Careers with a degree in English

Occupations associated with an English degree

School teacher

You will need a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) to teach in State schools. English is a popular PGCE courses so early application (in October or November for entry the following September) is advised.

Journalism and writing

Many English graduates are attracted to Journalism and Writing. It's important to gain relevant experience on the student newspaper or other publications and to build a portfolio.

Publishing

This covers books, magazines and electronic publishing, generalist or specialist (including academic publishers). Graduates may work in editorial roles or in business roles such as production and marketing.

TV, Radio, Film, Drama and Music

is the most popular career area for Arts graduates. To be successful you need to gain and be able to show evidence of relevant practical skills (writing for your university newspaper, radio station, film making Society, word-processing skills etc.). Take action well before your final year. Many jobs in the media are not advertised - organisations get enough CVs from people applying speculatively to be able to fill their vacancies from these. You need to be prepared to chase employers - you must take the initiative by visiting them.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language

is a popular option and still relatively easy to get, although you would be wise to get the CELTA Certificate in TEFL as this will make the better jobs available - it can be done in one month. The JET scheme each year takes about 150 British graduates to Japan to teach English for one or more years and pays well - it is usually advertised in October each year with a closing date is usually about late November. Korea, China and Taiwan are other popular options.

University lecturer

This does not require a teaching qualification, but you will need a higher degree, ideally a PhD plus teaching experience (which you may be able to gain while a postgraduate student). Competition is strong for junior academic posts.

Library and Information work

This may be carried out in public, academic or specialist libraries and involves managing the library's collections and helping users to get the most out of them.

Other occupations where an English degree would be useful.

Many careers are open to graduates in any subject and may offer the potential to use the analytical, information and communication skills that you have gained through studying English. Your interpersonal skills, however, are likely to be even more important.

Below are just a few of the occupations where the skills of English graduates may be particularly relevant:

Marketing, Advertising and PR. The typical job here is working as a Marketing Brand Manager - being responsible for the sales and marketing of a brand, be it breakfast cereal or sports cars. It's a very creative role, but also (unusual for many creative jobs) well-paid!. Advertising account manager - these plan and run advertising campaigns on behalf of client companies. Very competitive to enter - you need to do your research!

Law

Solicitors advise clients on legal issues, using statutes and case law to determine their relevance to their client's problem. Barristers also investigate and advise on legal issues, often the more complex ones, and present the client's case in court if necessary.

HR or Personnel Management is another option which requires strong communication and advice giving skills.

Civil Service

Graduates joining the Civil Service Fast-Stream are involved in a wide variety of tasks, such as researching and analysing policy options, drafting material that will be used as the basis for new legislation, supporting Ministers in parliamentary work and the management of their departments and liaising with outside organisations.

Retail management requires leadership and communication skills. You need to be practical, mobile and prepared to work irregular hours. This is not a desk bound job and requires doers as much as thinkers. However promotion can be fast and you can rapidly reach a position of responsibility.

Finance

has become another popular option. Many Humanities graduates enter business careers in accountancy, banking, insurance and other areas. There is no prejudice against Arts graduates provided they are numerate (grade B at GCSE maths would be about the minimum acceptable) and indeed often they are sought after because of their good communication skills.

Postgraduate Study

Postgraduate study may enable you to explore aspects of English in greater depth or to study a new subject. As noted above, a postgraduate qualification, either academic or vocational, is required to enter many fields of work related to English, such as research or teaching.

You should consider why you want to do postgraduate work, whether it will affect your career prospects and whether you are likely to get funding. There is no equivalent of UCAS for postgraduate study, so investigate courses early, starting with the Prospects website.

If you are already a student on a taught Masters degree, you may wish to continue your studies by research, in the UK or overseas. Again, early planning is important. You should seek advice from your supervisor as to the possible options.

After English www.afterenglish.ac.uk This website is for students of English who may be unsure of their future career direction. Unlike students studying a vocational subject, the choices you are faced with can seem unclear and bewilderingly varied. After English will give you some ideas to help you start thinking about future possibilities and reflect on your own hopes and dreams. Obviously we can't do all the hard thinking for you so there are a lot of exercises to try and links to follow up.

Getting into finance from an English degree

My journey began at A Level where I decided against Economics despite my interest. I went on to study English and American Literature at Kent because it was something I enjoyed and I had no plan in terms of career after my degree. Journalism and teaching didn’t appeal to me so I went to the Careers Service at the end of my Second year to get some advice. When Accountancy was suggested I was surprised as I had always thought Accountancy was limited to Finance and Business degrees. Instead I discovered that Accountancy firms are often keen to hear from humanities students as they like the variety of insight and creativity they bring. With this in mind I spent my Summer looking at vacancies and then at the start of my Third Year I began applying.

Getting in to Accountancy isn’t straightforward. For the Big Four and Medium sized firms the process is typically:

1. Online Application

2. Online Tests

3. Phone Interview

4. Assessment centre

5. Final Interview

The most common stage for failure is the second stage; the online tests are usually a timed numerical test and then either a non verbal reasoning test or an in-tray exercise. I practised the tests before I took them and I was informed swiftly that I would have a telephone interview. This tends to be competency based; the STAR technique is best for tackling the questions asked and preparation is important. Look at the company website and check what competencies they are looking for. They don’t always have to be work related as long as you clearly explain the situation, the task, your action and the result in a concise manner. After the phone interview I found out I had been successful and I was invited to an Assessment Centre at the London offices for PWC.

Assessment Centres are actually quite fun. The people I met were all very nice and although I was the only BA student there were people who were doing science degrees instead of business/finance subjects. The assessment centre involved a written exercise, another set of numerical and non verbal tests and a group exercise. My advice for this would be to stay calm, be friendly and keep yourself aware of what they want you to do. After the Assessment Centre I was invited to a Partner interview, the final stage of the process. I prepared for this by researching the company, looking at practice videos on the CES website and keeping track of financial news via BBC news and the Financial Times. The interview itself was straightforward with a brief chat about why I was looking to do Accountancy and then some more competency questions. I heard back the next day with the wonderful news that I had been successful.

Accountancy is accessible to humanities students as long as you do your research and understand what the job involves. It isn’t the easiest of jobs at the start as you typically do a 3 year qualification such as the ACA or CTA but after this you are fully qualified as a Chartered Accountant. After that the world is your oyster!

Literary Insults

• He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary. William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway) Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words? - Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)

• Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it. - Moses Hadas

• He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others. - Samuel Johnson

• Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it? - Mark Twain

• A solemn, unsmiling, sanctimonious old iceberg who looked like he was waiting for a vacancy in the Trinity. - Mark Twain

• I didn't attend the funeral but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it. - Mark Twain

• Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. - Oscar Wilde

• He has no enemies but is intensely disliked by his friends. - Oscar Wilde

• Classics: books people praise, but don't read.

• It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn’t give it up because by then I was too famous. Robert Benchley

We never know how high we are

Till we are called to rise;

And then, if we are true to plan,

Our statures touch the skies.

Emily Dickinson