English : Your skills

The skills gained through studying English are marketable in most career areas. Perhaps the major strength of all English graduates is communication skills, both in speech and in writing. In particular you will learn to:

• work independently;
• develop time management skills, particularly when meeting essay deadlines, and the ability to plan and research written work;
• articulate knowledge and understanding of texts, concepts and theories;
• lead and participate in discussions and have confidence in your own opinions;
• work with others when presenting ideas and information;
• effectively convey arguments and opinions and encourage independent and creative thought;
• have tolerance of ambiguity and of others’ opinions;
• think critically and develop your own opinions;
• develop skills in critical reasoning and analysis;
• develop IT skills;
• convey meaning precisely and pick out the essential points from texts;
• command a broad range of vocabulary and critical terminology.

While at university, 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. English is a non-vocational course, the skills developed outside your study are critical in developing a rounded CV. The combination of evidence of skills gained from work experience and extracurricular activities, as well as through study, can help in CV writing and job applications - and 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.