If you’re considering choosing English as your major, you might be wondering about your job options after graduation. Or perhaps your parents – who may bear some or all of the costs – are the ones feeling concerned.
Whatever your situation, it helps to know that there are many possibilities.
Top Skills that English Graduates Have in the Job Market
Here are some skills you will bring to future employers, regardless of the industry you choose to work in:
Creating a Convincing Argument
Clearly, English graduates learn how to write well. As part of this process, they learn to take a stance (like the thesis statement in an essay) and craft an argument that supports that stance.
Reviewing and Editing Written Work
English graduates learn how to review and edit written texts and refine them until they are polished.
Giving Constructive Criticism (and Receiving it Well)
They learn how to give and receive constructive criticism, as papers are often reviewed by classmates.
Reading for the Big Picture While Noticing Details
English graduates read and absorb massive amounts of content each week. They are capable of distilling key concepts and identifying flaws in arguments.
Time Management and Prioritizing Tasks
They must learn how to manage their schedules well in order to complete the necessary reading and writing assignments on time.
Respecting Different Viewpoints
They learn to understand and appreciate different viewpoints while trying to comprehend the approaches taken by writers and their classmates. They learn that there are often different ways to tackle a problem.
Practicing Creativity
English graduates often have a creative flair that allows them to craft poems, stories, and essays, as well as offer a unique interpretation of a literary piece.
Preparing and Delivering Presentations
Explaining viewpoints and presenting information verbally to others is a crucial part of the educational process for English graduates. As a result, they learn how to give presentations – a valuable skill in the business world.
Top 10 Jobs for English Graduates
Since your major is just one part of your professional profile, you should carefully assess your values, interests, and other skills before making a final decision about a specific job. However, here are some common jobs for English graduates to consider:
1. Social Media Manager
Social media managers need the creativity that English graduates possess to devise strategies for promoting the organization through social media. Often, they write proposals for other staff members to consider and must explain their ideas to colleagues to reach a consensus.
2. Technical Writer
Technical writers create manuals, FAQs, help sections on websites, and other documentation related to product and service use. They leverage the English graduates’ ability to use precise language to explain ideas in the simplest, clearest way. Technical writers need to gather notes and recommendations and integrate them into documentation based on user experiences, just like English graduates do when reviewing their papers based on professors’ and peers’ critiques.
3. Public Relations Specialist
Public relations specialists need to tell a compelling story about a client or colleague that captures the media’s attention and achieves coverage in a magazine, newspaper, website, television, or radio station. English graduates’ developed storytelling abilities and writing skills enable them to convey these messages through press releases.
4. Lawyer
When a lawyer is asked to point out their most important skills, it won’t take long for them to mention writing as a core skill. Lawyers draft contracts, memos, legal documents, and arguments in court. The writing skills of English graduates and their ability to craft language carefully prepare them to excel in these aspects of legal work.
5.
Grant Writer
Grant writers are also storytellers, as they must convincingly explain how resources will impact beneficiaries. Often, they review, edit, and revise proposals submitted by researchers and faculty as part of the funding development process. Research and reading skills are essential for grant writers as they investigate funding sources and review projects that have been funded by target institutions over time.
6. Librarian
Librarians can benefit from the ability of English graduates to appreciate good literature when considering which books to include in their collections. Reading skills help in quickly reading book reviews while making decisions. English graduates learn how to leverage resources while gathering information for their papers, spending a lot of time guiding visitors on the best sources for their research projects. The attention to detail and organizational skills of English graduates assist in creating effective systems for cataloging and classifying books.
7. Editor and Content Manager
Editors must have a sharp eye for English graduates while reviewing articles submitted for publication in journals and publishing houses. They provide critical feedback and guidance to authors regarding revisions. Content managers and editors online need to assess the potential of prospective authors, often freelance writers, and provide feedback and guidance.
8. Human Resources Specialist
Human resources specialists use language with precision and extreme care while drafting hiring policies for organizations. They guide managers on written communications to employees regarding performance. HR managers write job ads to attract the most qualified candidates. They develop written training materials for employee development.
9. Teaching English as a Second Language
English graduates develop mastery of the English language, including grammar and vocabulary. They are well-qualified to pursue graduate studies and qualify as English teachers as a second language in the public school system or in college.
10. Fundraising
Fundraisers must have the ability to attract potential donors, assess their interests, and craft written communications that have the best chance of generating contributions. Development staff write content for brochures and websites and write campaign fundraising letters. They write thank you letters and articles recognizing the contributions of donors.
How to Get a Job
Learn more about potential career paths: Visit your college’s career center to map out potential career paths. Consider your interests, skills, and abilities, and how they relate to potential jobs.
Always network: Connect with graduates in your fields of interest and request informational interviews. Participate in job fairs, join clubs, and seek internship opportunities in your field.
Develop your skill set: Once you identify a potential job, seek out gaps in your skill set versus those of successful professionals in the field. Fill the gaps by taking classes, finding mentors, and volunteering for projects.
Match your qualifications to the job: To attract the attention of hiring managers, consider rephrasing the job advertisement and matching your skills and experience with their requirements.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/top-jobs-for-english-majors-2059642
Leave a Reply