Stronger writing skills are a key benefit for an English major.
Revealing your plans to major in English can sometimes feel like you're setting up the punchline of a joke. To the outside world, mastering the intricacies of Shakespeare's plays seems like a ticket to a job in the fast food world. In reality, an English major's career options extend beyond the traditional fields of writing or teaching. Best of all, the flexibility of the major builds skills that make graduates more attractive to prospective employers.
Communications Jobs
Working in media- or communications-related fields is the most common route after graduation. That typically means working as an advertising copywriter, editor, literary agent, publicist or reporter, which are fields that utilize an English major's writing and communications skills. Business and technical writing careers are also possible, since they require the use of critical thinking and analysis, which can be gained by studying English literature, for example.
Teaching Jobs
Elementary education is another possible option for English majors.
Pursuing a teaching career is another possible option, though salaries and working conditions can vary greatly. Secondary school teaching enables English majors to pick a specialty and stick with it. Another possibility is teaching at community colleges or universities. However, competition is fierce, and without a tenure-track position, applicants face working without health insurance or other benefits. All of these options require additional education and qualifications before they pay off.
Nonprofit Jobs
Entering the nonprofit world is another overlooked career option. Many nonprofits have communications departments, with editors who work on the organization's publications. Speechwriters oversee nonprofits' public speaking needs, including those of development directors who raise funds, manage staff and coordinate strategy. Entry-level or volunteer openings are the usual starting point, with higher salaries possible after several years in the field.
Management Jobs
Applying for management positions, especially those in communications and management, should not be considered out of the question. As English graduates will discover, a bachelor of arts degree is one of the minimum requirements cited for most management positions. That's because people with strong writing and communications skills are always in demand.
Some Final Considerations
Completing an English major amounts to an immersion in the language. An associate's degree in English--or related fields like liberal arts, or general studies--will prepare graduates for entry-level business and communications jobs. Bachelor of arts degrees are more academic-oriented, stressing critical analysis of classical arts, literature and media. With either degree, graduates will develop critical thinking, researching and writing skills that employers find appealing.
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