Having a degree in English literature might give you a confidence boost. At the same time, you may feel uncertain about a possible career. Lack of direct career pathways, limited perceived career options, and a highly saturated job market can put you off. This is what most students share with us.
That’s why we researched various job options with an English degree to turn uncertainty into success. If you’re also struggling, here are our findings to help you fine-tune your journey.
Job Options With an English Literature Degree
English literature students become savvy in interpreting language patterns and using words in different settings. As a result, their comprehension and communication skills flourish, making them an excellent fit for various positions.
That’s why, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 1,815,820 employees in the US workforce are English graduates. If you want to become one of them, here are some key things to consider to tap your dream job. First, Let’s discuss the different career options with an English lit degree.
Job Prospects
These are the six lucrative career paths for students of English literature:
English Teacher
A mainstream job for English lit graduates is English teaching. You can work at the middle and high school levels to teach students English. Your primary duties include planning lessons, developing curriculum, and developing creative ways to teach English.
The latest BLS report shows that around 22 percent of English literature graduates are linked with educational institutes and traditional library setups.
- Job growth rate: 1%
- Median salary: $62,360
- Job openings per year: 1,072,300
Copywriter
It involves writing content to promote and market any service or goods. Copywriters usually excel at writing service pages, sales pages, landing pages, and all types of ads. The main employers hiring copywriters are advertising and marketing agencies working with clients. Still, individual businesses can hire in-house or freelance experts to improve their marketing efforts.
- Job growth rate: 4%
- Median salary: $73,150
- Job openings per year: 151,200
Librarian
Working in a library may seem like a dull job for many. Still, it’s the best choice for people who love books and possess excellent organizational skills. It’s a people-facing career path that can be satisfying if you have interpersonal and analytical skills. You will find librarians working in high schools, universities, research centers, and public libraries.
- Job growth rate: 3%
- Median salary: $61,660
- Job openings per year: 141,200
Paralegal
If you are curious about paralegals, they are best known as the professionals who assist lawyers in carrying out their duties without worrying about documentation work. They are also known as legal assistants. Their primary job roles include doing research, drafting legal documents, maintaining files, and calling on witnesses.
It is a less common career path. However, it’s worth considering if you are interested in legal affairs besides your language proficiency.
- Job growth rate: 4%
- Median salary: $59,200
- Job openings per year: 354,300
Journalist
A career in journalism is rewarding for people who like to stay in touch with the public and enjoy juggling with words and narrating stories. An English literature degree will prepare you for research and storytelling skills, which are useful in your journalism career.
You will find newsworthy events, investigate facts, and cohesively present your findings to update the audience.
- Job growth rate: -3%
- Median salary: $55,960
- Job openings per year: 58,500
Editor
You can work as an editor for both print and digital media. Possible job roles in this domain are copyeditor, executive editor, managing editor, and assistant editor. The duties may span from fact-checking and proofreading to assigning writing tasks to writers and reviewing their work for quality and style inconsistencies.
- Job growth rate: -4%
- Median salary: $73,080
- Job openings per year: 11,600
Work Experience
Many high school or university students write for student magazines, join drama societies, and participate in community activities like debates and stage performances. Being a fresh graduate, you can show evidence of these extracurricular activities besides academic grades to gain employers’ trust.
Moreover, you can also participate in work placements or enroll in summer internships to enhance your job prospects further.
Typical Employers
Various organizations and companies are looking forward to working with English grads. Some of these sectors include:
- Government agencies
- Administration
- PR firms
- Advertising and marketing agencies
- Educational institutes
- Business and Finance
- General management
- Hospitality
- Research institutes
- Tourism
- Media publishing houses
Skills for Your CV
Your professional CV will leave a positive impression on prospective employers. Ideally, it should display these essential skills and corresponding experience to justify them:
- Written and verbal communication
- Analytical thinking
- Research
- Negotiation skills
- Critical reasoning
- Teamwork
- Time management
- Comprehension
- Argumentative knowledge
- Creative thinking
- Storytelling
- Persuasion
Further Study
If you haven’t decided on your college major yet, then make sure to give it a proper time before pursuing it as it will affect your whole career. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for entering any field as a professional. However, a graduate degree will enhance your chances of getting hired for most job roles.
You may choose to study professional postgraduate courses in journalism, law, or teaching. You can also undertake specialization courses in areas such as HR, marketing, management, finance, and business to enhance your knowledge of a specific area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is English Literature Right for You?
English literature is the best choice for people who love language, culture, and storytelling. If analyzing texts, exploring language patterns, and reading nations’ cultural heritage excites you, it might be the right fit.
What is the Most Lucrative Job for English Literature Graduates?
Lucrative jobs for English literature graduates include copywriting, editing, or marketing. Industries like media publishing and advertising value strong communication and persuasion skills, which are adequately present in an English lit degree holder.
Does an English Literature Career Have Potential?
Yes, an English literature career has immense potential as it opens doors to education, media, and business roles. According to Zippia, the top-tier employees make over $97,000 annually. However, continuous skill development is essential as it can enhance your career prospects.
Summary
From media houses and government agencies to marketing agencies and service businesses, all hire talented people with English backgrounds to carry out their communication and content creation-related tasks.
