Most college students dread answering questions about their plans after college. Some of us know what we’re going to do, while some of us don’t. If you’re an English major, you likely hear this question almost every day: “Are you going to be a teacher?” Not all of us who love English want to teach it someday, yet you might find yourself stumbling on your answer once you tell them “no.” What else are you going to do with your degree?

English is a great major to choose because it is so broad. In getting your degree, you are also mastering core skills in writing, editing, researching, and communication, which many employers value in potential candidates. You have many options to choose from! This blog post will go over some career paths to consider if you are going towards an English degree.

Social Media Marketer

English majors have the creativity and wordiness needed to run effective social media marketing campaigns! As a social media or digital marketer, you are able to write content for websites, blogs, and social media posts. Since English majors are so used to working on multiple homework assignments and essays at once, they are seen as capable of multitasking and handling many projects at once. Recent graduates typically start out as assistants to the marketing managers and public relations teams, and help out with marketing campaigns and brand development. There may be roles on your campus involving promoting the social media for your school!

Technical Writer

Practically every product you buy comes with a manual or description of that product on the box. But, who writes this content? Technical writers are always needed to describe products and services, answer frequently asked questions, and compose manuals explaining how to use certain products. English majors are valued in this position because they are able to use precise language to clearly and accurately describe products and how to use them. Just like writing essays in class, this job requires receiving and using feedback to improve your writing to make it as clear and understandable as possible.

Librarian

If you’re an English major, you likely love books. In that case, this might be the job for you! Librarians review books in which to add to their collection, follow systems in which to catalogue and shelve their books, and help guests find the books and resources they need. Librarians also help guests find the materials they need to complete their research projects – as someone who has done this yourself for all your classes, this should come easily!

Grant Writer

Grant writers have an important job – they convince funding agents that they should provide money to help their constituents. By using convincing, storytelling language, grant writers explain how these resources will help the recipients, and how much these funds are needed. This job also requires researching, editing, and revising – all skills you develop in college.

Journalist

If you have a knack for investigating mysteries and telling a story, journalism is the right fit for you! Journalists are excellent in writing and proofreading their own work. They go out in the field to research, investigate, and interview in order to get the best material for their stories.