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English

Occupational Possibilities

The study of English is superb preparation for work in a wide variety of fields where skill in the production and interpretation of language is central-in business, communications, or government and public service, for example. The following list of occupations pursued by English majors offers a glimpse of the wide-ranging career paths for which English provided preparation. For some of the occupations listed below, such as association executive and curriculum planner, additional skills and/or related training are desirable. Additional graduate study is generally expected for those occupations marked with a * on the following list.

Business

  • Associate buyer, retail store
  • Industrial trust analyst
  • *Corporate attorney
  • *Psychometrist
  • Advertising sales manager
  • Training consultant
  • *Librarian
  • Consumer-goods salesperson
  • Human resources
  • Marketing manager
  • Paralegal

Government and Public Sector

  • *District attorney
  • Foreign Service officer
  • Big Brother/Big Sister program coordinator
  • *Social worker
  • *City manager
  • Congressional researcher
  • Professional association publications coordinator
  • Association executive

Communication

  • Technical writer
  • Convention planner
  • Drama critic
  • Book store manager
  • Journalist
  • Patient education director of HMO
  • Editorial assistant
  • Copywriter
  • Editor
  • Publicist
  • Radio/television broadcaster

Education

  • Teacher
  • *Professor
  • Writer in residence
  • Curriculum planner
  • Reading specialist
  • *Counseling psychologist
  • *Audiologist
  • *University chancellor
  • *School administrator
  • Public interest group lobbyist

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Skills and Abilities

The skills and abilities one learns as an English major can be more generally applied to any career requiring expertise in the use of language as a means of communication. For example, despite their differing responsibilities, journalists, teachers, sales representatives, and politicians all use their skill with language to perform their jobs. Representative skills and abilities of holders of degrees in English are listed below.

Communication

  • Influencing and persuading
  • Assessing needs of an audience
  • Presenting alternative viewpoints
  • Clarifying ideas
  • Making oral presentations
  • Shaping general ideas into specific points and programs

Analysis

  • Summarizing ideas
  • Comparing information
  • Using theoretical approaches
  • Developing critical evaluations
  • Thinking independently
  • Synthesizing ideas/themes
  • Applying close reading and interpretation

Writing

  • Abstracting information
  • Interpreting data
  • Editing
  • Writing concisely
  • Writing creatively
  • Drafting documents

Research

  • Designing/directing projects
  • Organizing ideas/information
  • Developing hypotheses
  • Solving problems
  • Using information resources
  • Comparing interpretations

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Career Planning and Resources

Internships

Job Search

Professional Associations

For More Information

...about careers, graduate and professional schools, internships, professional associations, or job descriptions contact:

University Career Center
110 Burge Union
(785) 864-3624

For information about majors and concentrations in English:

English Department
3116 Wescoe Hall
(785) 864-4520

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