What You Can Do With An English Degree Pt 1

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I discovered a passion for writing I decided to major in English - Creative Writing. But what can a person do with such a degree that could put food on the table? I researched what kind of jobs want you to have an English degree and discovered that you can actually do a lot! In fact, even if you don't have a degree in English there are a lot of marketable skills that a writer could showcase to a potential employer.

First things first. There are websites and books out there that will tell you that you can be this or be that with an English degree. But, they don't tell you the downsides to those jobs. Some can be very highly competitive to get into, may require a lot more training or experience than just a bachelor's degree, or are demanding, time-consuming jobs. My bubble burst when I researched my dream job of becoming a college professor. However, there was a lot of positive things I found out as well.  I think being aware of the difficulties of a career early on is better than finding out later when your dreams are smashed into little bits, plus it can give you a better chance of being successful in getting into the field if you already know what is expected.

I will try to give you the inside scoop on the jobs I researched for an English major, I'm sure I haven't even covered the tip of the iceburg so if you know of any other jobs, please feel free to share. In the end there is only one way to find out if a job is truly right for you - do it! And if you really do want to become an novelist, a college professor, or a librarian don't let anyone or anything stop you.

College Teaching
I think this would be an awesome job, you get to teach what you love to college students.
Requirements:
MA or MFA, and a PHD to teach upper level classes and be eligible for tenure track positions.
What they don't tell you:
This is a difficult position it get into. It is not uncommon for hundreds of applicants to apply for one tenure track or full-time teaching position. There are many people out there who are teaching as an adjunct at serveral schools at once, making barely enough money to survive. Teaching at the college level means research, publishing, and other requirements to stay ahead in the field. There will also be a lot of English 101 classes to teach in which students are only there because it's required. 
How to stand out from the crowd:
Publish, publish, publish, the more the better. Try to gain as much experience teaching as you can, espeically before you graduate.

High School Teaching
Many of us have had a special teacher that has really made a difference in our lives. You could be that special teacher.
Requirements: Usually a teaching certificate and a bachelor's degree.
What they don't tell you: A lot of teachers quit in the first 3 years. There is usually a very high student to teacher ratio, big classes can be hard to manage, and difficult to teach considering the different learning levels of the students. It is hard work, you are usually coming in early, staying late, grading papers, and you will need to continue your education to keep your certification up. Teachers do more than teach, they supervise lunch rooms, become hall monitors, and coaches when needed.
How you can stand out from the crowd: It's a good idea to gain teaching experience by substitute teaching, tutoring, or becoming a paraprofessional. Being knowledgable in your topic helps, but having a real passion for helping students is what it is all about.

Higher Education Jobs
I love the more relaxed environment of working for non-profit, there seems to be more camaraderie and less stress. Colleges and other non-profit organizations need writers for their publications, media relations, marketing, grant writing, and alumni associations.Colleges also need people to handle the administrative side of things such as processing, advising, and managing their writing center.
Requirements: Usually a bachelor's degree, although some processing and administrative assistant jobs don't require one.
What they don't tell you:
In higher education the bigger the degree the better, but that doesn't always mean you'll get a promotion. They still want you to have experience as well. Also, the pay for these kind of jobs will be less, sometimes a lot less than the for-profit sector.
How you can stand out from the crowd:
Apply for organizations that are in tune with your beliefs and what you care about. Working in higher education means helping students. Once you get your foot in the door, volunteer to take on more responsibilities and work you want to do. Showing initiative will get you noticed, and give you experience.

Novelist
Ahh, my ultimate dream job. So dreamy I dare not even dream it. Could you imagine making a living through your writing?!
Requirements: Talent, and productivity. I'm not sure if having a degree would help that much.
What they don't tell you:
 It can be very difficult to get published as most people are aware. But even once you are published it  doesn't mean you will be making a lot of money. Also, publishing one book doesn't automatically mean it will be easier to publish the next. You are effectively working for yourself which has it's upsides (like working in your pajamas), and it's downsides (like income fluctuation and no health benefits). 
How you can stand out from the crowd:
Be an easy person to work with, listen to constructive criticism, turn in polished work, and finish your work by the deadline. And no matter what, keep writing.

Other Careers:

Pt 2: News, Technical Writing, Freelance Writer

Do you work in any of these fields, or have an interest in them? What are your thoughts?