English Literature wasn’t my choice — now trying to transition into international/maritime careers.
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Hi everyone. I recently came across many posts saying people should only do an MBA or management-related master’s after getting proper work experience, especially if they come from non-business backgrounds. That made me question my own plans.
I’m currently doing a BA English Literature degree in India, but honestly literature was never my choice. My parents pushed me into this degree and wanted me to study in my hometown. Over time I realized I don’t really see myself building a career purely around literature/language-related fields, and I’m pretty sure I’ll have better career opportunities if I shift disciplines for my master’s.
Recently I’ve been interning at DP World in Kochi, and it made me interested in maritime operations, logistics environments, ports, cargo shipping, and global business ecosystems. I’m also interested in international relations, diplomacy, and global affairs.
At the same time:
\- I absolutely hate mathematics, so I’m not suited for highly quantitative careers.
\- I don’t think I’d enjoy a full seafaring lifestyle for months away from land.
\- I seem more interested in the operations/management side.
One professional I met there also had a BA English Literature background, later did an MBA in Logistics Management, joined DP World as a fresher, and built a successful career. That gave me hope that changing disciplines is realistic.
So my question is:
In my situation, does it really make sense to first gain work experience related to English Literature/language fields before doing a master’s?
Or is it better to directly pivot through a master’s into something like logistics, maritime business, international business, IR, or management-related fields?
Also, are there realistic corporate careers that combine international affairs/global trade with maritime or logistics industries?