Options with English
The skills gained through studying English are marketable in most career areas. The major strength of all English graduates is the ability to communicate effectively, both in speech and in writing.
In particular, studying English teaches you to:
Studying English also gives you skills in:
As English is a non-vocational course, the skills developed outside your study are also vital in developing a rounded CV. While at university, for example, many English students write for student newspapers and magazines, get involved with student radio or film societies, or volunteer in the community or local schools. The combination of evidence of skills gained from work experience and extracurricular activities, as well as through study, can help boost your employability.
Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile. Take a look at job application advice for some useful tips.
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.
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.
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:
See industry insights for further information on possibilities in other employment areas.
Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within 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?
In 2010, six months after their 2009 graduation, around 22% of English graduates went on to full-time further study, with a further 8% combining further study and work. Some chose to continue their academic studies in English by doing an MA, with the potential to move on to a PhD.
Some English graduates chose to study more vocational postgraduate courses in areas such as teaching, journalism, librarianship or law. Such courses allow you to study in an area you wish to enter as a career.
Other English graduates chose to undertake further study in areas such as marketing and management, finance, human resource management and business to enhance their knowledge of a specific career area.
These trends show only what previous graduates in your subject did immediately upon graduating. Over the course of their career - the first few years in particular - many others will opt for some form of further study, either part time or full time. If further study interests you, start by thinking about postgrad study and search courses and research to identify your options.
Look at funding my further study for details relating to finance and the application process.
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