English majors are fortunate
in that they graduate with degrees in a field that nearly everyone has heard
of. The problem they face, however, is turning that English major into an
actual job.
Fortunately,
many employers are aware that English majors come with a unique set of skills.
Consider applying your knowledge in writing, critical thinking, and literature
in one of the following careers:
1. Teach English in America. It's the classic choice
for many English majors -- and for good reason. If you love literature, working
with students, and writing, teaching in America can be a great gig.
2. Teach English abroad. Love to travel? Want to
live somewhere new? Want to learn a new language? Teaching English abroad can
be a great option for blending your personal and professional interests.
3.
Work in marketing for a for-profit company. Writing well may come
easy to you, but it doesn't for everyone. Put your skills to work at a big
company's marketing department.
4. Be a freelance editor. Love helping people
develop their own work? Consider freelancing as an editor.
5. Be a freelance proofreader. Are you the person whom
everyone comes to on campus to make sure their grammar and punctuation are
perfect? Start charging for those services and see if you can make a career for
yourself.
6. Work for a newspaper. Newspapers may be facing
hard times, but those that are still around need staff. Consider working as a
journalist or editor.
7. Work at a bookstore. Is your love of books
beyond what most people have? Use your passion for literature to inspire the
same passion in others.
8. Work at a nonprofit focusing
on education. You
probably love books and writing the way you do because you had at least one
rock-star teacher during your time in school. Make sure others do, too.
9. Do communications work for a
large company. Creating
copy and communication plans for a large company can be a fantastic challenge.
See if you're up for it!
10. Do communications work for a
nonprofit.You have awesome
writing skills. Nonprofits need awesome folks. Pick an organization you love
and you just might have a match made in heaven.
11. Work as an editor or
proofreader for a magazine. See if you can blend another of your passions -- like photography,
for example -- by working as an editor or proofreader for a magazine in the
field.
12. Work as an editor or
proofreader for a website. Most websites are designed and written by folks who want to get their
information out. Make sure that information is clear and well written.
13. Pursue life as a freelance
writer. Is it
hard? Yup. Can you do it? Possibly. Throw your hat in the ring and see if your
skills as a freelance writer can pay the bills.
14. Work at a library. Similar to working in a
bookstore, working at a library can be a great way to interact daily with books
and other tomes of information -- except you get the added bonus of working
more extensively with the community.
15. Work at a local theater. Many local theater
houses need folks with multiple talents: writing, acting, proofreading,
editing. Put your multiple skills to use while having fun, too.
16. Write promotional materials
for a sports team. Love
sports? Have a local sports team nearby? See if you can get a gig helping with
the team's writing needs.
17. Work at a TV station. You may think you need a
degree in broadcasting to work at a TV station. But all those stories you hear
on the news at night need to be written, edited, and proofread by someone who
knows what they're doing.
18. Work at a radio station. Similar to TV, radio
stations are in need of English majors. From writing marketing materials to proofreading
promos, a radio station can be a fun and exciting place to work.
19. Work for a technology company. You may picture tons of
techs working in cubes when you think of a technology company. But all those
instruction manuals, websites, user guides, and even video games need people to
translate them from code to "real" English.
20. Be a grant writer. Grant writing is a
unique field that will allow you to help support a cause you believe in, work
for an interesting organization, put your writing skills to work, and see the
direct results of your hard work. Not too bad for a day's work!
Source:
internet
