This piece by Taylor Brock, Career Advising Fellow in the Student Professional Development Center, highlights the options available after graduation to those who major in English
By Taylor Brock, Career Advising Fellow, Elon Student Professional Development Center
“What’s your major?”
“English.”
“So, you want to teach?”
“No.”
This is a typical conversation I had many times as an undergraduate studying English. What I learned from having these conversations is that many people do not understand that you can do so much more with a degree in English other than teach or write novels.
I am proof of that.
I went into college thinking I wanted to be a sixth-grade English teacher and journalism advisor. Being a first-generation college student I was not familiar with all the career possibilities you can go into having a degree in English. I picked up a concentration in professional writing on a whim and found a love for editing.
Throughout college, I realized that I still wanted to work in education but I did not want to work in secondary education. I interned in the Dean of Students office my last semester which solidified that I wanted to go to graduate school to study Higher Education Administration. That brings us up to my current role at Elon where I serve as one of the Career Advising Fellows.
You would not think a career advisor correlates with being an English major but it does on so many levels. I am constantly editing resumes and cover letters, networking and marketing myself in precisely worded emails and drawing connections to students’ experiences that they think don’t have anything to do with one another.
I am not the only person using their English degree in an unusual way right here at Elon.
Meet Amanda Kennison, communications coordinator for the Office of Admissions and a 2010 Elon grad who majored in English and concentrated in professional writing and literature. Since graduating she has worked as an editorial assistant, communications and social media coordinator, writer, and communications and operations assistant for companies in a variety of industries before joining the admissions staff at Elon.
Throughout all the industries she has worked in, she said the skills she learned as an English major, such the ability to analyze and research, have helped her immensely. No matter where you work, the company or industry, she said learning to write well and communicate is essential and that is the basis of an English degree.
Meet Sarah Krech, associate director of National and International Fellowships and 2013 Elon grad who majored in English and Spanish, concentrated in English literature. After graduating from Elon she took a gap year while keeping in touch with her research mentor. She took a gap year to apply to a variety of experiences because she said being an English major proved challenging to narrow down exactly what she wanted to do professionally.
It was through her mentor that she learned about the opportunity in the fellowship’s office. Although her undergraduate experiences did not directly correlate to the job qualifications, she learned how to market herself as a viable candidate for the position. The skills she acquired as an English major such as understanding the rhetorical situation and knowing your audience enabled her to successfully secure her current position. She uses these skills in her current role helping students market themselves on fellowship applications. When asked about the skills she acquired as an English major, she said, “[the major] equips you with the foundation that you need to adapt to any [type of] work.” She went on to expand that thought by stating that “they have equipped me not only professionally but for life.”
If you are an English major I hope this post gives you hope that yes, you will find a job after you graduate. If you are reading this and unsure about majoring in English, I hope this post encourages you to explore the major a little more.
Although Amanda’s story and Sarah’s story, and my story are just three examples of what you can do with a degree in English, the Student Professional Development Center offers in-depth resources to show you the possibilities are endless with a degree in English. Explore “What Can I Do With This Major?” for some ideas. If you are interested in learning more about the endless career possibilities an English major can offer be sure to also attend the English department’s “Engage your Passion, Power your Lives!” event on Oct. 30 in which you can interact with employers and alumni who are working in the field.