Vast opportunities

One of the most interesting findings from this report is the vast range of career sectors in which AHSS graduates are employed. Similarly, it is interesting to note that both reports found that a substantial number of humanities graduates changed career sectors from their first graduate position. The movement between sectors is perhaps the most appealing aspect of a humanities degree; it should serve to offer graduates more certainty of securing a position, as opposed to entertaining the notion that those with a humanities degree will find it more difficult to find a job than those in other sectors. Movement between roles and sectors also shows a graduate’s first job does not define the entire course of his or her career path and offers options and diversity. The IRCHSS report also displays how the most valuable aspect of a humanities degree is the vast skill set graduates are equipped with upon graduation. Both reports state that these degrees provide graduates with the skills that are most sought-after by employers, such as communication skills, research and analysis, creativity, self-confidence and critical and analytical thinking.

The IRCHSS report notes that the contributions made by arts and humanities graduates ‘make Ireland an attractive place in which to live and do business’, thereby indirectly playing a part in economic growth. The arts are also an intricate part of Irish culture and history, and give us our ‘national identity and sense of self’, and promote tourism into the country. One of the major successes during Ireland’s recent presidency of the Council of the European Union was the agreement reached to invest €70.2 billion in research and innovation; €11.9 billion of that will go to the European Research Council, with 38% of this figure being used to fund research into societal changes through both sciences and the humanities (Irish Times – 25^th July 2013 http://www.irishtimes.com/news/science/budget-boost-for-horizon-2020-an-irish-success-1.1473928).

There are countless options open to graduates due to the valuable skills associated with these degrees. Ultimately, humanities graduates who are currently job hunting should emphasise their transferable skills on their CVs and gain valuable work experience, rather than believing the often untrue rhetoric which says that a degree in humanities will lead to a low-paying job; it is therefore up to the graduate to decide how valuable their degree is and how they will put it to use.