What Can I Do With My Major or Degree?

A common myth about choosing a major is that it determines the type of job you can get after college. While it's true that some majors may lead to higher-paying jobs, very few majors are directly connected with specific careers and their corresponding salaries. Employers are looking for employees with transferable skills. It is up to you to articulate the value you have gained from your studies, internships, student clubs, informational interviews, or other experiences relevant to your career.

Explore Career Options by Degree

The website What can I do with my degree? is a great starting point when you are unsure what jobs relate to your major. All active UC Davis majors are listed with information about related fields (job titles, work places and professional organizations) and where recent UC Davis alumni have found internships and jobs.

Resources

Below is a list of reliable websites where you can obtain detailed information about careers. Each site offers unique resources and approaches in providing information about fields of work.

  • California Career Zone
    Houses California-specific information on 900 jobs and 24 career families which can be especially helpful in looking at job market trends and training requirements that vary by state. Take the online career assessments to determine your interests, values and skills; assessments generate a list of related careers. A portion of the job descriptions have career videos featuring an overview of the occupation.
  • CareerOneStop
    Provides national, state and local career, labor market, and workforce information using online tools, videos, and links to job search services. Start here in your search to access a wide range of information. Offers specific resources for Military Veterans. Excellent if you are doing an out-of-state job search.
  • O*NET Occupational Information Network
    Provides tools for career exploration and job analysis. Offers free on-line career profilers including “My Next Move,” which will help connect you to possible careers that align with your interests. Allows you to find occupations by category including industry, skills performed, education needed, green careers, and STEM. Advanced Search lets you see careers related to your values, abilities and interests.
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook
    From the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the easy to use OOH offers hundreds of readable job descriptions that can be searched for by job title or by job family. Useful search options allow you to narrow by salary, job growth projections, and level of education required. It can be easier to use the OOH when you have a general idea of the job titles or job families that interest you.