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If You Want to Put Your Degree to Work, Plan Ahead!

Whereas it may be obvious what one would do with a degree in accounting, nursing, or civil engineering, the career options for an English major may not seem as clear.  (This is especially true for those who don't go into teaching.)  This isn't because suitable jobs don't exist; rather, it's because an English degree helps you develop general, transferable career skills rather than skills specific to one type of job.  You must think carefully, therefore, when defining your goals for pursuing a degree in English. Consider some of these tips:

  • Most importantly, learn to identify and describe the skills that you master in college.  Potential employers always want to know what you can do for them, and it's your job to explain your strengths clearly and persuasively.  Sit down after each semester and make a list of the things you've learned during the past months.  Keep those end-of-semester lists together.  They'll come in handy when you graduate.
  • If you're near the completion of your degree, reflect on your coursework and assemble a list of your skills and strengths. Put your best work as a student together in a portfolio. Include an intellectual autobiography. Write up a generic cover letter that articulates your skills and expresses your goals. Share these materials with professors, friends, and the WKU Career Services Center.
  • Wherever you are in your academic career, talk with an advisor in the Career Services office. They can help you research career options and plan for life after college.  (Visit the WKU Career Services Center for additional advice.)
  • Talk with people working in fields that interest you.  Find out what they like about their jobs, what skills are most important, etc.
  • Consider adding a minor in a field such as computer science, business, or advertising. This will give you a set of skills specific to one particular area, and such skills will complement the skills you develop through a degree in English.
  • Talk with professors and academic advisors.
None of these are activities that will be required in many of your classes, so you must take the initiative to identify your strengths and think of how they may connect to career interests. Share your thoughts and lists with others.