During our recent Career Accelerator panel, alumni shared their nontraditional career paths with students.

“Beloit pushes you to be intellectually curious and that continues with you throughout your career,” shared Rebecca Granger’05, now a program and policy analyst at Wisconsin Department of Health Services. She didn’t know her job existed back when she was majoring in political science. But through multiple volunteer opportunities and joining Peace Corps, she found a job that aligned with her interests.

Carolyn Klepser’70 agreed and reminded students that even if their majors don’t match their careers, that knowledge isn’t wasted.

“No knowledge is useless,” she says. Citing that her knowledge of Latin helped her understand medical terminology in her nursing career.

Each alumnus said that it is important to recognize that skills are transferable between sectors.

“Life never goes according to plan but being flexible to your plan/goal is important,” says Dewight Walker’17, a doctoral student in healthcare administration at Walden University.