English majors have a variety of career options, including technical writing, editing, paralegal work, and teaching. Technical writing and copywriting require writing skills and sometimes technical knowledge. Editing, publishing, and teaching are other writing-related careers. Paralegal work involves information compiling and writing, and good communication skills are important in many fields. Students should consider their career goals and narrow their focus to related areas of study.
Students who earn an English degree at school can take advantage of a variety of career options, including technical writing, writing, editing, paralegal work, and sometimes teaching. Also, many careers for English professionals may not be related to writing or English, but may require good communication skills. Two similar careers for English courses are technical writing and writing. Technical writers write informational articles and how-to’s for high tech devices and new technologies. They must be able to compile highly complicated information and present it in a way that people can understand. Copywriters often write advertising materials such as brochures, advertisements, web content and case studies.
Writing skills are important in both options, but many technology-related companies want candidates to have some technical knowledge as well. This is not always the case, but those who look down on anything related to technology may have an advantage in this field. Copywriters should be minors in areas like marketing and communications, although this isn’t always necessary.
Other careers for English professionals are related to writing, such as editing or teaching. Editors read and correct various forms of writing projects and rewrite portions for clarity, style, and grammar. Many publishers also hire writers to provide content for various forms of media, including magazines and books. English courses that enter teaching often require additional education to do so, but this is a popular option for anyone looking to pursue a career involving literature.
Paralegals often take English as a major because this job involves a lot of information compiling and writing. In many areas, no degree is required for this position, but those who have good communication skills may be more likely to be hired than those who don’t. Some employers in various fields also hire English courses for this reason, irrespective of whether the job is related to writing or English.
Those who are considering majoring in English should weigh all of their options. Students who have a career field in mind should determine with a school administrator or potential employer which areas of study would be most beneficial. Those wishing to specialize in English should consider narrowing down to areas closely related to their desired careers. While there are several careers for English majors, this degree program is not ideal for all students.
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