Putting Social Science to Work

Students working at computer

In 2013, Google studied its employees to consider what the most important characteristics were for them to have. The Washington Post reported on the study results in December 2017.

“The seven top characteristics of success at Google are all soft skills: being a good coach; communicating and listening well; possessing insights into others (including others’ different values and points of view); having empathy toward and being supportive of one’s colleagues; being a good critical thinker and problem solver; and being able to make connections across complex ideas.”

(“The surprising thing Google learned about its employees — and what it means for today’s students”, by Valerie Strauss, The Washington Post, December 20, 2017)

Another Google study showed that the company’s “most important and productive new ideas come from B-teams comprised of employees who don’t always have to be the smartest people in the room.” The study “shows that the best teams at Google exhibit a range of soft skills: equality, generosity, curiosity toward the ideas of your teammates, empathy, and emotional intelligence.”

Work Experience

We are continually working to build bridges between academic learning and real-world experiences. The Student Success Centre offers career services and counsellors to explore your options.

Western’s Career Services helps you:

  • Build résumés and write cover letters
  • Develop interview skills
  • Discover career possibilities
  • Gain focus and clarity in your career search
  • Translate your academic interests into a career path

Possible careers for Social Science graduates:

  • Advertising/media/marketing
  • Archivist
  • Business consultant
  • Career counsellor
  • Community activism/support/development
  • Consumer advocacy
  • Counselling
  • Editorial work
  • Education/teacher
  • Family policy
  • Gerontology
  • GovernmentIntelligence analyst
  • Lawyer
  • Political analyst
  • Professor
  • Statistician
  • Urban planning