What jobs can English majors get?
Update 11/07/14: Hey yeah writers! This is another old post that I thought would be good to bring back. If you were an English major who’s now out working in the world, send us an ask telling us about what you do for a living now, and I’ll add it to this post!
What jobs can you get with an English or communications degree? I’d like these jobs to let me be a bit imaginative/creative. Sorry if this isn’t really writing related. I can’t picture a better job than being a writer, but I know I should have a back up plan.
The whole idea that your major dictates what your profession will be post-grad is like, the biggest sham ever. Grad school, yes, but undergrad? The head of the web development team at my company studied musical theatre in college. My friend who works at Penguin studied theatre and neuroscience. Heck, I work at a tech company and I studied English (though some stuff is relevant to what I do). My point is, you can basically do whatever you want with an English degree—what’s important is what you learn/teach yourself outside of school.
Yes, you get a lot of English majors in publishing, but that’s another sham: Studying English prepares you for working in publishing about as much as it prepares you for working in a cat food factory. Publishing is a business, and I’d bet a business major would go into a publishing job with a lot more knowledge than an English major. The only correlation is that English majors are likely to have a heightened interest in the product. (More on being an English major here.) I think the last couple of paragraphs might be helpful to you.
If you want to know more about my experience of being an English major and getting into the working world (I graduated 2.5 years ago and have an awesome job!), you can read this big ol’ post.
So, I thought I would ask some yeah writers who are former English majors about their current professions, and this is what they’re up to:
callingvoicemail: In response to your post: I graduated a few months ago with a degree in English literature. I started out as a copywriter. Now, I’m being trained to become a brand assistant for a growing local retail brand, and I’m currently handling marketing and communications.(Don’t believe people when they say you won’t go anywhere with an English degree. We turn up everywhere!)
serraltascribbles: English Literature and current role is Operations Coordinator the University’s Alumni Relations Office.
heresto4ever: Majored in Writing Intensive English in college and am now a librarian. (Had to go to grad school though!)
darlenec91: I’m a writing tutor for a local community college and a freelance editor for a healthcare company :)
thevolatilemolotov: Hi! I majored in English at UC Berkeley and I have a job! I work for a non-profit that runs two wikis devoted to political reporting. I’m a researcher and staff writer.
thejejunejesuit: In response to the post about English majors and jobs: After I completed my MFA, I began working as an adjunct professor in two humanities departments.
hisbookgoblin: I am an English major, and I have a job in the communications department of a Fortune 500 company, and I’m up for a job in the training department to create eLearning courses for the company’s employees.
anarttoeverything: I’m a private investigator. I work for a firm based in NYC with offices around the world. I’m not the skulking in alleys and spying on cheating husbands/wives type of PI—it’s so much more complex and nuanced and global and interesting than that. I was hired when I was 23. It’s been 3 years, and I’m still excited to go to work every day—and no one has ever, ever wondered what I—an English major (gasp!)—was doing there. So, English majors: the world is yours!
thebeautyisme: I majored in English as an undergrad. I worked in publishing for a little while and then got my MA in Education. I also write freelance articles and fiction on the side. I HATE when people say you can’t get a job w/ an English degree. Not true. It shows employers that you write well and are a good critical thinker and communicator.
alainawaagner: I graduated with an English degree in 2011 and secured my first job as a marketing assistant at major publisher Macmillan by the end of that year. I’m now a marketing coodinator at HarperCollins, working with books and authors every day.
starvingrobotartist: English major and creative writing minor. I’m now an editor for a literary journal, a freelance editor, and an acquiring editor for a fiction publisher. Took me two years, but I’m in a place where my college education helps me in the job I love.
ariseosleeper: Hey! I majored in English and minored in creative writing in college, and right now I’m doing technical writing (product descriptions and editing content for search engine optimization, etc) for a small online retail company. I also do customer service, too (typing, communication, and grammar skills are a must for online chat help and emails).
lalunetteprismatique: I majored in English for my BA. I’ve been a supplemental instructor and performed other p/t work. But, I’ve finally acquired fulltime employment as an office assistant. I still freelance and will be applying for grad school this fall.
bluewookiee: I didn’t major in English, but my big sis did and she is now a high school English teacher.
siestas: I was an English major at a state university in Florida. I graduated in May and I’m now working for a growing indie fashion magazine in NYC. I’m a marketing assistant. I got my job after working an unpaid internship with the magazine. I also did a six week publishing course at NYU right after graduating, which definitely helped get the internship and the experience to impress my boss so much she wanted to hire me. I also work freelance in blogging/marketing for a start up brand
blackcrowcalling: I have a BA in English Literature, and I am currently teaching at a 1st tier university in Beijing, China.
audioexistentialism: About the English Major jobs post: I currently work as an audio engineer in a recording studio. I graduated last year with a degree in English.
heartofoshun: I am old. Semi-retired, Now do freelance writing and am writing fiction. Most of my working life has involved writing in one form or another, technical editing, copy checking and fact checking on various published books and articles; worked as a journalist on-staff for newspapers and at a wire service, and free lancing. Also worked in law firms, and research and development as a copy checker and technical editor. Most of it was not glamorous, but it paid the bills. Now I write what I want.
vig0rous: Hey! I just graduated in May with a degree in English. I’m now an Editorial Assistant at a publishing company!
floerian: With regard to English Major jobs — I have arguably an even less useful degree, a BFA (Bachelor of F—- All) in Creative Writing. I’m a writer and narrative designer on two video games, and starting my own company to create interactive/transmedia stories and develop my own story world franchise. (In other words, there’s nothing stopping you from achieving your dreams. I’m 24.)
amateurwords: I graduated in 2010 with a degree in English and I am an Associate Producer for a Documentary Company in Boston, Northern Light Productions. I get to do all my favorite things, read, write, research, learn and work with wonderful people.
redthumbletters: In response to the question what English majors have as current professions, I am a TEFL teacher in South Korea at an all girl’s middle school. It’s really great!
blaze029: I have a BA in Political Science and English (Creative Writing) and am now in law school! We do a lot of writing and a major part of a trial lawyer’s job is getting the narrative across. Similarly, many types of lawyers must tell their client’s stories and act as their legal voices. I’ve also been able to help people already in my first year and met lots of interesting people!
——————————————————————————————————-
This post will be indexed on our Advice page, under the heading “The Writer’s Life”.
