English : Career areas

In 2010, a HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicated that six months after finishing their course around 52% of English graduates had entered employment, with a further 8% combining further study and work. Many were in temporary jobs, mostly clerical, retail or catering, to be used as a stepping stone to gain experience for their longer-term aims. These figures are typical of non-vocational subjects, in contrast to vocational subjects where more graduates go straight into employment.

English graduates tend to enter a wide range of employment areas. For example, of the English graduates going into employment in 2010, around 8% were in commercial, industrial and public sector managerial positions, 7% had entered marketing, sales and advertising roles and around 9% were in teaching and related roles. A further 5% had become business and financial professionals.

Where are the jobs?

English graduates find opportunities with many different employers. Public and private sector organisations such as the National Health Service (NHS), educational institutions, local and national government, financial and legal firms, and voluntary and charitable organisations employ English graduates in a range of roles, including administration, research, finance and general management.

Other typical employers of English graduates include publishing companies, advertising, marketing and public relations agencies and media organisations. Retail, leisure and tourism also typically recruit English graduates.

For more information on potential career areas, see:

• publishing - involves the production of a range of materials including books, journals, magazines and newspapers;
• advertising, marketing and PR - concerned with promoting and selling products and services and includes planning, promotion, media relations and market research;
• media - a varied industry, including television, radio, film, corporate production and interactive media.

See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.

Statistics are collected every year by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, with the data being collected within just six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do?  and your degree...what next?