You spent your high school years deciding what you wanted to study, and now you’ve spent the last few years dedicated to pursuing an education in a field that interests you. As you near the end of your schooling and start approaching your career, you may find yourself perusing the job market in your chosen field, only to be met with a bleak reality – there just aren’t any jobs available. You’re not alone, and before you begin mourning your future, or quit school to avoid more debt, there are some important things you should know.

Many People Never Work in their Chosen Profession

It may seem hard to believe, but a study from 2014 showed that only 27% of people work in jobs that matched their degrees. That seems like such a small group of people when you consider the climbing cost of college tuition, and the fact that many people think that a degree is the ticket to landing a great job and a solid career foundation. You might look at those numbers and think: why am I wasting my time and money on a degree if the odds are that it might not help me get a job?

Having A Degree Does Increase Your Chances of Getting a Job

Many people only think about the knowledge base that comes along with a degree, and dismiss all of the other “soft skills” that having any sort of degree can still indicate that you possess. When you list your degree on your resume, even if it is for a completely unrelated field, it tells the hiring manager that you can get things done. It says that you are committed, and that you’re smart. It shows a level of dedication, and employers are often willing to offer employment to people that they think have staying power.

Having a Degree Also Increases Your Wages

Many higher-wage jobs will require a college degree in order to apply, and they often don’t have to be degree-specific. These tend to be higher paying jobs, and though many can get an even higher wage if there is a match between the field and the major, simply having a degree increases your potential salary with many employers.

Many People find Satisfaction in Other Career Fields

While it’s easy to hang up your hopes when you can’t find a job working in your chosen field, it may be premature. Many people who wind up taking on a less desirable job find a good fit in a career that they hadn’t planned on. The same study from 2014 showed that while only 27% of college graduates work in their chosen field of study, 62% of graduates were in a field that required applicants to only have a degree.

Don’t Worry if You Aren’t Hired into Your Field Right Away

With the Employment market still recovering from the recession, it can take up to a year or more for many college grads to secure full-time employment in their field. Many people end up accepting another position outside their field just to get the bills paid, and then find themselves settling into a career that surprises them.

Author’s Bio: Susanne Loxton is an experienced writer with a passion for learning and education. On a daily basis, Susanne works for Aubiz, a compendium of knowledge about companies in her native Australia.

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How Your Degree Doesn’t Determine Your Future