Valuable• teach specific skills and

rewards one with gainful employment, riches, and achievements.

• Examples would be business, STEM, health, etc.

Useless• are intellectual, rather

than tangible, and require little to no practical application in the world of work.

• Examples would be history, literature, philosophy, English, etc.

Use your phones to visit webpage“kahoot.it” and enter Game Code

(Edmondson, 2016)

“IT SEEMS THAT WHAT A PERSON STUDIES IN COLLEGE SHOULD RELATE TO HIS OR HER PLANNED CAREER PATH, BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT IT’S VERY HARD TO PREDICT HOW THOSE TWO THINGS WILL INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER” Professor Peter Cappelli of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

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5 FALLACIES Five major college degree fallacies have resulted from the unpredictability

of the relationship between career and study:1) Confusing association with causation2) “After this, therefore because of this”3) Single-cause4) Anecdotal5) Sweeping generalizations

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1 Thinking that two things that correlate means that one causes the other

Example:

John needs to major in business because employers value students with that major over all other majors.

Why is this false?

Confusing association with causation

(Edmondson, 2016)

2Arriving at a conclusion based solely on the order of events, rather than looking to other factors that might rule out a connection

Example:

Shelly had an offer of full-time employment prior to graduation and it’s because she majored in economics.

Why is this false?

“After this, therefore because of this”

(Edmondson, 2016)

3 Assumption of a single, simple cause of an outcome.

Example:

Employers only care about GPA; The higher it is, the better your chances of being hired.

Why is this false?

Single-cause

(Edmondson, 2016)

4 Using a personal experience or an isolated example instead of sound reasoning or compelling evidence

Example:

My sorority sisters and I majored in business, economics, or finance and we all have extraordinary careers, so major in one of those subjects and you will be just as successful as we are.

Why is this false?

Anecdotal

(Edmondson, 2016)

5 What is true of the whole will also be true of the part, or what is true in most instances will be true in all instances

Example:

Recent college graduates with a history degree are all unemployed.

Why is this false?

Sweeping Generalizations

(Edmondson, 2016)

“LIFE IS A PROCESS, NOT A STATE OF BEING. IT IS A DIRECTION, NOT A DESTINATION.”

Carl R. Rogers, Psychologist.

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10 FACTORS TO CONSIDER1) Understand the impact of geography2) Realize the power of grit3) Market your value4) Demonstrate your level of preparedness5) Recognize the dynamics of compensation6) Appreciate the journey7) Grow personally to develop professionally8) You continue to evolve in your 20s9) Know that the reality is that people change jobs10) Engage in subtle maneuvers

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FACTORS TO CONSIDER• Urban areas v. rural, different employment opportunities• Metro areas increasingly trendy due to amenitiesGeography• Ability to persevere despite failures, challenges, and obstacles• Instrumental in translating vision into realityGrit• Understanding how one’s skills and abilities, along with experiences, help

them stand out• Give employers a reason to pay attention

Value• Realize the difference between career readiness and job search preparedness• Partake in internships, co-ops, service learning, etc. to demonstrate applied

skillsPreparation

• Associations between salary and job satisfaction alone has been consistently found to be very weak

• Intrinsic v. extrinsic values, - which are more likely to lead to job satisfaction?Compensatio

n

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FACTORS TO CONSIDER (CONT.)• Today’s dream job may not exist tomorrow, and tomorrow’s dream job may not

exist today• Seek out new experiences, be open to opportunities, and enjoy the journey!Journey

• Commitment to lifelong development contributes to one’s ability to achieve and sustain growth over a long career

• Each day presents an opportunity to learn more, do more, and grow morePersonal Growth

• It takes time for students to discover the right career path, get married, or become financially independent

• Exploration and obtaining real exposure to the world of work and career interests can help increase options so as to narrow them down more succinctly

Evolving 20s

• In 2011, 36.7% of working population changed jobs in the United States• Today’s graduates will have jobs not yet created using technology not yet

invented to solve problems not yet identifiedCareer

Changers• Time outside of the workplace can be spent on other hobbies, interests and

passions• Recreational or additional activities can satisfy values not met with current job,

but can also open doors to other opportunities

Subtle Maneuvers

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“LIFE IS . . . AN ENDLESS PROCESS OF SELF-DISCOVERY, AN ENDLESS AND UNPREDICTABLE DIALOGUE BETWEEN OUR OWN CAPACITIES FOR LEARNING AND THE LIFE SITUATIONS IN WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES.” John Gardner, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under Lyndon B. Johnson.

(Edmondson, 2016)

WHERE ARE WE NOW? One study found one in eight workers are psychologically committed to their jobs

and likely to make positive contributions to their place of employment

This means only about 13% of employees are engaged at work! Research continues to illustrate that having purpose and meaning in life:

Increases overall well-being and life satisfaction Improves mental and physical health Enhances resiliency and self-esteem Decreases the chances of depression

Academic planning needs to be more than a collection of resume building experiences designed to attract employers and land a high-paying job after graduation

Focusing solely on the undergraduate major ignores numerous factors that influence long-term outcomes including earnings potential, career trajectories, and professional development

SELF-REFLECT AND MAJOR IN HAPPINESS Self-awareness plays a critical role in personal growth and

professional development Pay attention to that crucial personal component of a student’s

undergraduate experience, which needs a great deal of self-reflection to be properly developed

Students can increase self-awareness by on or off campus adventures and pursuits that: Push them out of their comfort zones Challenge their assumptions about life and the world of work Allow them an opportunity to accommodate new information

The pursuit of happiness is not unique to humans, and occurs all across the natural world; what sets humans apart is the pursuit of meaning.

(Edmondson, 2016)

To major in happiness is to pursue a life of purpose, leadership, and service to others: three traits the

world needs more of with each passing day!

CSEL-140WWW.CAREER.UCF.EDU

CAREER SERVICESEncourage students to visit our office to begin exploring careers and majors!• MyPlan: Values, Interests,

Personality and Skills assessments, as well as career, major and university research

• What Can I do With This Major: Comprehensive list of majors and explore what fields, employers and strategies relate

• Career Research: Variety of online databases to research careers, fields and job titles

• Career Chats: Weekly small group sessions to self-reflect and learn about career exploration

• One-On-One Appointments: Meet with a career counselor to discuss specific career concerns

• Externship Program: Job shadow with a local employer

ADDITIONAL READING

Edmondson, M. (2016). Majoring in happiness: Debunking the college major fallacies. NACE Journal, 76(3), 37-42.

QUESTIONS

REFERENCE

Brooks, K. (2009). You majored in what? Mapping your path from chaos to career. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Krumboltz, J. D., & Levin, A. S. (2010). Luck is No Accident: Making the most of happenstance in your life and career (2nd ed.). Atascadero, CA: Impact Publishers.