Career Information
What career opportunities await the eager English Major?
This is a question well worth pondering and one that this page may help to answer. A person trained in the discipline of English has learned to master several fundamental and vital skills: reading, writing, researching, problem solving, and speaking. These skills are rare, valuable, and much sought-after in the workforce. Of course, your English degree will also provide an added dimension to your life and character; close engagement with poetry, drama, fiction, and the myths of different cultures will heighten your sensitivities and sharpen your perceptions.
In the words of one former English major who entered the workforce, "Clearly, beyond the classroom no one cares in the least whether or not you can remember the names of Lear's daughters. But when you encounter Regan and her sisters across the conference table from you, you should be able to recognize them, distinguish between them, and know how to deal with each of them and with their daddy in the big chair at the head of the table." The foregoing quote, incidentally, is derived from an article by Peter Beidler (an English professor) entitled "What Can You Do with an English Major?".
The following links provide more information about how to use your English degree to advance your career:
- EnglishMajor.com
- Society for Technical Communication
- Monster.com
- National Association of Science Writers
- American Society of Journalists and Authors
- International Association of Business Communicators
- American Medical Writers Association
- Advertising and Media Jobs Page
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Writers and Editors
- Careers in English
- Trends in Writing and Editing: Make English a Marketable Degree
- What can I do with an English Degree?
- Names of Famous English Majors
