Monday, October 8, 2012

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?

19 comments:

  1. Great post! This is all very helpful information, especially now. I wanted to major in English but I felt very pessimistic about my chances of becoming a published author (and teaching didn't appeal to me) so I majored in business instead. The benefits were negligible, and I really wish I had believed in myself and majored in English as I'm sure there's a lot for an aspiring author to learn.

    Looking forward to part 2 - I actually did a little bit of news writing. Once.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Insomniac, I still struggle with doubts about my degree choice, but I figure any degree is better than no degree. The appeal of the practical is always there (why can't I just love engineering or medicine?) hehe.

      I'm glad you are enjoying the information so far. :)

      Delete
  2. This was an awesome post! I'm looking forward to the rest of them!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice post! I went the PR route for my day job, and I love it. I can still use my writing and creativity skills every day. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is awesome Nicole. I think it is great when a person can do what they love as their job. :)

      Delete
  4. Great idea for a post. It'll be fun to see what you have to say about the others. I think a high school English teacher would be a fun job. Of course I've never taught, so what do I know!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you are liking the post. I just read a book on High School teaching, it was a real eye-opener. I had no idea how hard it is. But, I can imagine it would be incredibly rewarding as well. :)

      Delete
  5. If I could go back, I'd get an English degree. I thought a business degree would be more practical and useful since I didn't want to be an English teacher. Since I've been out of college, the jobs I've had required a degree, but it didn't matter what the degree was in. It was more about the ability to learn and on the job training. But I can't wait to be a full time novelist! That's the dream, right?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know exactly what you mean, Michael. I see a lot of jobs that just require a degree of any kind. An English major at my school means taking a few classes that are different, but academia is a whole other beast from publishing. I am going to take classes on American and British literature, write essays, and write short stories. These might be helpful, but nothing that a person couldn't do on their own. I am cheering you on for becoming a full-time novelist and living the dream. You have the talent and tenacity for it! :)

      Delete
    2. I am finding out that my school has internships and publishing opportunities at the school level, which is probably the best thing about going for an English degree.

      Delete
  6. Thank you for the valuable information and also the happy realization that I did my degree in English. Studying literature has bettered my life. Now I look ahead and I know what I want to do next.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nobu, It is good to hear from someone who has completed their degree in English. It sounds like you are glad you did it. I agree that studying literature has helped me become a better writer and a better person. What do you plan to do next? :)

      Delete
  7. I plan to do my MA in creative writing, I am going to try for a scholarship in Australia. I want to teach creative writing and do creative writing. I feel writing can fulfill my life. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is great, I can tell that you have a real passion for teaching. Good luck and let me know how everything goes! :)

      Delete
  8. This is a very valuable post!

    I can't wait for the next installment. ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  9. I think I know why teachers quit in their first three years - all the damned politics. For reals.

    My day job is in higher ed admin, and I have this to say about what degrees folks should get - they should go for the ones they passionately want. A fall-back plan is meant to be worked on when you've taken Plan A as far as you can. If you're working on Plan B at the same time, you won't get anywhere with Plan A because a house divided against itself cannot stand. And I'll tell y'all another thing: plenty of folks who went with the "safe" degrees lost their jobs with the economic meltdown of 2008. Folks gotta do what they love. ::gets off soapbox::
    Mina's Resurrection Blogfest!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, Mina. this is great advice and GREATLY appreciated. I have struggled for a while myself between the practical and my passion, so far I'm going with my passion and what you have told me really helps me feel good about the choice! Thanks so much.

      Delete

Linked Within

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...