So you’re an English Major. Or you finally landed your English BA or MA. Now what? Let’s take a look at different jobs you can land with an English Degree. These careers aren’t necessarily what you would expect!
“What are you going to do with that degree?” If you studied English, Literature, Theater, or other creative career in college, you’ve likely heard some version of this time and time again. And, if you’re like most of us, you probably were curious about the same thing at some time. You likely asked yourself some version of the question: What can I do with this degree?
But you should know, English majors are uniquely qualified for a variety of positions. Don’t get stuck down a traditional path of academia if you’re not passionate about it. Instead, explore all there is out there. Because the reality is, English majors can handle a lot more than meets the eye.
The key is knowing how to position yourself and to express your strengths clearly. Luckily for you, that was pretty much the purpose of your entire degree!
Think about all these skills you have!
Communication while Speaking
If your classes were anything like mine, you had to speak out often during class. To do so, you had to express your ideas clearly and concisely. I remember talking to my friends who were in other majors talk about their classes where they were lectured to by a professor in a room of fifty or more students. Meanwhile, I was headed to my class where ten students sat around a table with a professor and discussed the literature.
Communication in Writing
You’ve had to write countless papers where you needed to express your ideas clearly and effectively. Much of the corporate world still relies on email to express their ideas. Who better than you to be there, fingers on the keyboard, ready to express the ideas of the company in a clear and concise way?
Readers
As an English major, you’ve had to read and read and read. That turned you into an expert reader. You don’t need things explained to you over and over. You know how to read and comprehend text in a way that other majors should be jealous. This is such a value skill to a company because they can hand you the directions and won’t have to worry if you’re able to figure it out!
Note Taking
English majors are often the most efficient notetakers. We know how to take big, complex ideas, and boil them down to just a few notes. This makes us immensely valuable in meetings. Not only can we take notes for the meeting. But we can also leave that meeting with an understanding of what it was about, next steps, and can relay that information to others.
Research
English majors are nothing if not effective researchers. We find evidence to support what we’re saying. And in any career this is a value. We’re not likely to walk into meetings or send an email without first ensuring that everything is accurate and in order. We do this through research.
So remember, if you’re applying to one (or more) of these jobs, be sure to express your strengths in these areas. Because you’d be surprised how much most businesses are looking for people like you!
Careers
Financial Analyst
This is first on the list because I can attest that this is actually possible. If you’re an English major with an affinity for numbers, this is not outside the realm of possibility. I know, because I was hired as a financial analyst without any other business experience. I did this because I expressed my strengths. It turned out that one of the largest financial institutions in the world was interested.
Literary Agent
Literary agents acquire writer clients and help them publish their books. If you want to read books for the rest of your career, then what better way to do this than become a literary agent! This can be a tricky field to enter because of the required relationships. Therefore, it would definitely help to become an assistant first so you can form relationships and have some on-the-job training.
Copywriter
Copywriting is a great career for English majors. You need to write, edit, proofread, revise, and submit written word. Does that sound familiar? There’s a learning curve for copywriting, which is why I recommend checking out this article. If you want to know more about copywriting as a dream career for writers, check out this article. It will talk a lot more about the related but necessary skills needed to be a successful copywriter.
Grant Writer/Fundraising
Grant writers work for non-profits to secure funding. This is a vital role because without funding, many non-profits wouldn’t be able to do the good they try to do in the world. Grant writers must understand how to tell a story and to do so concisely and with a specific and profound impact on the reader. This is why English majors make great grant writers. They know how to research and develop an idea into a story with a specific purpose.
Social Media Manager
Social media managers need to concisely express the ideas and values of a company. This is perfect for the skills English majors possess. If you can understand the message a company wants to get across and translate it into text, then you’re well on your way to being a successful social media manager. With the rise in social media, this could be one of those careers that booms. If you can separate yourself from others and be really good at what you do, there’s no reason you couldn’t find yourself in a successful role. This is something you can also do on a freelance basis, taking on multiple clients and charging each client based on the services they request.
Journalist
Journalism is a tricky career. Many people see the decline in traditional journalism because of the rise in social media and the ease for most people to post their ideas online. However, if you can get yourself into a journalism career, you can have a career where you research, write, and publish. Plus, you can do this for a company that has similar values to you. So if you’re passionate about a particular idea, it could be worth seeing what jobs they have available!
Public Relations Specialist
Public relations specialists work to develop and maintain the public image for their client(s). This is done by helping them get featured in places that will enhance that public image. You might be required to reach out to publications as well as to perform a liaison between journalists and the client. This is a great role for English majors because effective communication and accuracy in the written word is key.
Teacher
Teaching is a noble career. I’ve been teaching for a few years in urban and suburban environments and I know many people who absolutely love being teachers. With summers off and days that often end around 3, the time for creative pursuits is a major plus for teachers. Plus, you get to talk about literature all day! Sure, there are downfalls but what career is perfect?
Paralegal
Paralegals help lawyers by researching and preparing documents. English majors are great at roles like this because we’re used to reading through large quantities of text and identifying/summarizing the main ideas. This could be especially useful if you’re considering going into law. Being a paralegal for a few years will give you the background to see if you like it, while also providing you with some experience you can put on an application or resume.
Editorial Assistant
Editorial assistants can have a variety of different roles in the book publishing industry. This is also often seen as a stepping stone to different careers within the book publishing world. It’s important to understand that this is a way for you to either move closer to the type of job you want, or to figure out what, within the publishing world, you’re interested in pursuing. You’ll likely be required to wear a lot of different hats for a company. So be ready to learn!
