(Closed) What did you do with your English/ Humanities Major?

• Bunnyang
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: July 2012

I went back and got my Dip Ed. I teach high school English and Literature. I live in Perth, Australia and teachers are actually paid quite well here. 

• kw617
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: June 2012

Have a liberal arts humanities degree.. became an administrative assistant out of college. Despised it. Went back for another degree while working, this time in computer science. And then got an MBA.

tbh, while I love my course of study, I have already said that there is no way I’d pay for my (currently 13 years old) son to get a liberal arts degree unless he really does plan on becoming a professor in that subject or something. He’s got to be more specific. I wish I was, I wasn’t, and it cost me years of low paying jobs I hated and another degree all together 

• MrsMeowton
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: October 2015

I did office jobs for a while after graduation just because I’ve never been 100% sure what I wanted to do with my degree outside of knowing that I wanted to be a writer. Well, turns out, you don’t just get paid to write novels on the fly. I’ve taken other jobs to pay the bills, but nothing I’m passionate about. 

In every job I’ve been in, though, I’ve carved out a “writing heavy” role. At my current job, I write and edit all of the official material that is distributed to clients, I’ve rewritten our SOP and HR manuals, and I’m the only person the owner trusts to proofread his e-mails, speeches, and other written information before he goes to speak in court, speak to homeowners, etc. 

And I’ve just finished the first draft of my novel and am halfway through editing it with the hope of getting published. I also have a pretty successful Etsy shop that I am almost able to live off 100%.

I toyed with being a teacher, but I just didn’t love the idea and I don’t live in an area where there are publishing houses that I can even get an internship with. Many kids in my program either went on to be teachers or moved to major cities and live with six other people in a Brooklyn walk-up while interning at Random House. 

 

• redmango
• 3 years ago

Everyone I know with an English or humanities degree is working in a completely different area than their majors.  I realize a lot of people do that, but it seems more common in liberal arts subjects.  The only one that I know that does anything close is one of my friends who works in HR and helps write and put together orientation material for new employees.

• bretagne422
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: October 2017

There’s definitely hope, but it might take some patience and a few tries to get to something you love–at least that’s what happened for me. 

When I graduated I really just needed a job, so I unwittingly ended up in sales. For my first 5 years out of college, I sold phones, worked at a car rental company, and then ended up at a used car dealership. A few months into the car dealership job, I had a whole existential crisis. I realized that if I didn’t do something, I’d end up stuck in a steady stream of shitty sales jobs (I hate sales) and never get to be intellectual at work. I had a few months’ worth of expenses saved, so I quit my job and moved to a different state just to try my luck. A couple of months after I moved I landed a job as a Technical Writer with a software company and I love it. I love learning languages so I’ve been learning C# and whatnot to transition over into software engineering. In the meantime, though, it’s awesome to know that I’m being paid for my writing! 

• socalgirl1689
• 3 years ago

becomingmichi :  I have a science degree but most people I know with an English degree went back to school to continue with a master’s in education and are now all teachers. Except for one who did not want to go beyond a bachelor’s. She currently works as a store manager at TJ Maxx (kinda like Ross or Marshall’s stores). 

• brideinwaiting234
• 3 years ago

If I were you, I’d look at Marketing. It is more and more common for hiring managers to look for English/Journalism majors in this field because most of the work we now do revolves around writing content (eBooks, blogs, white papers, etc.) You could search for Content Marketing Manager or Coordinator jobs or just Marketing Assistant/Manager. Search those job postings and see if they’d interest you. If you don’t want to write as much content, you could do Social Media instead as it is shorter form and you could also interact with the audience more.

• clipclop1023
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: St. petersburg, FL

I graduated with an English Writing degree, and I do think that I use it, but my job isn’t technically related to that specific field. After graduation, I got a job working at a labor union as an admin. assistant in the President’s office. I support his assistant by booking all of his travel and managing the office budget, editing letters and statements, etc. Not exactly what I thought i’d use my degree for, but it works, and I’m happy! 

• irishbride2018
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: May 2018

 

becomingmichi :  Do not lose hope! I make a six-figure salary after only being out of college for 3 years (as an English major and journalism minor). I work in advertising! It’s super fun, yes, you work long hours, but it can be very rewarding and creative! Look in the pharmaceutical sector, and you’ll be shocked at how well copywriters are paid. 

• mrssouthernfairytale
• 3 years ago

I did my BA in English (and Philosophy). I then did an MA in Comp Lit. I opened a writing/ editing business during my MA that I still run. And now I’m doing a fully funded PhD in English and preparing to teach English lit to college students! The academia track for English is pretty straightforward. I plan on working as a college professor after I finish my doctorate. I am paid to do my doctorate which as I see it is paying me to increase my earning potential. So I’m really happy with what I’m currently doing. 🙂 

• cassiegirl
• 3 years ago

I wound up going into marketing in the publishing industry right after school.  Went back to get an MBA and now I’m in marketing/brand management in a different industry.  

When I was right out of school, I would get the most call backs from jobs I applied to in non-profit fundraising (you have to write a lot of grants and communicate with donors) and marketing (need to be able to evaluate creative and write copy). 

Law school is also a path I’ve seen many fellow english majors take and I also considered it.

• bookwormbee123
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: January 2018

Hey there, English degree here! I currently work as a content writer for SEO focused writing. I also get to do some social media management along with that.

 There are also lots of technical writing jobs around the country. I have several friends who are technical writers and they do pretty well financially. 

• LadyBear
• 3 years ago

• Wedding: September 2012

I have a BA in English. I also got my MA in Professional Writing and Editing, but I don’t know that it was necessary (it was paid for and I wanted it). Regardless, I am now the managing editor of a magazine for a nonprofit, and I LOVE it.

Out of grad school, I started as a proposal assistant for a federal contractor (writing/proofreading proposals). I also freelanced on the side for a few years, but I just don’t have the time to do that right now.

I firmly believe my internships got me this job, so I encourage you to intern somewhere if you can.