With an English degree, you can do just about anything. Popular jobs for those with an English degree include careers in education, public relations, law, advertising, entertainment, consulting, marketing, publishing, and journalism. Since almost all jobs require a high level of both written communication and critical thinking skills, an English degree prepares you to enter the workforce with an incredible amount of options from which to choose.
Believe it or not, English is one of the most popular majors for pre-law students. If you’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, but you thought you may not have what it takes, think again. After completing an English degree, you’ll be one of the most attractive candidates for admission into law school. If you like to speak in public, analyze and interpret texts, and enjoy a strenuous, fast-paced work schedule, then pursuing a career in law would be a perfect route for you as an English degree holder.
Teaching is perhaps the most popular initial career path for those with English degrees. An English degree prepares future educators to effectively communicate complex analysis of texts, meaning as an English major, you won’t necessarily have to teach English if that’s not what you want to do. With a Master’s degree in English, you can teach English at two-year community colleges, and with a doctoral degree in English, you can teach at the university level. English majors also pursue careers in teaching English as a second language, which opens up the exciting possibility of legally living and working abroad.
If you love to write creatively, then an English degree will help you break into career paths like publishing and advertising. Publishing companies look for individuals who can edit prose and assess whether manuscripts would be widely read if published. Moreover, publishing companies also look for individuals who can write promotional materials for their marketing department. Like publishing, advertising is also a perfect career path for people who possess a way with words. Advertising agencies need copywriters and editors to help create a convincing advertising campaign.
Another career path for English majors that many do not look into is technical writing. As a technical writer, you can write instructional manuals for a variety of products, from software to cars. Many English majors shy away from the word “technical,” but the truth is, technical writers are hired to explain technical problems in simple, lay-men’s language. What’s more, technical writing is one of the most lucrative positions for English majors on the market.
These are only a few career options, but it cannot be stressed enough that you can go just about anywhere and do anything with an English degree. In an article in the University of Virginia’s English Department newsletter, two English majors share their stories about how their English degrees enabled them to pursue exciting, unusual careers. With an English degree, the sky’s the limit!