Kelly Miller Academic Advising and Career Center University of Michigan-Flint 285 University Pavilion (810) What Can I Do With a Major in English?

Overview Skills Identification Career options Career Development Strategies

Top Skills Employers Seek Problem Solving Skills Critical Thinking Skills Teamwork Skills Communication Skills Strong Sense of Ethics Global Awareness Ability to Take Initiative Knowledge of Science/Technology Source: Association of American Colleges and Universities, What will I learn in college?; National Association of Colleges and Employers, Job Outlook 2011

Skills you’ve developed as an English major: Creative writing Technical writing Persuasive writing Editing Reading critically Interpretation of written material Analytical thinking

Some famous English majors Carol Browner - Head of the Environmental Protection Agency Chevy Chase - Comedian, Actor, Writer Mario Cuomo - Governor of New York Michael Eisner - Walt Disney CEO A. Bartlett Giamatti--President, Yale University and Commissioner of Baseball Stephen King - Novelist Paul Newman - Actor, Food Entrepreneur Sally Ride - Astronaut Diane Sawyer - Broadcast Journalist Steven Spielberg – Filmmaker Clarence Thomas - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Grant Tinker - TV Executive and Producer Harold Varmus – Nobel Laureate in Medicine, Director of National Institutes of Health From the Mississippi State University English Department

Some Job Titles of English Majors  Staffing Assistant  Technical Writer  Executive Assistant  Manager  Research Associate  Editor  Claims Examiner  Critic  Education Director  Insurance Underwriter  Lobbyist  Media Buyer  Public Relations Assistant  Advertising Executive  Special Events Coordinator  Campaign Manager  Corporate Trainer  Fundraiser  Copy Writer  Research Assistant  Management Trainee  Production Assistant  Researcher  Volunteer Coordinator

Top 10 Occupations Employing Bachelors’ Degrees in English 1. Artists, broadcasters, writers, editors, public relations specialists (10.7%) 2. Top- and mid-level managers, executives, administrators (10.6%) 3. Teachers, secondary school (10.6%) 4. Insurance, securities, real estate, business services (5.9%) 5. Secretaries, receptionists, typists (5.1%) 6. Sales occupations including retail (4.9%) 7. Other management-related occupations (4.8%) 8. Other administrative (4.8%) 9. Teacher, elementary school (3.5%) 10. Other service occupations except health (3.2%) From the College Majors Handbook

Career Development Strategies Make a list of ALL the potential jobs you can think of that you might enjoy and would relate to your English major Research these jobs and narrow down your list Obtain relevant experience through RELATED part-time jobs, internships, volunteer experiences, student and community organizations and activities Conduct informational interviews with people in career fields that interest you to find out what training they have, how they found their positions, and what they do NETWORK! Get to know people in your field Join professional organizations Do your research so you know if you need further training or licensing