Degree of Freedom: Career Paths Beyond Academic Boundaries

Abstract

In today's rapidly changing job market, the correlation between academic majors and career paths is highly debated. This research aims at finding out whether FEB UI Management graduates end up working in jobs related to their chosen concentrations. In pursuit of finding the answer, The Research and Development division at MSS FEB UI conducted a survey on FEB UI Management graduates and discovered interesting insights that may challenge the conventional view on career paths.

"I studied finance for years, but now I'm in marketing. How did that happen?"

Sounds familiar? Many graduates face this reality. According to Indonesia's Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Makarim, 80% of Indonesian college graduates end up working in fields unrelated to their majors. This research tests the hypothesis that FEB UI Management graduates' careers aren't related to the concentration they took in college. 

When life gives you lemons... Study Management.

With life getting more complicated each day, it is crucial to learn about management basics, whether we're organizing our own schedules, managing relationships, leading teams, or collaborating with coworkers. Building relevant skills is also crucial for career readiness. This foundation is particularly important for graduates navigating diverse career paths, which is the main theme of our study on FEB UI Management graduates.

The Management major at FEB UI offers four different areas of specialization: 

1. Financial Management: This includes financial analysis, cash flow management, investment strategies, budgeting, and capital markets.

2. Marketing Management: This includes market research, advertising, brand planning, sales, distribution, and marketing consultancy.

3. Human Resource Management: This includes recruitment and selection, training and development, career advancement, labor relations, and human resource consultancy.

4. Operational Management: This includes supply chain management, project management, production processes, quality assurance, and operational management consultancy.

Studying Management at FEB UI gives the students a chance to learn about these different areas and prepares them for leadership and organizational roles in various industries. You will learn about leadership, money, selling, how things work, and how people behave in organizations, all of which will help you succeed in your career.

We surveyed FEB UI Management graduates, asking about the concentration they took in college and their current working areas. Our survey reveals how these management skills enable career flexibility, allowing graduates to thrive in fields that may not directly align with their chosen concentration.

Results

Source: Dokpri

The survey we conducted revealed that most respondents specialized in Marketing (48%) and Finance (44%), while the rest in Human resource and Operations, both sharing (4%).

Source: Dokpri

Finance graduates spread across different sectors after graduation. Among the respondents who specialized in Finance, four are employed in Banking, another four in Consulting, and three in Trading. Two finance graduates found their place in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, while five others went to sectors like venture capital, services, multi-finance, media, and capital markets.

Source: Dokpri

Marketing graduates also took up diverse roles. Among the respondents who specialized in Marketing, five are employed in FMCG, three in Banking, and two in Tech and Consulting. Another six explored roles in telecommunications, startups, oil and gas, manufacturing, e-commerce, and the creative sector.

Human Resource graduates focused on niche areas. Among the respondents who specialized in Human Resource, one is working in the insurance industry, and the other at a media agency. The same goes for Operations graduates. Among the respondents who specialized in Operations, one is working in Consulting and the other in Tech.

Analysis

The survey results showed that many graduates work in fields related to their studies. For example, respondents who specialized in Finance mostly work in finance-related roles. Likewise, those who specialized in Marketing are mostly employed in FMCG, which align well with their studies. 

However, the survey results showed that a significant portion of respondents do not work in fields directly related to their majors. This is evident from the diverse roles Marketing graduates take on, such as positions in Banking and Oil and Gas. Additionally, Human Resource and Operations graduates, despite their smaller numbers, work in varied industries like insurance and tech.

Contrary to the null hypothesis, while many graduates from FEB UI Management find jobs related to their concentrations, a significant portion do not. Therefore, we reject the null hypothesis. This variability shows that management skills are versatile and applicable across various industries. This "degree of freedom" highlights the adaptability of FEB UI Management graduates. It also suggests that other factors, such as passion and market opportunities, can also greatly influence career paths.

As the philosopher Lao Tzu once said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." This reminds us that exploring beyond academic boundaries can lead to unexpected yet fulfilling career paths. Our findings encourage Management students, both undergraduates and graduates, to embrace this "degree of freedom," and keep finding room for growth and achievement. After all, who knows what exciting opportunities await beyond the boundaries of our academic pursuits?

References

Kasih, A.P. (2022) 80 persen mahasiswa Bekerja Tidak Sesuai Jurusan, ini 4 alasannya halaman all, KOMPAS.com. Available at: https://www.kompas.com/edu/read/2022/11/07/090548371/80-persen-mahasiswa-bekerja-tidak-sesuai-jurusan-ini-4-alasannya?page=all 

Schermerhorn, J. R., & Bachrach, D. G. (2020). Management. Wiley. 

Manajemen (no date) Fakultas Ekonomi dan Bisnis Universitas Indonesia. Available at: https://feb.ui.ac.id/manajemen/ 

Management major (2024) Business Administration & Management | Eckerd College. Available at: https://www.eckerd.edu/management/mgt-major/#:~:text=The%20Management%20major%20focuses%20on,organizations%20(including%20governmental%20entities)