7 answers
Elysia
Student
Nashville, Tennessee
1
Question
Asked
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Are there jobs available for English majors ?
I enjoy writing and I am curious to hear if/what kind of jobs are available for English majors. I know about some but I would like to hear details about ones that I haven't considered.
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7 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Consultant and Freelance Writer
745
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
There are many jobs for English majors, including technical writing positions with engineering and software companies, content and editing writer jobs and teaching positions at secondary and college levels.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6182
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Elysia,
Indeed, an abundance of career prospects await English majors.
1. Content Writing/Editing: English majors are primed for roles in content writing and editing, serving various sectors like marketing firms, publishing companies, digital media outlets, and more. As content writers, they craft engaging, informative materials for websites, blogs, social media, and other platforms. Editors, on the other hand, polish written content to ensure clarity, precision, and adherence to style rules.
2. Technical Writing: This field involves generating documents that simplify complex information. English majors with robust writing abilities can excel here, producing manuals, guides, reports, and other technical documents for sectors such as technology, healthcare, engineering, and finance.
3. Public Relations: English majors can delve into public relations, creating press releases, speeches, articles, and other promotional materials for individuals or organizations. They could work for PR firms, corporations, non-profit entities, government agencies, or as independent consultants.
4. Copywriting: Copywriters craft persuasive content for advertisements, marketing initiatives, product descriptions, and more. English majors with a flair for creative writing can excel in this area, creating compelling copy that connects with target audiences.
5. Education: Many English majors opt for careers in education, becoming teachers at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary level. They can also explore roles in curriculum design, educational publishing, tutoring services, and academic administration.
6. Social Media Management: As social media platforms become essential marketing tools, English majors can use their writing skills to generate engaging social media content, oversee online communities, analyze social media metrics, and devise social media strategies.
7. Grant Writing: Non-profit entities depend on grant writers to secure funding through well-written grant proposals. English majors with strong research and persuasive writing skills can find rewarding careers in grant writing, assisting organizations in obtaining financial backing for their projects and initiatives.
8. Market Research Analysis: English majors with keen analytical skills can venture into market research analysis, collecting and deciphering data to aid businesses in making informed decisions about their products or services. They may conduct surveys, interpret consumer behavior patterns, and prepare research reports.
9. Publishing: English majors interested in publishing can consider roles as literary agents, acquisitions editors, manuscript editors, or production editors. They play a pivotal role in spotting promising manuscripts, collaborating with authors to polish their work, and supervising the publication process.
10. Freelance Writing: For those who value flexibility and independence, freelance writing presents a multitude of opportunities. English majors can write articles, blog posts, web content, whitepapers, e-books, and more on a wide array of topics for diverse clients.
In sum, the skills gained from an English major program such as critical thinking, communication expertise, creativity, attention to detail, and research capabilities are highly sought after across various industries, paving the way for a broad spectrum of career paths for graduates.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
The Muse: A career advice website offering insights into job opportunities suitable for various majors, including English. It provides detailed information on careers related to writing and communication skills.
The Balance Careers: A comprehensive resource covering various professions and industries, offering guidance on job roles suitable for English majors such as content writing/editing, technical writing, public relations, copywriting, and more.
Glassdoor: A platform offering company reviews and job listings, providing insights into job trends for English majors based on real employee experiences and salary data across different industries.
These sources have been invaluable in providing accurate, current information on the wide range of job opportunities available for English majors, based on industry trends and professional insights.
May God bless you!
James Frangos.
Indeed, an abundance of career prospects await English majors.
1. Content Writing/Editing: English majors are primed for roles in content writing and editing, serving various sectors like marketing firms, publishing companies, digital media outlets, and more. As content writers, they craft engaging, informative materials for websites, blogs, social media, and other platforms. Editors, on the other hand, polish written content to ensure clarity, precision, and adherence to style rules.
2. Technical Writing: This field involves generating documents that simplify complex information. English majors with robust writing abilities can excel here, producing manuals, guides, reports, and other technical documents for sectors such as technology, healthcare, engineering, and finance.
3. Public Relations: English majors can delve into public relations, creating press releases, speeches, articles, and other promotional materials for individuals or organizations. They could work for PR firms, corporations, non-profit entities, government agencies, or as independent consultants.
4. Copywriting: Copywriters craft persuasive content for advertisements, marketing initiatives, product descriptions, and more. English majors with a flair for creative writing can excel in this area, creating compelling copy that connects with target audiences.
5. Education: Many English majors opt for careers in education, becoming teachers at the elementary, secondary, or post-secondary level. They can also explore roles in curriculum design, educational publishing, tutoring services, and academic administration.
6. Social Media Management: As social media platforms become essential marketing tools, English majors can use their writing skills to generate engaging social media content, oversee online communities, analyze social media metrics, and devise social media strategies.
7. Grant Writing: Non-profit entities depend on grant writers to secure funding through well-written grant proposals. English majors with strong research and persuasive writing skills can find rewarding careers in grant writing, assisting organizations in obtaining financial backing for their projects and initiatives.
8. Market Research Analysis: English majors with keen analytical skills can venture into market research analysis, collecting and deciphering data to aid businesses in making informed decisions about their products or services. They may conduct surveys, interpret consumer behavior patterns, and prepare research reports.
9. Publishing: English majors interested in publishing can consider roles as literary agents, acquisitions editors, manuscript editors, or production editors. They play a pivotal role in spotting promising manuscripts, collaborating with authors to polish their work, and supervising the publication process.
10. Freelance Writing: For those who value flexibility and independence, freelance writing presents a multitude of opportunities. English majors can write articles, blog posts, web content, whitepapers, e-books, and more on a wide array of topics for diverse clients.
In sum, the skills gained from an English major program such as critical thinking, communication expertise, creativity, attention to detail, and research capabilities are highly sought after across various industries, paving the way for a broad spectrum of career paths for graduates.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
The Muse: A career advice website offering insights into job opportunities suitable for various majors, including English. It provides detailed information on careers related to writing and communication skills.
The Balance Careers: A comprehensive resource covering various professions and industries, offering guidance on job roles suitable for English majors such as content writing/editing, technical writing, public relations, copywriting, and more.
Glassdoor: A platform offering company reviews and job listings, providing insights into job trends for English majors based on real employee experiences and salary data across different industries.
These sources have been invaluable in providing accurate, current information on the wide range of job opportunities available for English majors, based on industry trends and professional insights.
May God bless you!
James Frangos.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1879
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Elysia !
Yes, there are a wide variety of writing jobs out there. A good way to find out about the writing market would be to read magazines geared to the writing field which have lots of good information as well as where to submit your writing. There is also a great website called Writing on which you can write, archive your writings and interact with other writers. I have left link for you below.
You most certainly can consider teaching, playwriting, screen writing, television writing and web content. You can also consider being a tutor for English or writing either remotely or on site. A good way to get an idea about writing careers would be to explore the writing jobs at Indeed and Linked In. You can get an idea of the types of positions and it can broaden your perspective. My advice is to be as versatile and open to all types of writing so that you will have a large choice of work.
I hope that this is a bit of help and I wish you all the best !
WRITER MAGAZINE https://www.writermag.com/
THE WRITER MAGAZINE ON FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/TheWriterMagazine/
WRITING WEBSITE https://www.writing.com/
Yes, there are a wide variety of writing jobs out there. A good way to find out about the writing market would be to read magazines geared to the writing field which have lots of good information as well as where to submit your writing. There is also a great website called Writing on which you can write, archive your writings and interact with other writers. I have left link for you below.
You most certainly can consider teaching, playwriting, screen writing, television writing and web content. You can also consider being a tutor for English or writing either remotely or on site. A good way to get an idea about writing careers would be to explore the writing jobs at Indeed and Linked In. You can get an idea of the types of positions and it can broaden your perspective. My advice is to be as versatile and open to all types of writing so that you will have a large choice of work.
I hope that this is a bit of help and I wish you all the best !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Myles Wood
Program Management & Project Execution
13
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Myles’s Answer
Yes, there are a number of fields of work and jobs that English majors have an opportunity to pursue. For example, some jobs to explore in business may include corporate communications and affairs, technical writing (example: writing monthly release notes for SaaS/cloud based solutions/products), or technical support. Other opportunities to explore beyond traditional English teaching jobs are to consider teaching English abroad in countries where English is taught as a second language. Some examples include South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan to name a few.
Rob Hall
Continuous Improvement / People Leader
7
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Rob’s Answer
My 2 cents: You don't have to be an English Major to be a writer. If you want to be a writer, write! You don't need a degree to be an author. You just need great material.
From the opposite view: you are not contrained to writing jobs even if you have an English degree. I work with people from all types of academic backgrounds who keep our company going and they fill positions from entry hourly to executives. If you have any degree and apply yourself well you can be successful in the workplace.
But you can always do what you love. I love teaching and considered becoming a teacher because of it. But I decided to get a degree in Econ and an MBA, I work in business as a manager and I teach everyday! I make time to teach because I love teaching, and my team grows so much because of it. And I get paid 3-4x what I would make as a teacher, and I am not contstrained to a classroom or a particular curriculum.
So if you love what you do you can find ways to do it and make a good living, either by working for yourself or by helping other employers as a contributor in their company.
From the opposite view: you are not contrained to writing jobs even if you have an English degree. I work with people from all types of academic backgrounds who keep our company going and they fill positions from entry hourly to executives. If you have any degree and apply yourself well you can be successful in the workplace.
But you can always do what you love. I love teaching and considered becoming a teacher because of it. But I decided to get a degree in Econ and an MBA, I work in business as a manager and I teach everyday! I make time to teach because I love teaching, and my team grows so much because of it. And I get paid 3-4x what I would make as a teacher, and I am not contstrained to a classroom or a particular curriculum.
So if you love what you do you can find ways to do it and make a good living, either by working for yourself or by helping other employers as a contributor in their company.
Nik Korba
Writer
18
Answers
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Updated
Nik’s Answer
I graduated many years back with a degree in English Literature and Screenwriting. Since then, I've had three great careers, each of which drew upon the writing, communication, and analytical skills I learned as an English major. The first was an editor for a newsletter. The second was a communications director at a church. The third -- which I presently hold -- is as a writer for a public relations firm.
In all of my roles, I saw myself primarily as a story teller, a skill that I definitely honed as an English major.
Best of luck to you!
In all of my roles, I saw myself primarily as a story teller, a skill that I definitely honed as an English major.
Best of luck to you!
Marlene Ridgway
Feature Writer
7
Answers
Leland, North Carolina
Updated
Marlene’s Answer
There are a lot of great jobs available for English majors. However, the field can be competitive. I recommend always increasing your knowledge base to make you more marketable. For example, jobs that require an English degree often go hand in hand with communication, marketing, advertising, and social media. You could take a few classes to beef up this portion of your resume. In addition, medical writing is a very lucrative field if you're interested in that direction. Good luck!