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lydia
Student
Colorado Springs, Colorado
2
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Asked
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What kind of jobs are available to an English major after completing school?
I love literature; however, I am nervous that dedicating all my time in college to this subject may ultimately leave me without a job. #literature #english-composition #shakespeare
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2 answers
Annie Tvetenstrand
Senior Associate at PwC
2
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Annie’s Answer
Hi Lydia! Apologies if my answer comes too late, but I was in the exact same position as you a few years ago, and I wanted to give you some encouragement. I majored in English Lit and Classical Studies as an undergrad, and right out of college I started working with PwC as a financial services consultant. Whether or not you want to go into consulting, I have some advice for how to find career paths that interest you and how you can market a liberal arts education.
A helpful way to think of your college major (and any extracurriculars, for that matter) is to focus on the skills rather than the content. Maybe your encyclopedic knowledge of Lord Byron's sonnets won't come in handy during your job, but a lot of other skills you're using as an English major are highly sought after by recruiters. Here are a few skills I gained as an English/Classics major that I used to show that I could succeed in a job after college (as well as the examples I used to back it up):
-Communicate complex ideas concisely and clearly, particularly in writing (essays)
-Strong attention to detail (paper editing)
-Lead meetings and guide group discussions (seminars and classes)
-Synthesize data from a variety of sources (research papers discussing art, architecture, literature, etc.)
-Research using several databases (JSTOR, etc.)
I'd advise you to consider what skills you like using in your classes and extracurriculars, and let that guide your job search. Then use those skills to sell yourself as a strong candidate. Good luck!
liberal-arts liberal-arts-major careers-for-people-with-liberal-arts-degrees
A helpful way to think of your college major (and any extracurriculars, for that matter) is to focus on the skills rather than the content. Maybe your encyclopedic knowledge of Lord Byron's sonnets won't come in handy during your job, but a lot of other skills you're using as an English major are highly sought after by recruiters. Here are a few skills I gained as an English/Classics major that I used to show that I could succeed in a job after college (as well as the examples I used to back it up):
-Communicate complex ideas concisely and clearly, particularly in writing (essays)
-Strong attention to detail (paper editing)
-Lead meetings and guide group discussions (seminars and classes)
-Synthesize data from a variety of sources (research papers discussing art, architecture, literature, etc.)
-Research using several databases (JSTOR, etc.)
I'd advise you to consider what skills you like using in your classes and extracurriculars, and let that guide your job search. Then use those skills to sell yourself as a strong candidate. Good luck!
liberal-arts liberal-arts-major careers-for-people-with-liberal-arts-degrees
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
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Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Lydia,
Career Opportunities for English Majors:
English majors have a diverse range of career opportunities available to them after completing school. While it is a common misconception that studying English may limit job prospects, the skills acquired during an English degree program are highly transferable and can be applied to various professions. Here are some of the potential job options for English majors:
Writing and Editing: English majors often pursue careers in writing and editing. They can work as content writers, copywriters, editors, or technical writers for various industries such as publishing houses, media companies, advertising agencies, and corporate communications departments.
Education: Many English majors choose to become educators by pursuing teaching careers at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary levels. They can also work as tutors, curriculum developers, or education consultants.
Public Relations and Marketing: English majors with strong communication skills often excel in public relations and marketing roles. They can work in areas such as social media management, brand management, market research, advertising, and public relations.
Law: The analytical and critical thinking skills developed through studying literature can be beneficial for a career in law. Many English majors go on to pursue law degrees and work as lawyers, legal researchers, paralegals, or legal assistants.
Nonprofit Organizations: English majors interested in making a difference in their communities may find fulfilling careers in nonprofit organizations. They can work in roles related to fundraising, grant writing, advocacy, community outreach, or program development.
Human Resources: The communication and interpersonal skills honed by English majors make them well-suited for roles in human resources departments. They can work in recruitment, employee training and development, organizational communication, or employee relations.
Freelance Writing: Some English majors choose to work as freelance writers or consultants, offering their services to clients in need of content creation, editing, proofreading, or creative writing expertise.
Publishing: Careers in the publishing industry are also popular among English majors. They can work as literary agents, acquisitions editors, manuscript readers, or production editors for publishing houses or literary magazines.
Technical Communication: With their strong writing abilities and attention to detail, English majors can pursue careers in technical communication fields such as software documentation, instructional design, user experience (UX) writing, or information architecture.
Business Communications: English majors can leverage their communication skills to work in business environments handling internal communications strategies,…
Please ask me again and make your question or request clear because I currently can’t fully understand your query the way it was written.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
The Muse
The Balance Careers
Indeed Career Guide
GOD CAN RICHLY BLESS YOU!
JC.
Career Opportunities for English Majors:
English majors have a diverse range of career opportunities available to them after completing school. While it is a common misconception that studying English may limit job prospects, the skills acquired during an English degree program are highly transferable and can be applied to various professions. Here are some of the potential job options for English majors:
Writing and Editing: English majors often pursue careers in writing and editing. They can work as content writers, copywriters, editors, or technical writers for various industries such as publishing houses, media companies, advertising agencies, and corporate communications departments.
Education: Many English majors choose to become educators by pursuing teaching careers at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary levels. They can also work as tutors, curriculum developers, or education consultants.
Public Relations and Marketing: English majors with strong communication skills often excel in public relations and marketing roles. They can work in areas such as social media management, brand management, market research, advertising, and public relations.
Law: The analytical and critical thinking skills developed through studying literature can be beneficial for a career in law. Many English majors go on to pursue law degrees and work as lawyers, legal researchers, paralegals, or legal assistants.
Nonprofit Organizations: English majors interested in making a difference in their communities may find fulfilling careers in nonprofit organizations. They can work in roles related to fundraising, grant writing, advocacy, community outreach, or program development.
Human Resources: The communication and interpersonal skills honed by English majors make them well-suited for roles in human resources departments. They can work in recruitment, employee training and development, organizational communication, or employee relations.
Freelance Writing: Some English majors choose to work as freelance writers or consultants, offering their services to clients in need of content creation, editing, proofreading, or creative writing expertise.
Publishing: Careers in the publishing industry are also popular among English majors. They can work as literary agents, acquisitions editors, manuscript readers, or production editors for publishing houses or literary magazines.
Technical Communication: With their strong writing abilities and attention to detail, English majors can pursue careers in technical communication fields such as software documentation, instructional design, user experience (UX) writing, or information architecture.
Business Communications: English majors can leverage their communication skills to work in business environments handling internal communications strategies,…
Please ask me again and make your question or request clear because I currently can’t fully understand your query the way it was written.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
The Muse
The Balance Careers
Indeed Career Guide
GOD CAN RICHLY BLESS YOU!
JC.