College Major Selection

What do you do if you’re a freshman in college today? A family friend’s son is starting college this fall, and they asked me what he should study. A simple question -until you really think about it. By the time he graduates in 4 years, the world will look nothing like it does today. The education system won’t change overnight but the job market will. For decades, the logic of higher education was clear: Get a degree → land a junior role → learn by doing → climb the ladder. But now, the tasks that defined entry-level work - summarizing reports, drafting emails, analyzing data - can now be done instantly, at near-zero cost. These weren’t just chores; they were how young employees built judgment, intuition, and experience. And so I keep coming back to this question: if entry-level jobs disappear, where does experience come from? Much of the work that once bridged the gap between “student” and “professional” can now be done instantly, at near-zero cost. Ironically, education may flip. It used to be vocational at the bottom (trade schools) and theoretical at the top (college). But if AI removes the need for junior roles, will universities start training students directly for higher-level decision-making? Will 'entry-level' begin to disappear entirely? If AI continues to eat away at junior roles, colleges will eventually have to change. Maybe that means: 〰️ More apprenticeship models. Real-world experience will matter more than degrees. 〰️ Less focus on knowledge, more on decision-making and creativity. “What’s the right answer?” will be less valuable than “What are the trade-offs?” 〰️ AI-native professions. Knowing how to wield AI, but also where it breaks, will become its own form of expertise. For today’s students, the challenge isn’t just choosing a major - it’s figuring out how to gain experience when experience itself is being automated. If I were 18 today, I’d focus less on what to study and more on how to build - skills, projects, networks. If you were 18 today, how would you approach the next four years? (Pls tell me so I can pass on the advice)

Shifting College Majors and Workforce Implications Our latest edition of Labor Matters takes a deep dive into how college major preferences have shifted over the past five years. Using data from the American Community Survey, we compared the distribution of college graduates aged 22-24 from 2018 to 2023 to quantify the percent change in each major's share. The results show a clear trend: students are increasingly choosing majors that align with high-paying, high-growth careers. Fields like computer science, engineering and health are seeing significant growth, reflecting strategic choices that align with evolving labor market demands. However, the decline in majors related to humanities, education and social work raises concerns. These fields foster creativity, critical thinking, and social leadership — all crucial in a complicated AI-driven world. Check out the full analysis, and please let us know your thoughts. https://lnkd.in/g8VBspZr #LaborMatters #HigherEducation #WorkforceTrends #FutureOfWork #labormarkets #recruitment

Almost every time I speak with juniors or college students, I get asked the same question: “I’m not sure what field I want to work in. How do I decide what to do?” It’s a completely normal feeling — and honestly, I’ve been there too. When I first entered college, I had no clue what specialization to take or what career path to pursue. But here’s the truth: You don’t need to have it all figured out right away. What you need is a plan to explore and narrow it down. Here’s what I tell anyone who asks: 📍 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 — 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 List a few things you genuinely enjoy or find intriguing — like writing, data analysis, designing, or public speaking. Don’t worry about how they translate into a career just yet Action Step: Write down your interests without worrying about how they translate into a career. The point is to recognize your natural inclinations. 📍 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 Try out your interests through short-term activities like joining a club, taking a beginner’s course, or volunteering for a project. Give it 2–4 weeks and see if you enjoy the process Action Step: Try something for 2–4 weeks and assess: Did you enjoy the process? Did it feel meaningful? 📍 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘁 Reach out to people working in fields you’re curious about. Ask about their day-to-day work, the skills they use, and what they enjoy or dislike about their roles Action Step: Message 3 professionals on LinkedIn and politely ask for a 15-minute chat. Most people are willing to help if you’re genuinely curious and respectful of their time. 📍 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 Identify the skills you want to develop rather than getting stuck on job titles. Whether it’s data analysis, storytelling, or management, skills are transferable and will shape your career regardless of the role Action Step: Pick one skill you’re curious about and spend an hour a week learning or practicing it. 📍 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 Your first choice doesn’t have to be your final choice. Reflect every few months to see if you’re still enjoying your current path. It’s okay to change directions as you learn more Action Step: Set a reminder to reflect every 3 months: Are you still enjoying your current path? If not, what’s next? The Bottom Line: You don’t have to know your exact career path at 20. Just focus on exploring, learning, and building foundational skills — the clarity will follow. To everyone feeling overwhelmed — take it one step at a time. And remember, not having it all figured out is okay — it’s part of the journey. What’s one career option you’re currently exploring? Share below — I’d love to hear your thoughts!👇 #CareerAdvice #CollegeTips #FindingYourPath #SkillBuilding #CareerExploration #EarlyCareerInsights

Consulting? Finance? Marketing? Operations? Which career should you choose? There’s no perfect or straight-line answer to this. During my graduation, I faced the same confusion. Multiple options. Endless opinions. Constant self-doubt. So what did I do? I chose exposure over assumptions. I explored different domains through internships and live projects. That hands-on experience gave me clarity. It eventually helped me choose consulting as my primary interest, followed closely by finance. Now, let’s be real - not everyone gets the chance to intern across multiple domains. And that’s okay. Here’s what you can do: Talk to people. Listen to real journeys, not just success stories. Ask seniors and peers about what actually goes on behind the job titles. Understand the day-to-day, not just the glamour. Because careers aren’t chosen by titles. They’re chosen by fit, interest, and long-term alignment. You don’t need to have it all figured out right now. You just need to stay curious and keep exploring. What helped you choose your career path - exposure, guidance, or pure instinct? #Careers #LinkedIn #MBA #Opportunity #Job

Choosing a career after 12th feels like standing at a giant crossroad with 10 confusing signboards🤷♀️ Everyone’s shouting directions — parents, cousins, Sharma ji, and the neighbour who once cracked NEET in 1997. So how do you actually figure out which path to take? Here are 3 powerful frameworks/models that can help students or their parents choose a career path that makes sense for them(not just society) ✅ 1. IKIGAI Model (The Japanese Secret to a Fulfilling Career) Ask yourself 4 questions: -What do I love? (Interest) -What am I good at? (Skills) -What can I be paid for? (Market) -What does the world need? (Impact) Example: A student I mentored loved designing, was great at storytelling, and didn’t want a traditional desk job. Instead of engineering, she explored UI/UX design. 3 years later, she’s working at a design agency and building her own digital art page on the side. ✅ 2. Career Triangle:Passion – Potential – Practicality Don’t just chase passion blindly. Check if your interest, your aptitude, and the industry demand align. -Passion: Do you enjoy doing this? -Potential: Do you have the skill or willingness to learn? -Practicality: Will this pay your bills and grow in the future? Example A commerce student wanted to become a musician full-time. But she also loved marketing and storytelling. She found a sweet spot in music marketing – she now works with music labels promoting indie artists! How cool right? ✅ 3.The 3C Filter: Clarity – Curiosity – Coaches This is more process-oriented for those still exploring. Clarity- Start with a broad idea (e.g., "I want to work with people" or "I like solving problems"). Curiosity- Intern, shadow, take short courses to test waters. Coaches- Talk to seniors, professionals, career coaches who’ve walked the path. Example: A student I know thought she wanted to do law. After interning under a lawyer and taking a MOOC in psychology, she realised it wasn’t for her. She’s now studying psychology and plans to become a behavioural therapist. Career clarity doesn’t come overnight. It’s a mix of self-awareness, experimentation, and conversations. And it’s okay to not have it all figured out by 18. Instead of following the noise, choose a method that works for YOU. Your career is not a race. It’s a journey of alignment. Would you add another framework to this list? #CareerAdvice #CareerClarity #CareerFrameworks #Ikigai #Careercoach #dhairyadecodes

Just analyzed 1000s academic job postings from 2025. These 15 fields show 150% growth in opportunities. After analyzing recent academic job market trends, I've noticed something striking. While everyone fights for the same traditional positions, smart academics are pivoting to emerging fields. Here's the hard truth: Traditional fields are struggling. New interdisciplinary areas are booming. Most PhDs don't see it coming. Picture this scenario: You spend 7 years perfecting your dissertation. Graduate with honors. Apply to hundreds of positions. Get zero interviews. Meanwhile, your colleague pivots to AI ethics. Gets multiple offers quickly. Same intelligence. Different field choice. From tracking academic job trends across major universities, I'm seeing clear patterns. Some fields are experiencing explosive growth. Others are in decline. The 15 fields with surging demand: • AI and Machine Learning - Universities desperately need AI ethicists and integration specialists • Data Science and Analytics - Research data explosion drives demand • Digital Health and Telemedicine - Post-pandemic healthcare transformation • Climate Science and Sustainability - Every university prioritizing climate research • Cybersecurity - Academic institutions need protection experts • Digital Humanities - Traditional humanities meets technology perfectly • Bioinformatics - Gene sequencing creates massive data needs • Educational Technology - Remote learning revolution continues • Mental Health Research - Student crisis drives urgent hiring needs • Renewable Energy Engineering - Green transition accelerating rapidly • Urban Planning and Smart Cities - Sustainability expertise in high demand • Social Impact Technology - Tech ethics becomes university priority • Quantum Computing - Next computing revolution starting now • Food Security and AgTech - Global challenges drive research funding • Environmental Psychology - Climate behavior research exploding My mentee Maria made this switch last year. Moved from medieval history to digital humanities. Went from struggling to assistant professor in under a year. The secret isn't abandoning your expertise. It's reframing it for growing markets. Your research skills transfer. Your passion adapts. The question isn't whether change is coming. It's whether you'll lead it or get left behind. Which field surprised you most? Follow me for more academic job market insights that actually matter.

The ground beneath our education and employment systems is shifting—fast. This is not a critique, nor an endorsement. But it is an observation I cannot ignore. At Rishihood University, I increasingly see that what society values as expertise is changing. Traditional markers—elite credentials, seniority, theoretical mastery—are being replaced by indicators that feel more immediate and actionable: industry experience, youth relatability, and digital visibility. Why is this happening? Some possible reasons: - Information Abundance, Attention Scarcity: With knowledge freely available online, the ability to execute becomes more prized than the depth of understanding. People want guides, not just theorists. - Disillusionment with Institutions: Many institutions that symbolized trust—academia, media, bureaucracy—have, in public perception, grown too ideological or slow to adapt. Credibility now has to be earned, not inherited. - Tech-Centric Economy: The economy rewards those who build, launch, and scale—skills honed in industry rather than in research. Learners want to emulate builders, not theorists. - Youth Culture and Identity Economy: In a hyper-social world, identity, relatability, and peer influence carry more weight than seniority. Learners want role models who speak their language. - RoI Mindset in Education: Families and students view education through the lens of returns—jobs, salaries, and startup opportunities. Relevance trumps rigor. What are the long-term consequences if this trend continues? - Higher education will split into two tracks: One, pragmatic, fast-moving, industry-integrated. The other, slower, more philosophical and civilizational—but possibly sidelined unless strongly championed. - Faculty roles will transform: The future university will need faculty who are not just teachers or researchers, but also builders, mentors, co-founders, and communicators. - Universities will be judged by outcomes, not prestige: Rankings and accreditations will matter less than portfolios, placements, and patents. - Depth and wisdom may become a scarcity: As execution gains currency, reflection may lose ground. Civilizations don’t fall because they stop building—but because they stop thinking. - Reputation will be public-first, not peer-first: Scholars and leaders will be required to engage openly with the public. Private reputation in closed academic circles will no longer be enough. I am not making a value judgment—yet. But the shift is real, and accelerating. The question is not whether we approve of it, but how we prepare for it—and whether we can guide it toward a higher purpose - and that is our attempt at Rishihood University. Join us to shape the future of education!

Not everyone in STEM loves the lab. And honestly? You don’t have to. If pipettes, centrifuges, and endless benchwork aren’t your thing, that doesn’t mean your degree was wasted. It means you have skills that can shine outside the lab. Here are some career paths worth exploring 👇 🔹 Regulatory Affairs Turn complex science into approvals that bring treatments to patients. 🔹 Clinical Trials Management Oversee how therapies move from research to real-world application. 🔹 Medical Writing Translate dense data into clear papers, reports, and educational content. 🔹 Product Management Shape the tools, software, and devices scientists actually use. 🔹 Bioinformatics / Data Science Swap pipettes for algorithms and analyze biological data at scale. 🔹 Business Development Help biotech startups grow by spotting opportunities and building partnerships. Your STEM degree trained you to problem-solve, think critically, and learn hard things fast. Those skills are valuable far beyond the lab bench. So if you hate pipettes...good news. Your career options just got a lot wider.

Beyond the Lab Coat: Non-Research Career Paths for Life Science Graduates Do you believe there is more outside the lab? in fact it is expected that you do bench work for certain years and move because of certain environmental hazard affecting the health of researchers or analyst. When you think of a life science graduate, the first image that comes to mind is usually a lab coat, pipettes, and petri dishes. But let’s be honest, not everyone wants to spend their career in a lab or doing academic research. As someone with a life science background, I’ve come to realize that your degree doesn’t limit your direction, it launches your potential. Here are some exciting non-research career paths for life science graduate and where to upskill and get certified: 1. Medical or Science Writing: Translate complex science into understandable content. Learn & Get Certified: Coursera – Writing in the Sciences (Stanford) https://lnkd.in/eZuh3uxf American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) https://www.amwa.org/ 2. Regulatory Affairs: Ensure biotech and pharma products meet legal standards. Learn & Get Certified: Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) https://www.raps.org/ 3. Sales & Marketing in Life Sciences: Use your science knowledge to boost product sales and outreach. Learn & Get Certified: Coursera – Healthcare Marketplace Specialization https://lnkd.in/ehvfhAb4 4. Public Health and Epidemiology: Make a difference on a population level. Learn & Get Certified: World Health Organization OpenWHO Courses https://openwho.org/ 5. Healthcare Consulting: Analyze and improve systems in healthcare organizations. 6. Science Communication / Content Creation: Tell stories that spark curiosity and build understanding. Learn & Connect: Lifeology – Learn SciComm the Fun Way https://lifeology.io/ 7. QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Control): Guard the safety and quality of products. 8. Education & Training: Teach or train others in science. Learn & Connect: Coursera – University Teaching Course https://lnkd.in/eqfSQCtF 9. Bioinformatics & Data Analysis: Decode biological data using tech. Learn & Get Certified: Coursera – Bioinformatics Specialization (UC San Diego) https://lnkd.in/eaCPjJ78 NCBI Learning Resources https://lnkd.in/eiGH3xQ4 Bottom Line? Your life science degree is more versatile than you think. You can still make impact, innovate, and grow—even outside the lab. If you're a graduate wondering, "What else can I do with my degree?" — you're not alone, and there are plenty of doors waiting to be opened. Let’s connect and talk more about the path that’s right for you! #LifeScienceCareers #ScienceGraduates #NonResearchRoles #CareerSwitch #LinkedInScience #STEMCareers #PublicHealth #microlabhub

Pop quiz for college students. Try to answer these questions about your target career:  1. What entry-level roles exist in this field?  2. What skills are critical for these roles?  3. What certifications are valued in this field?  4. What tools or software are commonly used?  5. What do typical projects and challenges look like?  6. What does the typical career path look like?  7. What relevant professional organizations exist?  8. What trends are shaping this field?  9. How is success measured in this field? 10. What is the occupational outlook for this career? How did you do? If you struggle to answer these, I encourage you to dive deeper through research, informational interviews, etc. Why? Because if you want to land your target career, step one is understanding what to expect and what’s required to get there. Only then can you be purposeful about truly targeting it. So figure out answers to these questions. And then do a gap analysis: What key skills/knowledge do I already have? What key skills/knowledge am I missing? Now you know what you need to work on. From there, it's about taking purposeful action to bridge those gaps. Do this, and you'll be ahead of most of your peers applying to the same roles. — PS. Even if you're uncertain about your career goals, these questions are a great way to explore potential career options!