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An English degree is a pathway to opportunities because it equips students with skills for a diverse range of professional fields.

If you major in English then you must have probably heard the myth that English majors have one of the highest unemployment rate in the humanities. I have two degrees in English and people often tell me my degrees are worthless because they erroneously believe teaching is the only career for English majors and that anyone who speaks English can also teach it. I teach English at the university level and instructors generally require at least a masters degree in English to teach, so not anyone can teach English. No doubt, there is a decline in humanities jobs but the situation is not as bleak as many people imagine. According to Statistisa, the 2021 unemployment rate in America is 5.2% and that of English majors is about 4.6%. The percentage of unemployed English majors is similar or lower to other fields such as political science (4.4%), economics (3.2%) , and computer science (8%), so evidence does not support the idea that English majors are more likely to be unemployed. On the contrary, English majors have successful careers in fields such as law, education, publishing, PR and marketing, medical humanities, media and human resources. You can make the most of your English degree and land a job in the following steps:

Get Skills

Getting a degree is beautiful but employers look out for people with marketable skills. English majors do a lot of reading/writing and that equips them with critical thinking, communication and writing skills. You need to expand those skills to meet current industry demands and that might include becoming tech savvy. You are a good writer but can you produce content for digital platforms and use writing tools like MadCap flare and Adobe RoboHelp? I was at a Google interview sometimes ago and the interviewer was interested in my coding proficiency and ability to write user interface texts. My 3.9 GPA and years of analytical writing didn’t matter at that point if I couldn’t write for a digital audience. Consider the top skills in your area of interest and master those skills.

Be Strategic

As an instructor and higher education consultant, I meet with a lot of English majors and often ask what type of job they are looking for and many would reply with “any job” . “Any job” is not a totally terrible answer because I understand people prioritize financial stability, however that response indicates a lack of strategy. Decide what type of jobs you want(be intentional), target organizations that offer those jobs, research the requirements, take an inventory of your skills and qualifications, plan and tailor your application to those jobs, and network with professionals in the field.

Begin early

Jobs are not easy to find so begin your job search at least 6 months before your graduation. A six months lead time will give you the chance to explore available opportunities and to re-strategize if your plans fail. I applied to jobs four months before the end of masters and ultimately got a job one month after graduation. I began my job search 6 months earlier because the job market is highly competitive in Nigeria so study the job market to decide the best time to apply.

Expand your search

Expand your search and use all resources at your disposal in getting a job. Leverage social media, use online job sites, network, join professional organizations and use job advocates. The job competition might be stiff but these combination of resources will increase your chances. There is no limit to the number of jobs you can apply so apply to as many jobs as possible if you are qualified.

Be Flexible

Are you willing to work in any city? Can you work remotely or onsite? Focusing on jobs in a specific city or industry might limit your opportunities so be flexible. You might prefer a job in New York but there might be immediate openings in Ohio. Not everyone can be flexible especially if you have strong ties to a place or preference for certain benefits.