While everyone has unique strengths, there are certain key skills or “superpowers” that studying Arts & Humanities help you to develop. These skills are valued in every industry!
- Critical Thinking: Thinking about an issue objectively from many angles, asking questions, and analyzing available information to create an opinion. Every time you take a class that challenges your previous thoughts and asks you to consider new perspectives and information, you are developing your critical thinking abilities.
- Creative Problem Solving: Thinking outside the box and using ideas from different disciplines or industries to come up with a solution. Studying art, history, and human nature can provide that special spark needed to think differently and deeply about a business problem, to arrive at an innovative solution.
- Written Communication: Writing clearly and succinctly, forming coherent arguments, and summarizing difficult concepts in simple language. All of the essays and presentations you have written have helped you to hone your written communication skills. You would be surprised how hard it can be for employers to find a candidate who can write a clear and error-free email.
- Research Skills: Finding information efficiently, judging the quality of sources, and learning new skills by using available resources. The hundreds of hours you have spent at Lamont researching and writing a senior thesis signal to employers that you can find and evaluate information, take feedback, and persevere to finish a long-term project.
- Cross-cultural Knowledge: Speaking multiple languages and understanding different global cultures, religions, and perspectives. In an increasingly global world, every employer is looking for someone who can work on diverse teams and confidently interact with international clients and offices.
These skills also closely match many of the top skills that employers seek on resumes from new graduates, according to the National Association of College and Employers.
Now that we have established that you have important, marketable skills, the next step is to think about how you want to present these skills in your resume, cover letter, and interviews. When and where have you developed these skills at Harvard? How might these skills be useful for the opportunity for which you are applying? Our advisors are always happy to work with you to translate your academic experiences to a specific opportunity or industry.
Note: The skills listed above are just a few of the many skills you have been developing through your Harvard education! Many job and internship opportunities will also require industry-specific skills. To be the most effective candidate, you’ll want to combine your humanities superpowers with additional outside-the-classroom experiences such as internships, extracurricular activities, volunteer, or work experience.
