The “soft skills” we learn from a Humanities degree are incredibly versatile, and while we may not be specialized in one domain, we can adapt our knowledge to the job market.

What inspired you to select your program or area of study in Humanities at McMaster?

McMaster was preceded by its reputation, the quality of its faculty, and this program fit all my length and research topic needs.

How do you feel that your program shaped your personal and professional development?

Professionally, it enhanced a strong foundation in digital communication, media theory, and emerging technologies, which have been crucial in adapting to the fast-evolving landscape of my career in tech.

Being a TA gave me the strong foundation for becoming a people’s manager later on in my career, and leading with patience and empathy.

Personally, the program helped me refine my writing and critical thinking skills, while satisfying & encouraging for further thirst for knowledge and openness to new ideas. I also met wonderful people through my classmates and faculty, some I am still in touch with to this day.

What experience(s) were most impactful during your time at McMaster?

Most of my studies before I joined McMaster were in France, and I was happily surprised to discover a new way of teaching and learning that completely enhanced my educational experience. I loved the small cohort, the openness and creativity we get from sitting at a round table with our professor gently leading our seminars, encouraging us to discuss and learn from each other rather than telling us what and how to think. I felt encouraged, heard, valued.

Alternatively, being a teaching assistant taught me a lot about time management, patience, critical analysis, collaboration and compassion. Being on the other side of the graded paper was overwhelming at first, especially as I was TA for a 75-student class, grading full creative essays rather than “right or wrong” scientific questionnaires. I made the typical mistake of spending way too long on each paper at first, but I learned quickly to analyze writing skills, coherence, understanding of the themes & questions; while also honing on my own attention to details while spotting inconsistencies, errors, and areas for improvement. I had a great relationship with the professor I was assisting and I am grateful for the valuable experience.

How has the versatility of a Humanities degree enabled you to succeed?

The “soft skills” we learn from a Humanities degree are incredibly versatile, and while we may not be specialized in one domain, we can adapt our knowledge to the job market.

I value my communications, research and critical thinking skills that have helped me nail interviews, organize projects and teams, learn new roles without much supervision, assess when to ask questions and when to dig for information on my own. My degree has been, and will continue to be, useful in many aspects of my life.

I strongly believe that a foundation in the Humanities helps develop the strong leaders, thinkers, and doers we need in the future.

What did you find beneficial about your program at McMaster?

The key benefit I took away from the Humanities program was that it demonstrated how one can be an agent of change and make an impact upon the world around them. My courses motivated me to grapple with major political, social and economic issues of the past, present and future. Learning not just facts and figures, but also what motivates people helped me start to think strategically about what an organization aims to achieve and how I could help meet those objectives. In other words, it gave me a strong foundation be able to develop and articulate persuasive thoughts and strategies, a skill I use everyday in my current role.

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

A robust network is one the strongest assets that you can build. If you’re not already networking, start today by getting to know people in your program. Learn what motivates them, what inspires them and what they want to accomplish. Relationship building doesn’t come naturally to many, it certainly wasn’t something I was good at right away! But over time, it will become a valuable resource that can help unlock career opportunities that otherwise may be unknown or may not even exist yet.

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

A Humanities degree shows that you have the critical thinking skills needed today to address the challenges of tomorrow. It empowers people to think big, reason well and make an impact on any issue. I strongly believe that a foundation in the Humanities helps develop the strong leaders, thinkers, and doers we need in the future.

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.