Philosophy careers
Philosophers engage in critical thinking, analysis, and argumentation to explore aspects concerned with fundamental questions about existence and develop theories and frameworks to better understand the world and our place within it. The study of philosophy provides us with numerous skills which are valuable in a variety of careers. Here we list potential careers for graduates of philosophy.
There are many occupations open to students and graduates of a Philosophy degree, although most of these are open to graduates in any subject 23.1% of Philosophy graduates in employment in the UK are working in Business, HR and finance roles, with a further 13.5% being employed as marketing, PR and sales professionals. Clerical, secretarial and administrative professionals (12.2%), Retail, catering and customer service professionals (12%), (https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/philosophy )
The occupations below are a selection of those which may interest students and graduates who have studied Philosophy. Please note that some of these careers may require further study.
University Lecturer
As well as teaching through lectures and seminars, academic staff in higher education also carry out research and a wide range of administrative and pastoral tasks. Although a teaching qualification is not required, you will need a higher degree, normally a PhD. Competition is strong for entry-level academic posts.
Job profile of a higher education lecturer on the Prospects website
Job profile of a higher education lecturer on the TARGET Jobs website
I Want to Work in: A University
Civil Service Fast Stream Administrator
The Fast Stream is a development programme designed to prepare graduates for careers at the highest levels of the Civil Service and Diplomatic Service.
Job profile of an Civil Service Fast Streamer from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Civil Service administrator from the TARGET Jobs website
Job profile of a diplomat from the TARGET Jobs website
Civil Service Fast Stream website
Local government
This offers a broad range of careers, both generalist (manager, officer, administrator etc.) and specialist (such as finance, education, human resources). Graduates in local government are responsible for the development and implementation of the local authority’s policies and procedures, ensuring that they are delivered effectively and offer value for money.
Job profile of a local government officer from the Prospects website
Job profile of a local government administrator from the TARGET Jobs website
Solicitor
Solicitors provide expert legal support and advice to clients (who may be individuals, groups, public sector organisations or private companies), take instructions from clients and advise on necessary courses of legal action. Some solicitors’ firms specialise in areas that relate to religious studies, such as ecclesiastical law, charity law and civil liberties.
Non-law graduates can enter the legal profession – more information can be found here Non-law graduates convert to law from the Prospects website
Job profile of a solicitor from the Prospects website
Job profile of a solicitor from the TARGET Jobs website
Secondary School Teacher
To teach in state schools (excluding academies and free schools) in England and Wales, you must complete a period of “initial teacher training”, such as a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course or school-centred training, which leads to Qualified Teacher Status.
Job profile of a secondary school teacher from the Prospects website
Job profile of a secondary school teacher from the TARGET Jobs website
I Want to Work In: Teaching
Social Researcher
Social Researchers collect, analyse and present information and data from social research projects. They investigate attitudes, behaviours and experiences of population samples on particular issues.
Job profile of a Social Researcher on the Prospects website
Job profile of a Social Researcher on the Target Jobs website
Job profile of a Government Research Officer on the Target Jobs website
For a range of additional Music/Music Technology careers, visit Creative and Cultural Skills
Please note that some of these careers may require further study.
For further information on these careers, see also:
- I Want To Work In
- Information on types of jobs from Prospects
- Information on career sectors from TargetJobs
People in some Philosophy roles may be self-employed
Thank you to Prospects for the content on these pages.
Other careers
A Philosophy degree may be useful in the following career areas:
Business Analyst
As a business analyst you'll work within an organisation, helping to manage, change and plan for the future in line with their goals. This could be for one specific project, or as a permanent feature of the organisation. You'll need to understand the current organisational situation, identify future needs and create solutions to help meet those needs, usually (but not always) in relation to information and software systems.
Job profile of a Business Analyst on Prospects website
Charity Worker
One of the most important activities in charities is fundraising but there is a wide range of others, from applying for grants or managing volunteers to providing advice and information to clients. Charities recruit into a variety of roles including project management; finance; marketing; public relations and volunteer management. In smaller charities, staff may undertake multiple tasks.
Job profile of a Charity Officer from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Charity Fundraiser from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Charities Administrator from the TARGET Jobs website
Job profile of a Charities Fundraiser from the TARGET Jobs website
I want to work in: a Charity
Librarian
Library and information staff manage, organise, evaluate and disseminate information. In specialist libraries (such as local history libraries) or universities, graduates may be able to use their subject knowledge directly however you will need to undertake further study to complete a Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) -accredited postgraduate diploma or Masters in librarianship or information science/management.
Job profile of an Academic Librarian from the Prospects website
Job profile of an Academic Librarian from the TARGET Jobs website
Job profile of a Public Librarian from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Public Librarian from the TARGET Jobs website
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
I want to work in: Librarianship and Archives
Marketing Executive
Marketing executives develop marketing campaigns to promote a product, service or idea. It is a varied role that includes planning, advertising, public relations, event organisation, product development, distribution, sponsorship and research.
Job profile of a Marketing Executive from the Prospects website
Job profile of a Marketing Executive from the TARGET Jobs website
I want to work in: Marketing
You may be interested in graduate roles outside of philosophy. There are many employers who are looking for graduates with good degrees but that don’t have a preference for the subject studied. To explore different career options see:
Skills gained
As well as subject-specific knowledge and skills, a graduate in philosophy will typically have gained:
- The ability to analyse problems in a multi-dimensional way
- The ability to think creatively, self critically and independently
- Self-motivation
- The ability to work autonomously
- Time and priority management skills
- A flexible mind adaptable to managing change
Source: Higher Education Academy Employability Profiles
They will also have skills in:
- Clear and logical thinking
- Critical evaluation
- Openness to new ways of thinking
- Literacy and expression
- Negotiating
- Organising
- Writing clearly and persuasively
- Planning
- Problem solving
- Research
- Capacity for independent thought
- Working to deadlines
This is not an exhaustive list of skills - you will develop many skills from your course, extra-curricular activities and work experience. You can find out more about the skills employers look for and how you can develop them here.
Find a job
The Careers and Employability Service provides information and advice on job searching to University of Kent students and recent graduates. This includes a vacancy database advertising a range of graduate jobs, sandwich placements and vacation work/internships and online resources. The websites listed below may also be useful when searching for a job and when looking for further information on this sector.
Useful Websites
- Arts & Humanities Research Council
- Philosophy Now Articles and news
- The RSA The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA)
- Arts Council Develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences – includes Arts Jobs, which advertises a wide range of opportunities
Job Websites
- Guardian Jobs (Arts and Heritage) Good Search facility including by graduate level
- Graduate-jobs allows you to narrow down vacancies by the degree subject studied
- Jobs.ac.uk for roles in the Education sector
- The Guardian Jobs for Philosophy jobs
More websites offering graduate jobs, internships and placement years
You may also find useful reviews and application/interview tips for specific organisations on the following websites:
Further study
Some Philosophy graduates opt for further study but this is typically determined by the area of work that they are hoping to go into. For teaching in higher education, further study within your discipline would be required. For school teaching or for a career in law, additional vocational qualifications may well be necessary. For other areas, such as journalism or marketing, work experience may be the bigger factor. It is important to research the area that you hope to work in when considering any further study decisions.