What can I do with a major in English?

Students (and their parents) often wonder "what can I do with a degree in English?" While the obvious answers are teaching, writing, and graduate school, the range of possible careers is much broader. English majors/minors and Writing minors have hundreds of career opportunities when they graduate. The problem is often in selecting from the large number of choices.

English majors will graduate from Rollins with extensive practice in skills widely valued by employers, including the ability to communicate ideas effectively in both writing and speech, the skill to analyze complex problems and synthesize diverse solutions, familiarity with unfamiliar cultures and historical eras, and practice working cooperatively. The continued proliferation of information and technology will only continue to make these skills a vital component of your resume.

The difficulty is not in finding a job but choosing from so many opportunities. In contrast to tailored majors/minors that only train their students for a specific kind of work, a graduate with an English major/minor or Writing minor has developed a large set of transferable skills coveted by employers in many areas.

Students who want to narrow down this range of possibilities should explore careers through work and internship opportunities during the undergraduate years. Students should also talk to friends, family, recent graduates, faculty advisors and the Office of Career Services to help focus their approach to the job search.

  Current students and alumni can also join the Facebook page, "English Majors Who Have Jobs and English Majors Who Want Jobs," to connect with other Rollins students thinking about all things professional.