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Through my Multimedia major, I learned technical skills that have made me invaluable in the workplace.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

I chose to double major in Communication Studies and Multimedia, and doing both taught me extremely valuable skills that I practice on a daily basis. Through my Multimedia major, I learned technical skills that have made me invaluable in the workplace. Getting exposed to and learning the ins and outs of softwares, such as Photoshop and Premiere Pro, have been so beneficial in the PR and Marketing world. On the Communications side, the connections I created with my professors and the critical analysis taught in the unique course curricula have greatly advanced my years post-McMaster.

What advice would you give to a current student who is thinking about career options?

Get involved, try new things, and network. University is a time to explore and discover what you like and what you don’t like. A Humanities degree allows you so many options to academically learn about different worlds and industries, but there are so many volunteer opportunities or clubs on campus that will help you explore every career option imaginable.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Humanities degree?

From Art to Social Justice to Gender Studies, a Humanities degree allows students a unique interdisciplinary experience. They are taught holistic perspectives, which in turn, advances critical-thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and oral and written communication skills. Those are highly marketable skills that any employer will value.

Humanities degrees allow you maximum flexibility in your potential career options

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

What I found beneficial about my programs at McMaster were both the hard and soft skills acquired through my degrees. The tangible, hard skills, such as public relation practices, crisis communications strategies, and research skills, were critical to the early success of my career and landing my first job opportunities. The soft skills that were repeatedly built on and honed throughout my education, such as writing and communicating effectively, have been most beneficial in the growth of my career and its accelerated trajectory.

What advice would you give to a current student who is thinking about career options?

I would advise current students who are thinking about their career options to keep an open mind. It can be very difficult to land that first position after graduation, but don’t get discouraged. The first job offer may not be the ideal position, but give every opportunity consideration. My first role after graduating was not exactly what I was seeking, but it set me up for further professional and personal growth and the subsequent career opportunities that were more exciting and in the direction that I wanted to go.

In your opinion, what is the value of a Humanities degree?

In my opinion, one of the greatest values of a Humanities degree is the opportunity to develop keen critical thinking skills. I attribute a lot of my career success and growth to date on my ability to assess various situations from multiple points of view and determine a best strategy forward. This is also a skill I look for when hiring for our organization. Additionally, Humanities degrees allow you maximum flexibility in your potential career options as the skills acquired are highly transferable. While I completed degrees in Communications and spent my early career in Communication-specific roles, I have been able to further my career by moving beyond that field. I directly attribute my ability to move into a senior leadership role in operations on the variety of transferable skills that I obtained from a Humanities degree at McMaster.

The small size of the Studio Art program at McMaster helped me to form close collaborative relationships with my professors, which is something that I have always carried with me.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

The small size of the Studio Art program at McMaster helped me to form close collaborative relationships with my professors, which is something that I have always carried with me. The flexibility of the program allowed me to challenge myself and be curious, which I think is invaluable to a liberal arts education. After graduating from the arts program at McMaster, I started a media arts-oriented collective/space (HAVN) in downtown Hamilton with a number of McMaster alumni from various faculties and disciplines, which would not have been possible otherwise.

What advice would you give to a current student who is thinking about career options?

Do your best to take the leap and engage in community and collaboration!

In your opinion, what is the value of a Humanities degree?

I place a great deal of value on a humanities/liberal arts education for giving a certain breadth of thought and conceptual flexibility that proves important later in life.