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Careers
Wondering what you can do with an English major? Below are some career options as well as strategies that you can use while still in college to help make your dream job a reality.
Also check out What Others Have Done to read about the career paths that some of our alumni have taken.
| Writing and Editing |
| Areas: | Creative writing, journalism, free-lance |
| Employers: | Newspapers; magazines; broadcast media;
trade, professional or consumer publications;
advertising agencies; corporations; government agencies; colleges and universities. |
| Strategies: | Select a wide variety of electives.
Write for on-campus publications. Develop speaking/debating skills, write and edit reports. |
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| Areas: | Technical Writing |
| Employers: | Any organization or publication with technical focus or technical areas. |
| Strategies: | Obtain concentration in technical writing. Take basic science/computer courses.
Gain knowledge about technical areas and trends. |
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| Literature Related |
| Areas: | Librarian/information specialist |
| Employers: | Public and private libraries, universities, businesses, government agencies
bookstores. |
| Strategies: | Obtain concentration in technical writing. Take basic science/computer courses; gain
knowledge about technical areas and trends. |
| Areas: | Publishing, media and public relations, translator, abstractor, researcher |
| Employers: | Book publishers, magazines, newspapers, radio stations, TV stations, movie production companies, corporations, institutions, museums, libraries,
special interest groups, government.
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| Strategies: | Obtaining a business minor and taking courses in your area of interest are helpful.
Be prepared to start out in low-level job. |
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| Education |
| Employers: | Public and private schools. |
| Strategies: | Acquire computer skills, Gain volunteer experience with Big Brother/Big Sister
program, tutoring, sports, summer camp, teen counseling, child care centers for
special populations. Participate in school activities: debate, literary club, student
publications and government, alumni and admissions work. Need certification for public
school teaching. |
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| Publishing |
| Areas: | Magazines, books, editorial, advertising sales and marketing, circulation, production,
publicity. |
| Employers: | Special interest magazines, trade magazines, association and organization
magazines, Sunday newspaper supplements, mass market paperbacks, educational and professional books, religious books and magazines. |
| Strategies: | Obtain summer internship. Participate in summer publishing institute. Get
clerical experience. Develop typing/word processing skills. |
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| Advertising |
| Areas: | Creative, media, research. |
| Employers: | Advertising agencies, in-house agencies of large companies. |
| Strategies: | Demonstrate talent, persistence, assertiveness, and enthusiasm. Obtain solid
statistics background for research. Create portfolio of writing showing
originality and imagination. Develop knowledge of various
media, contemporary tastes and trends. Obtain campus newspaper, TV/radio
experience. Participate in student-run or personal business involving promotion
and sales. Find internship in market research firm. |
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| Public Relations |
| Areas: | Research, Writing / Editing, Media Liaison. |
| Employers: | Public relations firms, in-house public relations departments, advertising agencies,
trade associations, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations. |
| Strategies: | Obtain work experience through internships. Develop strong research skills, public
speaking ability, enthusiasm and good interpersonal skills. A business
minor is helpful. Become an effective team worker. |
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| Paralegal |
| Employers: | Law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, public service
agencies. |
| Strategies: | Acquire computer skills. Develop organizational skills and concern for detail.
Become skillful in debate. Organize campus events, recruit speakers, organize political rallies.
Obtain summer or part-time work in law firm, legal setting. |
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| Banking |
| Areas: | Credit lending, operations, systems, trusts. |
| Employers: | Commercial banks, regional banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions. |
| Strategies: | Earn a business minor. Find a summer internship. Develop strong analytical skills,
computer skills. Obtain cashier, teller or clerical experience. Gain experience as a
financial officer or treasurer in a campus organization. |
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| Business/Industry |
| Areas: | Management, sales, marketing, personnel. |
| Employers: | Business organizations. |
| Strategies: | A business minor and technical writing experience is helpful. Gain work
experience. Secure a leadership role in campus organizations. |
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| Retailing |
| Areas: | Store management, buying. |
| Employers: | Department, grocery, drug, specialty and variety store chains, bookstores. |
| Strategies: | Gain retail or selling experience on yearbook or campus newspaper. Secure
leadership role in campus organizations. Get experience as treasurer or financial
officer in campus organization. Obtain business minor. Take advantage of
internships. Develop enthusiasm, flexibility. |
*Prepared by the Career Planning staff, Career Services, 100 Dunford Hall, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, from resources available in its Career Resource Center. This information only highlights career opportunities. (1992)
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