Humanities is a stream that is not given much credit as to how it is full of opportunities and how there are ginormous career options that one can choose from. From being a Diplomat to a Psychologist to an Architect. Here is the list of the top 10 career options for the students pursuing Humanities.
1. PSYCHOLOGIST/COUNSELLOR
This is a field that has drastically seen a hike in India and abroad. Especially after COVID-19 hit the world. Psychology is the science of the mind and behaviour. It includes environmental & social factors, biological influences that affect how people think, act or feel. One can start studying Psychology from the 11th standard itself and then pursue a bachelor followed by a Master’s with a specialisation. One can also do their M.Phil/Psy.D or a Ph.D. to become a licensed clinical Psychologist. There are various types of Psychologists and counsellors:
COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGIST
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST
CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGIST
CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGIST
ORGANISATIONAL/INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGIST
NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST
BEHAVIOURAL PSYCHOLOGIST
SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST
CAREER COUNSELOR
SCHOOL COUNSELOR etc.
2. LAWYER
A lawyer is a professional term given to a person who is an expert in the law of their country. Which means that they are qualified enough to advise about the law or represent someone in their legal matters. One has to take humanities in their school since political science is the key subject followed by LLB and LLM. One can also pursue LLB+LLM after their basic graduation. Types of lawyers that practice in India and abroad:
CORPORATE LAWYER
INTERNATIONAL LAW
CRIMINAL LAWYER
IMMIGRANT LAWYERS
FAMILY LAWYERS
TAX LAWYERS
PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYER
CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER
DIGITAL MEDIA & INTERNET LAWYER etc.
3. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
People who study and want to make a career in international relations are responsible for global issues. Which includes interactions between the sovereign states for discussions and decision-making related to war, foreign trade and diplomacy, etc. It is also an important subject that greatly emphasises education, political science, environment, culture and examines the impact that they have on society. One also learns how the governments, nations, and individuals respond accordingly to such issues. This field is vast due to which there are many opportunities. Once a student has finished their schooling with humanities, they can opt for a bachelors in International Relations or do graduation with political science as a subject and then followed by Masters in International relations. There are many other possibilities too. A few of the positions that one can apply for are:
A DIPLOMAT
A POSITION IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
A POSITION IN THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
AMBASSADORS OF INDIAN HIGH COMMISSIONS (ABROAD)
AN EMPLOYEE/AMBASSADOR OF PERMANENT MISSION OF INDIA (GENEVA)
INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE/AMBASSADOR AT THE UNITED NATIONS
INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE/AMBASSADOR AT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION etc.
4. ARCHAEOLOGIST OR A GEOLOGIST
Archaeology is the study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of artifacts and material culture. One needs to study history and geography as a subject in their 11th and 12th, followed by graduation and masters with specialisations. They can work in:
MUSEUMS/GALLERIES
DOCUMENTATION SPECIALIST
ARCHAEOLOGIST
CONSERVATION OFFICER etc.
Geologists are scientists that study the earth. They study the solid, liquid, and gaseous matter that constitutes the earth and other planets. They can work in the following areas:
MARINE GEOLOGIST
PETROLEUM ENGINEER
GEOCHEMIST
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST etc.
5. EVENT MANAGEMENT
Event management is a career/profession in which people focus on every aspect of the event from deciding the venue to coordinating with the guests to taking care of the decorations etc. One can pursue graduation or a master’s in event management. There are other ways to get into this field as well. This field is in huge demand since there are so many events that take place every year in the country. Some of the fields under this profession are:
EVENT MANAGER
DECORATIONS MANAGER
LOCATION MANAGER etc.
6. HOTEL MANAGEMENT
Hotel Management is all about managing all the A-Z of the hotel industry. From managing employees to administering hotel services to taking care of the finances. After finishing their 12th, one has to get themselves enrolled in a hotel management course. Also, various entrance examinations happen for the same. Some of the positions in this field that one can work as are:
FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGER
CHEF
HOTEL ADMINISTRATION OR A MANAGER
RECEPTIONIST
HOUSEKEEPING MANAGER
STEWARD etc.
7. INDIAN ARMED FORCES/CIVIL SERVICES
One can get into the Army, Air Force, or Navy by clearing the NDA or clearing the civil services exam or various military entrance examinations. There is a huge stereotype that a student from humanities cannot apply to the Indian armed forces which is a myth. Having a background in humanities will only increase the chances of clearing the exams since subjects like Political Science, History, Psychology, etc will help a lot with the preparation of the exams and interviews. Both men and women can apply for the post of officers. Visit the website of the defense forces and see what you might be interested in.
8. DESIGNING/ARCHITECTURE
How can a person with a humanities background get into designing or architecture right? Well, this is possible if you take math as your optional subject. Later, you can clear NATA and get yourself a seat in B.Arch. You can also choose multiple courses for designing from a government or a private institute according to your eligibility.
9. MASS COMMUNICATION
Mass communication is a vast field. It is multidisciplinary. After finishing class 12th, one can do a bachelor’s in mass communication followed by a Master’s with a specialisation. One can also directly specialise during graduation in case they know already about their desired specialisation. A few of the fields which are included in mass communication are:
JOURNALISM
ADVERTISING
SOCIAL MEDIA
FILM AND TELEVISION etc.
10. SOCIAL WORKER
One of the most upcoming and emerging fields via humanities is becoming a social worker. The responsibility of a social worker includes preventing and relieving hardships and suffering. These people have many responsibilities to all sorts of people whether belonging to a community or not. They can also come up with new projects for the development/betterment of the people/society. Overall they help in improving the quality of life of the less fortunate.
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Guntass Cour Sandhu is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.