Nick Spinks, Dean and Deputy Head of College, Sophie Mayes, President of GC, Christine Ellem, Past Tutor, Lead of Jobs Academy Delivery at Future Women, Alana Poole (Wyvern 2018), Sustainability Lead with ELK discussed this question at the CareerReady dinner in the JCR on August 19, and the answer was…. A GREAT DEAL.

Sophie, panelled the discussion, opening with, “An arts degree gives you critical thinking skills, teaches you how to write, read, and interpret the world.”

Nick, described the effect his arts degree has had on his career.

“When you study arts, wherever you think you’ll end up, you will never end up. Arts taught me how to write, think, understand others’ perspectives. Doing an arts degree helps you to work out what your passion is. I would tell my first-year arts student self to be resilient. If you are passionate about something, keep following it.”

Christine appreciated the way her arts degree has given her an edge over other disciplines.

“What has stood me in good stead has been the capacity to take lots of people’s perspectives and hold them together at the same time, for example, audiences, and stakeholders, and weigh them all up. All my roles have come from networking, I’ve done very few interviews. All most people want to do is figure out how to connect with you, so give them a handle. A linear career is not common for people with an arts degree. Sometimes that might feel really challenging when you are trying to tell your story, but find the red thread, the common element will be there.

Alana rated highly the communication skills she gained from her arts degree.

“What enabled me to land all my jobs has been my communication skills, and my ability to bridge gaps between people. I think the conversation around arts degrees is often about skills. As a teen I was obsessed about collecting hard skills, I was thinking about doing engineering but it was the soft skills I was learning every single day, story-telling, researching that have ended up being the most important for my professional profile. What was so brilliant about my arts degree was it allowed me the opportunity to bring more of myself, my passions and interests into my career, than maybe a specialised career path would have. Find what you are passionate about and build a story around what excites you.”

Thank you to our guests: Charlotte Omond (Wyvern 2018), Partnerships and Communication Manager at Outward Bound Australia, Lizzie Castles (Wyvern 2010), Relationship Lead at REA Group, Philippa Brumby (Wyvern 2008), Head of Exhibitions, Museums and Collections at the University of Melbourne, Angus Cameron who has worked in the political, higher education, and legal industries and holds a PhD in theatre from the VCA, where he occasionally teaches, and maintains a career as a playwright, Timothy Gilling (Wyvern 2020), a final-year law student at the University of Melbourne, and co-editor of the Melbourne Journal of International Law. George Fforde (Wyvern 2008), Strategic Initiatives Assistant to the Head of College at Queen’s College and Senior Resident Tutor. A PhD candidate researching Eastern Bloc psychiatric repression. Janine McKenzie (Wyvern 1982), Advancement Communications Advisor at Queen’s, editing newsletters and In Aeternum, Sascha Samlal (Wyvern 2018), a third-year PhD candidate in Cultural Studies at The University of Melbourne, researching feminine subcultures, digital feminisms and consumer culture, Flora Harpley Green, a screenwriter, researcher, archivist and experienced tutor and Academic Advisor for students at the University of Melbourne, Chris Sutton, Chief People Officer at Hobsons Bay City Council.