Using your degree: Philosophy

What do Cambridge graduates do?

The most popular three employment areas that Cambridge Philosophy graduates joined in recent years have been the City in its various guises but principally banking, accountancy and consultancy, (about 10% combined of those who update us with their destination information), followed by teaching (10%) and then public service (especially the Civil Service - about 3%). In keeping with students on many Arts & Humanities first degrees, Philosophy graduates continue on to further study (about 31% of the most recent group surveyed) and this may be something that you want to consider, especially if wishing to extend your studies at Cambridge, or if considering a PhD for the future.

Will employers want my degree?

The majority of employers that recruit Cambridge graduates do not require a certain degree. They are usually more interested in what you can do rather than what you have studied. Want to know what role would suit your skills? The transferable skills for Philosophy graduates is a good starting point. Try looking for ideas for help with identifying your personal strengths and preferences. Then search Handshake for internships, jobs or graduate schemes you are interested in.

Using my degree

Philosophy graduates who want to use their degree often think about working in marketing & communications, especially social media, branding and digital communications, public sector research (in think tanks, lobbying, or for an MP) or in "start ups" and entrepreneurship generally. So if you are interested in a certain sector think about what you are good at and which roles might be a good fit for you. Network with alumni who studied Philosophy. You can see what they do, their career to date and contact them for further information. Finally, if you are a LinkedIn user (and a high proportion of undergraduates now have set themselves up on LinkedIn), navigate their search screens for Cambridge alumni - you'll find a wide list of organisations employing Cambridge philosophers with the law firms, McKinsey, EY and the Civil Service featuring high up the list.