English majors can prepare themselves to pursue numerous careers

Though the study of literature and writing is not immediately associated with specific career skills, that doesn't mean an education in English cannot lead to a rewarding occupation. If, for example, you have chosen the literature option of the English major, it is probably because you appreciate literature for its own sake and enjoy the special pleasures of humanistic study, not because you have a specific career in mind. Perhaps you may wish to continue your studies in graduate school and pursue an academic career. Perhaps you hope to become a writer. Or perhaps you're not sure what you'd like to do after college.

This guide is intended to help you consider how you might use an education in English to prepare for a rewarding career.

While the study of literature and writing may not be a direct path to any single career, you can exploit its flexibility. Because English majors develop numerous transferable career skills, they can pursue a surprising variety of occupations . English majors can prepare for careers in areas such as education, publishing, business, communications, professional studies (such as law), library work, intelligence research, public service, editing, sportswriting, and lobbying.

Consider one list of career possibilities compiled by Julie DeGalan and Stephen Lambert in their book Great Jobs for English Majors (1994).  According to DeGalan and Lambert, "[a] recent examination of The Boston Sunday Globe reveals the following possible occupations for a liberal arts major with some computer skills and limited prior work experience:

• Technical writer
• Admissions representative
• Salesperson
• Compliance director
• Assistant principal gifts writer
• Public relations officer
• Personnel trainee
• GED examiner
• Direct mail researcher
• Associate publicist"
  (DeGalan and Lambert 48).