From my research, I have learned there are many jobs an English major can acquire upon their graduation. This is due to the fact that their skills allow them to have a wide range of possibilities. However, just what are some of these jobs, and how can an English major use their skills in them? Well, to answer that I have put together a brief description and explanation for four different jobs: Freelance Writer, Librarian, New Reporter and Social Media Manager for you to consider.
Freelance Writer
In the article, “What is a Freelance Writer?” Allena Tapia tells us that, “A freelance writer is a self-employed person who writes articles, ad copy, or other types of content for a living. They may write for news outlets, periodicals, companies, or other clients.” This in turn, means that, “As a freelance writer, you get the chance to choose your own hours, select your assignments, and work at your own pace” (Get Educated). Additionally, in this career, English majors would have the chance to use the communication they have learned, such as, analytical writing, to be able to meet the needs of their client. In this job, the English major would also be able to portray their skill of working under a set timeline, whether it is one they have given to themselves or one that their client has required.
To learn more about being a Freelance Writer, please visit Allena Tapia’s article on The Balance Small Business:
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-freelance-writer-1360229#types-of-freelance-writers
Librarian
To begin, Dawn McKay in her article, “What Does a Librarian Do,” tells us that “Librarians select informational resources, organize them, and teach people how to use them effectively.” In addition, for this job “English majors learn how to tap resources as they compile information for papers and librarians spend considerable time guiding patrons regarding the best sources for their research projects” (Profita). Further, to help customers, the English major must use their skills of research to learn what a customer is looking for, whether that be a specific text, to give a book recommendation, or to offer recommendation on an assignment. Yet, they must also be able to interpret why the recommendation would be a good fit for the customer, and offer a clear explanation to them.
To learn more about being a Librarian, please visit Dawn McKay’s article on The Balance Careers:
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/librarian-career-description-526032
News Reporter
Dawn McKay in her article, “News Reporter and Journalist Career Info” explains that “Being a reporter is all about doing research, digging into numbers and finding the data that is most relevant to readers, listeners, and viewers, and being able to tell your stories in a way that shows the intended audience how that data affects them.” Further, they “can be responsible for news ranging from local to national to global” (Get Educated). An English major can use their research skills when they are investigating a story and, in some cases, they are empathizing with a story when they hear it. They would then be using the analytical and communication skills that they have obtained when they are cohesively presenting to society what they have learned - whether that be in a written article, or in verbal form when they are giving a live report.
To learn more about being a News Reporter, please visit Dawn McKay’s article on The Balance Careers:
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/reporter-career-information-525678
Social Media Manager
According to Alison Doyle’s article, “News Reporter and Journalist Career Info,” “Social media managers and other professionals in this field use various platforms to communicate with the public… These professionals run their organizations' social media accounts, developing an online presence, and building a brand’s reputation.” In addition, “Social media managers need the kind of creativity possessed by English majors to devise strategies to promote an organization through social media outlets. Often, they develop written proposals for other staff to consider and must explain their ideas to colleagues” (Profita). This means that, an English major is using their analytical writing skills to craft posts on these sites. Furthermore, they are also making sure these posts are written in such a way that they are targeting a specific audience and this would, in turn, benefit the company they are working for by drawing in more clientele.
To learn more about being a Social Media Manager, please visit Alison Doyle’s Dawn McKay’s article on The Balance Careers:
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/social-media-skills-2063726
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