I'm Margaret Phares, Executive Director at PARWCC--we certify nearly 3,000 career coaches and resume writers globally. While I don't work specifically in religious studies, I coach career professionals who help students translate *any* degree into actual employment, and I've seen patterns in what works. **The translation problem is real.** Religious studies graduates often can't articulate their skills in employer language. When our Certified Student Career Coaches work with these students, we teach them to reframe "studied theological ethics" as "analyzed complex moral frameworks to guide decision-making"--suddenly corporate ethics roles, HR positions, and compliance work open up. One coach worked with a theology grad who landed at a healthcare nonprofit doing patient advocacy because she could speak to end-of-life ethics in practical terms, not academic ones. **The biggest mistake is waiting until graduation to build practical skills.** Students who only take theology courses without pairing them with internships, volunteer work, or even part-time jobs in education or social services struggle massively in job searches. We see this across all liberal arts fields. A religious studies student who also volunteered at a crisis hotline, tutored immigrants, or worked in university student affairs has actual deliverables to discuss in interviews--not just coursework. **For the degree choice question, I'd ask: what work energizes you, not what sounds prestigious?** Our certified coaches use a three-question framework: What must you *do daily* to feel successful? How many jobs actually exist in that field? What does realistic compensation look like? A student passionate about interfaith dialogue but needing $70K to support their family might choose nonprofit program management over academic chaplaincy. The degree should serve your life goals, not the reverse.