English : Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Primary school teacher - teaches primary-aged children and develops schemes of work and lesson plans in line with curriculum objectives.
• Secondary school teacher - teaches one or more national curriculum subjects to pupils aged 11-16, or up to 19 in schools with sixth forms.
• English as a foreign language teacher - teaches English, either in the UK or overseas, to students whose first or main language is not English.
• English as a second language teacher - teaches English to adults and children whose first language is not English, and who live (or are seeking to live) on a long-term or permanent basis in the UK.
• Lexicographer - writes, compiles and edits dictionaries. Monitors and records uses of language and uses databases to interrogate a wide range of evidence. Considers both the meaning and usages of words and compiles definitions in a structured manner.

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Newspaper journalist - researches and writes stories for publication in local, regional and national press.
• Editorial assistant - assists senior editorial staff in the administration of the commissioning, planning and production of books, journals and magazines. This role is a recognised starting point for editorial and publishing careers.
• Writer - involved in the creation and/or development of all types of creative writing, including prose, poetry and material for the theatre, screen and radio and reviews.
• Advertising account executive - works in advertising or multi-service agencies, acting as a link between the clients and the agency. Has overall responsibility for the smooth running of a campaign, coordinating the activities of the advertising and administrative teams.
• Advertising copywriter - usually works in a creative partnership with an art director to conceive, develop and produce effective advertisements.
• Arts administrator - plans and organises events run by a wide range of arts and cultural organisations.
• Academic librarian, information officer, records manager - responsible for the acquisition, organisation and dissemination of information and materials within the library system or information unit.
• Charity officer - has responsibility for aspects of marketing, public relations, organising events and finance within charitable organisations.
• Marketing executive - develops marketing campaigns that promote a product, service or idea. The role includes planning, advertising, public relations, organising events, product development, distribution, sponsorship and research.
• Programme researcher, broadcasting/film/video - provides support to the producer and production team. Contributes ideas for programmes, sources contacts and contributors and collects, verifies and prepares information for film, television and radio productions.
• Public relations officer - uses all forms of media and communication to build, maintain and manage the reputation of companies and organisations.
• Runner, broadcasting/film/video - fetches, carries and does any small jobs needed for the production department of a film, video or television company. This is an entry-level role.

Other options

There is a wide range of career options available to English graduates. Research the career area you are interested in thoroughly. Some careers, for example, teaching, accountancy or law, will require further vocational or professional training. For other careers, such as marketing or human resources, it may be useful to take a postgraduate course to develop specific skills and knowledge.

As English is a non-vocational course, it is important to get relevant work experience to boost your employability prospects. Talk to professionals in the field you are interested in and consider work placements, paid evening/weekend work, voluntary work or work shadowing. This experience shows employers that you are committed and also helps you decide on whether a particular career is right for you.

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.

Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.