Just about every English major hears it at one point or another, from parents, relatives, friends—and maybe even from within: “Just what are you going to do with an English major, anyway?” The traditional answer is “teach,” and of course an English major is a great foundation for teaching at any level from kindergarten through graduate school. But English majors can thrive in many other jobs, as well: if a career requires good written and oral communication skills and the ability to think critically and solve problems, it’s a path for English majors to consider. Some possibilities:
| Account Executive | Editor, Film/Video | Literary Agent |
| Actor/Actress | Editor, Magazine | Loan Officer |
| Administrative Assistant | Editor, News | Lobbyist |
| Administrator | Editor, Newspaper | Magazine Writer |
| Advertising Copywriter | Editor, Publications | Management Trainee |
| Analyst | Editor, Publications | Manuscript Reader |
| Artist | Editor, Writer | Market Research |
| Analyst | Editorial Assistant | Marketing Specialist |
| Attorney | Education & Training | Marketing Writer |
| Author - Fiction, Non-Fiction | Educational Program Specialist | Mass Media |
| Assistant Scientific Writer | Entertainment Agent | Media Planner |
| Bank Officer | Fashion Merchandiser | Medical Records |
| Biographer | Foreign Correspondent | Narrator |
| Book Critic | Freelance Writer/Consultant |
Novelist |
| Business Manager | Fundraiser | Paralegal |
| Circulation Assistant | Greeting Card Writer | Paralegal Assistant |
| City Manager | Hearing Officer | Personnel Manager |
| College Professor | Hotel & Motel Manager | Playwright |
| Columnist/Commentator | Human Resource Specialist | Poet |
| Comedy Writer | Human Service Practitioner | Politician |
| Communications Manager | Humorist/Comedian | Probation and Parole Officer |
| Congressional Aide | Information Abstractor | Product Manager |
| Copywriter | Insurance Agent | Program Manager |
| Corrective Therapist | Interior Designer | Proofreader |
| Creative Writer | Interpreter & Translator | Property Manager |
| Critic, Art/Book | Investment Counselor/Manager | Public Administrator |
| Crossword Puzzle | Journalist | Public Relations Specialist |
| Curator | Labor Relations Specialist | Public Speaker |
| Customer Service | Lawyer | Publicity Assistant |
| Desktop Publisher | Legal Assistant | Publisher |
| Director | Librarian | Publishing Assistant |
| Radio-TV Commentator | Sales Representative | Special Events Coordinator |
| Radio-TV Newscaster | Sales/Service Manager | Speech Writer |
| Reading Consultant | Script Reader | Sports Writer |
| Reporter | Singer/Voice | Stockbroker |
| Research Assistant | Teacher | Talent Agent |
| Researcher/Pollster | Social Welfare Examiner | Teacher (all levels) |
| Retail Sales | Social Worker | ESL Teacher |
| Technical Consultant | Translator | Writer |
| Technical Writer | Underwriter | Documentation Specialist |
| Training Specialist | Video Scriptwriter/Producer |