Before beginning your pursuit of a liberal arts education—whether you’re planning to study abroad in Italy, or remain close to home—it’s important to understand the unique ways your degree will contribute to your future professional success.
Some people believe that a liberal arts degree doesn’t deliver enough technical skills to prepare graduates for a competitive marketplace. But hiring managers across multiple industries tell a different story. They say liberal arts grads have transferrable, essential skills they consistently look for in new hires. Take a look at some of the ways a Liberal Arts degree, or even just a few liberal arts classes, can help you hone abilities that will move your resume to the top of the stack.
Leadership Is Valuable to Learn While You Study Abroad in Italy
You might think that because you chose to study political science or pursue a history degree, you’ll never have the skills to snag a leadership position at a prestigious organization or corporation. But the truth is, your liberal arts degree will teach you much of what you need to know about being a manager—even if you don’t quite know it’s happening!
Studying at JCU provides students with unique opportunities to build superior communication skills—the foundation of an effective managerial style. With their focus on research, analysis, argumentation, and debate, liberal arts programs help students understand the nuances of human communication. Whether they’re crafting a business proposal or leading a boardroom discussion, liberal arts grads are well known for their attention to detail, sensitivity to diverse viewpoints, and impressive communication skills.
Strategic Planning Can Help You Get Ahead in the Business World
Every business, organization, and institution relies on effective strategic planning to reach its goals. A strategy helps managers and team members identify points of strength and weakness, understand where to allocate resources, and develop reasonable benchmarks. Liberal arts degree programs teach students to think both creatively and analytically. Students have many opportunities to develop these instincts in the classroom while they study abroad in Italy, too. Add the one-two punch of impeccable research and information retrieval skills, and you have an in-demand professional who can dream big without losing sight of practical milestones.
Collaboration Is Another Skill You Can Learn, Both Inside the Classroom and Out
Although liberal arts students are fully capable of working independently, they have particular talents for teamwork and collaboration. While studying political science in Italy or another liberal arts major, years of lively exchange during classroom discussions can give grads a competitive edge when it comes to conferencing with colleagues or teaming up to complete a work assignment. And of course, as business goes global, understanding how to build relationships and collaborate online is increasingly relevant as a transferable professional skill. Hiring managers want employees who can forge bonds with new clients and contacts, even if they live halfway around the world.
By examining broad historical and cultural trends, liberal arts students develop a sensitivity to human interaction and diverse traditions. Businesses and organizations of every shape and size are looking to increase their global reach—and the liberal arts grad is perfectly positioned to build and nurture those new relationships.
Would you like to study at an American college in Italy?
Contact John Cabot University today to find out more!
