It’s not uncommon for English majors to wonder exactly what career they might undertake after graduation. After spending 4 years rigorously reviewing some of the greatest works of fiction and literature, reading endless amounts of challenging literary theory, and writing pages of essays, you may be left wondering which jobs you will be qualified for.
Luckily, as an English major, you have acquired some of the best skill sets that will enable you to pursue a broad range of careers.
Students that take English literature courses in university are among some of the most well read scholars. English majors will typically read dozens of the most challenging and important texts ever written, from Beowulf to Maya Angelou, and study famous poets, novelists and playwrights that shaped modern culture - Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, William Wordsworth, Langston Hughes, Rohinton Mistry, Jane Austen and Maxine Hong Kingston - just to name a very small handful. On top of literary texts, English majors will also read major political and literary theorists whose perspectives can be used to dissect and analyze different stories - Marx, Barthes, Derrida, Foucault, Bell Hooks, not to mention complex concepts stemming from feminism, critical race theory, Marxism, and numerous other literary discourses.
On top of reading and analysis, English majors are expected to write some of the most challenging assignments expected of any undergraduate student. Papers can be arduous, and it’s not always easy to weave together complex arguments of texts, compare disparate authors and stories, or apply a political theory to deconstruct a story. English majors truly become masters of the written word, constructing arguments that bring out the often subtle nuances of plot, character development and cultural context.
So what can we make of all this? English majors possess incredibly strong reading and critical analysis skills, an ability to read and make inferences from complex and challenging texts, and articulate complex ideas with clarity and style. They are well versed in major intellectual movements, cultural periods, and understand the shifting, unstable nature of language as meanings change over time. Finally, English majors are some of the most effective and coherent communicators, thanks to years of writing essays that must be consistent, compelling and eloquent in order to get a passing grade.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the best careers for an English Major, and what steps you can take to prepare yourself for those careers.
What kinds of skills do you learn while getting an English degree? You will be more prepared for the workplace than you think!
Will I Need an English Tutor to be Successful in University?
English courses can be incredibly challenging, and you may find it helpful to hire a tutor to help you succeed in your classes. An English Literature tutor will help you understand the complexity of literary and cultural theory, coach you through the syntax and vocabulary of Medieval or Renaissance English, and provide valuable feedback on your written essays and assignments. If you have exams coming up, you can increase your sessions to ensure that you are more than ready to tackle the big test.
Thanks to sites like Superprof.ca, finding an English literature tutor is easy. Superprof contains hundreds of listings for university tutors that can help you with whatever challenges you are facing in your studies, be it writer’s block or a seemingly impenetrable novel. The site makes it easy to browse through tutors in Canada, compare rates, and a messaging system that will enable you to contact a prospective tutor safely and efficiently. You can even pay your tutor through Superprof - simply have a credit card or PayPal account set up.
Is an English degree worth all the time and investment? We certainly think so! Find out why so many students study English in university.
Careers for English Majors
Communications and Public Relations
Communications and public relations (PR) are a natural fit for English majors as they require one to be able to write confidently and clearly. In these jobs, you will be required to share messaging aligned with your organization’s goals and values, be able to speak to the press, and ensure that misinterpretation can be kept to an absolute minimum.
Staff that work in communications will likely need more than an English major in hand to be successful in their work. After completing an undergraduate degree in English, you may want to take an additional professional certificate at a college or school of continuing studies in your university, and have skills and work experience in areas like social media. You may also want to consider double majoring in another area like Journalism or Applied Linguistics.
Journalism
English majors may also want to consider a career in journalism and reporting if they enjoy writing and like the world of news media. As a journalist, you may be creating news reports using traditional text formats and media platforms like video or even different social sites. The life of a journalist will often mean that you will have some sort of public persona, so if you are shy of getting your name out in public domains like the internet, journalism may not be for you.
Check out some English lessons online here on Superprof.
Freelance Writer
If you prefer to have a lower profile and love generating media content, you may want to consider becoming a freelance writer. The age of information technology has created a high demand for freelance writers that can write blogs and articles in long form, short form, understand search engine optimization, and can meet deadlines, then a career in freelance writing could be right for you.
To prepare for a career in freelance writing, you will want to take some additional coursework in digital marketing, SEO, and writing for the internet.
Marketing
Closely related to the areas of communications and freelance writing is marketing. Marketing is both creative and technical work, and involves developing campaigns that support revenue generation for a company or organization. Your communication skills will be put to good work, and if you are a creative thinker that loves culture you will certainly find yourself stimulated and motivated. While a background in English will be a good foundation, you will also want to pair it with additional education in digital marketing.
Law
English majors have incredible skills in analysis and argumentation, so law may be another great choice for a career that is rewarding both intellectually and financially. Law is a vast area that encompasses a wide range of specializations: criminal, copyright, corporate, family, real estate, human rights, and so much more. As a lawyer, you will use your skills of analysis and communication to their greatest extent, interpreting law, competing narratives, leading negotiations and developing presentations and documents.
To prepare for a career in law, you will not only need an undergraduate degree but the further completion of law school and pass your province’s bar exam to become a lawyer.
Careers in Education
Careers in the broad field of education are incredibly popular for English majors. English is a teachable subject, meaning that you can choose to teach in either the primary, junior, intermediate or senior panels when it’s time to do your training.
Teaching is a fantastic career for English majors for a variety of reasons. You will have an opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise in reading and writing, and play the critical role of supporting the formation of young minds. The texts you select for your classroom will have a powerful impact on how your kids see the world and their place within it. The communication and writing skills you introduce them are among the most important they will carry on to their own academic and professional careers.
As a teacher, you can also get enviable holidays and compensation, and possibly even be part of a union that will support your professional growth. It’s important to remember that you will not be limited to teaching exclusively: you may choose to pursue a pathway in curriculum development, leadership, special education or possibly even work toward a post in a ministry of Education.
To become a licensed educator in Canada, you will have to attend a teacher’s college at a university to earn your bachelor of Education. From there, you will need to be licensed by your province’s governing body for teachers, and you can then apply for work in a public school board.
Teaching Internationally
Choosing to be a teacher can also lead you to international pathways. Hundreds of private international schools around the world regularly recruit Canadian teachers to teach a Canadian curriculum or English as a Second Language (ESL). Should you choose to teach ESL, you may also find it helpful to get your TESOL qualification on top of your degree, which will prepare you for teaching multilingual learners.
Teaching internationally is an amazing choice for anyone that loves to travel and see the world. You may move for months at a time to a different country, and truly get a chance to experience a different culture and society. You can choose to extend your contract, move back to Canada to pursue work in a public school board, or continue teaching in different countries for as long as you like.
What Type of English Class Should I Teach?
The type of English class you teach should be determined by the availability of jobs, as well as your own personal and career interests. Teachers that want to continue focusing on literature instruction may want to teach general Language Arts courses in middle and high school, while teachers that work abroad or enjoy working with newcomer students may prefer to teach ESL courses. Of course, you may choose both, and may eventually teach both types of courses at different points during your career.
If you are truly passionate about teaching literature you may even want to consider teaching English at the college or university level. To pursue this pathway, you will have to earn your masters or doctorate degree in English literature, specializing in a certain area, genre, or time period in English literature.
What is it like to pursue an English major? Find out why so many students are choosing to study literature and writing in university.
What Kind of Salary Will I Earn as an English Teacher Online or In Person?
English grads that choose a career in teaching can expect to be paid different rates that depend on the level of education they have acquired, the board or school they are working in, and their years of experience.
If you are working for a public school board in Canada, you can expect to earn a fairly high salary with benefits, ranging from $50,000 CAD to $100,000 CAD, depending on years of experience and the collective agreement your teacher’s union has negotiated with your board. If you are an online teacher with a public school board, you can expect to make the same as your in-person colleagues.
Should you choose to work for a private school, your rate of pay will likely be comparable with a public school board but you may not have the protection of a union and slightly different workplace expectations. Teachers that work abroad may have a different rate of pay, but that may be offset by much lower local living expenses.
English is one of the most challenging and rewarding areas of learning you can take in your postsecondary education. We have gathered the top reasons people choose an English major, and the careers you can pursue after you graduate.
Teach English Online as a Tutor
Looking for flexibility and want to work as an educator? Why not consider working as an online English tutor? As we have mentioned, Superprof Canada is a site you can use to find a tutor: you can also become one on the same site! As an English major, you are already more than qualified to tutor elementary and high school students.
Working virtually has considerable advantages: you can travel, work as much as you wish, and not have to worry about a long commute. You can easily create a tutor profile on Superprof where you can list your credentials and strengths, and find fantastic tutees that you can support in their learning.
Become a virtual tutor on Superprof today!
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