There are many career options for majors in the English language to choose from. The list of careers for them is quite large. Some of them are direct career options in which the skills required are so similar to the skills acquired while studying English that a degree in this field can serve as a credential for applying for and getting a job. There are also indirect career options where a degree in English is necessary but may not be sufficient for qualifying for the job. There are some remote carrier options also where the main requirement is not a degree in English but it serves as an advantage in those type of careers.
The following is the list of careers directly open to English majors. In today’s dynamic world new career options keep opening up all the time so the options will keep on widening.
SPECIAL PROGRAM TEACHERS: To instruct students who have joined special educational programs. May be employed by social service agencies, churches, government, etc. The topics to be taught vary widely and may include vocational training, drug abuse/prevention, etc.
List of careers in print media:
COPY READER/COPY EDITOR: To edit printed copy for errors in grammar, syntax and style.Works in a variety of environments like newspapers, advertising agencies, magazine and book publishers, publications of in-house newsletters of businesses and agencies and also news releases.
ADVERTISING COPYWRITER: To write ad copy for publication and display in all types of media be it newspapers, magazines, radio, television, billboards and packagings. Requires creativity also.
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: To review and edit copy, evaluate manuscripts, coordinate illustrations, photographs and graphics. Duties also include securing copyrights as well as getting permission to quote material that is copyrighted. Employed by book publishers.
REPORTER/STAFF WRITER: To work and write for a particular publication regularly. Required to work under pressure to meet deadlines. Employed by newspapers, magazines and companies and organizations publishing in-house newsletters.
PUBLICATIONS RESEARCHER: To research script and story ideas for newspaper, magazine and book publishers. Duties include maintaining research data on people and topics and check stories for accuracy.
FREELANCE WRITER: To work as an independent contractor to write for publications on the basis of assignments for negotiated fees. Usually required to submit a proposal for story and article ideas.
CORRESPONDENT/STRINGER: To write freelance reports for one or more publishers. To work as independent contractor having specialized knowledge of a particular subject or geographical area.
List of careers in audio visual media:
FILM RESEARCHER/COPYWRITER: To review film scripts and check for technical and factual errors in them. To rewrite copy and assist in making representation of film scenes in storyboard format. May be required to have relevant training or experience. To work for documentary, feature, industrial and educational films.
RADIO/TELEVISION COPYWRITER: To write or rewrite scripts as required by the broadcasting media. Typically the entry level posts are in the news department.
RADIO/TELEVISION RESEARCHER: To research script and story ideas for broadcasting media. Duties include maintaining research data on people and topics, as well as checking the stories for their accuracy. Employed by radio and television producers.
CONTINUITY WRITER: To write scripts and edit them for broadcast announcers in radio and television sectors. Notes length and sequence of each segment and charts the inclusion of commercials within the scripts.
List of careers in the corporate sector:
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST: To write annual reports, speeches, press releases and other promotional materials for corporate image building. Employers include all types of corporations in all fields.
EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER EDITOR: To edit and write for employee newsletters of companies. Employers include companies in all fields. Graphic designing and layout skills may be needed. These are easily acquired.
COMPUTER INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER: To write and edit tutorials, instructional manuals and course materials for in house and customer training required by software and hardware manufacturers. This usually needs some technical background and teaching experience.
COMPUTER MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST: To write data sheets, brochures and other promotional marketing materials to promote computer related products. Employers include software and hardware manufacturers. Some technical knowledge is usually required.
The above list of careers are only some of the direct carrier options available to English majors. There are many less direct and indirect carrier options available that are worth exploring.
