How an English Major Prepares You for the Job Market
English majors are equipped with the skills to analyze a story, brainstorm new ideas and write a creative piece of work. From poems, short stories, novels, to essays and other literary works, English majors study and analyze numerous texts to better understand the story and discuss its literary elements. The analytical skills you gain in English programs can be applied to real life scenarios and future job assignments. English majors are trained to think deeply about different concepts and ideas and use their creativity to produce unique stories. With proper training, English majors can use these applications when writing stories, having discussions and analyzing other's work. All of these skills can be used in everyday life and work settings.
Best Career Paths for English Majors
English majors have the innate and learned skills to enter a number of job markets, and their best career paths depend on the work they want to do.
- Writer. Most English majors strive to be professional writers. From authors and journalists to playwrights, writers come in all forms and niches. Writing jobs are very competitive and some may require years of experience before entering the writer's specific field of interest. For example, an author typically has to write many essays, articles or stories before getting published right off the bat. Writers have to be patient and open to criticism, and much of their work will be edited and scrutinized before anything is published. While each writing job requires different skills, all writers have to conduct research on their subject. Writers use the Internet, encyclopedias, government Web sites and other helpful resources to find information and apply it to their topic. Writers' salaries depend greatly on experience, skills and the market in which they work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual earnings for writers in 2008 were $53,070.
- Editor. Editors check for grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes in written work. They also ensure that each sentence is relevant and fluid and that the rest of the story follows in a logical manner. Editors are the watchdogs of all written work. Nothing goes to print without the editor's viewing and changes. Editors are essential to all publications because they catch mistakes, slander and misquoted material that should not be printed. Editors also have to adhere to style rules and consider length or space issues. In the book-publishing industry, editors may oversee the production of books and handle publication rights over the books. English majors are ideal for this position because they have mastered the English language and are trained to quickly spot grammatical mistakes. They also have an artistic way of looking at written works and can help guide the publication in a positive direction. Editors made an average salary of $49,990, according to the Bureau.
How to Market Your English Degree
The great thing about an English degree is that you have physical proof of how valuable your education is. When you go to interviews, bring stories, poems, essays, blogs and any other published work you are proud of. The more varied your stories are, the better, because it shows your diversity and unique writing style. You can also promote the general and major courses and electives that you took to foster a well-balanced college education.
