"What can I do with an English major?"

"What do I want to do with my life?"

"When do I need to decide on my career?"

"What fields are tailored to my skills and personality?"

"How do I find and get that plum job?"

By asking these questions, you will discover how your skills as an English major can contribute to your career.  Research on Concordia alumni shows that most graduates, regardless of  their majors, change jobs and careers several times during their work lives.  One of the most valuable assets you can develop now is an awareness that the skills you are developing through your work as an English major will offer you flexibility in choosing your career.

In general, you are valued because English majors can

• read and write carefully and thoughtfully

• think, reason, and analyze

• do research

• organize

• rewrite and edit.

These skills translate to a wide variety of career options in business, education, arts/media, and public service.  You are the best person to choose the field and to determine the course of your career, although many people and experiences are available to help you in this learning process.  Career preparation can be outlined as a five-step process.  Keep in mind that the successful English major may have many different career objectives during his or her work life, but you can use this five-step process to help in claiming an objective: 

STEP 1: KNOW YOURSELF

You can begin to prepare by taking time to assess your skills and interests and clarify what is most important to you in a career. To identify the skills you enjoy using the most, write down three personal achievements--in work, school, or personal interests.  Describe each in detail, especially noting the specific skills you used in order to succeed.  Through this you should be able to identify the skills you enjoy using.  If you need help in assessing your skills, ask your advisor to provide an outline to guide you.

To determine your values, consider what you enjoy most about work, such as the excitement of variety, creativity, knowledge, money, or recognition;  assess the work conditions, such as independence, time, freedom, stability; and consider the importance of the work to other people.  The time you spend identifying your skills, interests, and values will enable to you choose a career that provides challenge, empowerment, and satisfaction.

STEP 2: EXPLORE THE WORLD OF WORK

After you identify your skills, interests and values, you will be ready to investigate your options as an English major.  The career possibilities with English alone or in combination with another major are numerous.

a.  Read the occupational literature, (click here for a bibliography of such books, which can be found in our library and in the Career Center (Academy 101):

b.  Talk to People in a variety of fields. Conduct informational interviews to determine what people do or what function they provide.

c.  Test Reality through internships (see Cooperative Education) or part-time, summer, and volunteer jobs.  

STEP 3: DEVELOP YOUR OBJECTIVE

If you conscientiously work through steps 1 and 2, you will be ready to match your skills, interests, and values to compatible career options.  You must understand the decision-making process, establish a tentative career plan, and identify your academic and employment objectives.  Decision-making may be difficult because you may feel as if  you are limiting your options.  However, if you want to research your options thoroughly, you need to limit your investigation to three to five areas.

STEP 4:  PREPARE FOR YOUR OBJECTIVE  

This important step essentially involves obtaining a good education, having successful work experience, and expanding your interpersonal skills through participation in meaningful extracurricular activities.  Study the requirements for the English major, and ask yourself for each course how the skills you are developing can be transferred to the world of work.  Work experience can be obtained through a Cooperative Education internship which not only affirms your identification of your skills, but gives you contacts as you build your work network.  By joining a student organization and serving in a leadership role, you gain valuable knowledge about the world of work as well as show a professional attitude toward your career choice.

STEP 5: CLAIM YOUR OBJECTIVE

In order to accomplish this goal of effecting a smooth transition from college to your career, you need to allow ample time to carry out some important steps.  (English 316: Composition for Management helps you with all of these!)

• Identify potential employers.  Using the Concordia Career Center and the library resources, find out which companies are actively recruiting students.

• Prepare a persuasive résumé and application letter.

• Develop job search strategies.  Review the materials available in the Career Center and library; organize your approaches; and build your network of contacts.

• Strengthen your interview skills.  Learn how to market yourself to an employer by being able to talk about your accomplishments, by showing consistency between your résumé and your interview, and by performing well in a new setting.  Having researched yourself and your potential employer, practice interviewing so you present yourself effectively.

• Consider options and alternatives.  You should keep in mind that you can expect to change positions, if not careers, at least five times during your work life.  You will have ample time to consider alternatives and changes during the next forty years of your life.  The most important step is to get started now on your career preparation! 

Some career paths chosen by recent Concordia Alumni who were English Majors are listed here:

Websites to Visit:

• Career Center: http://student.cord.edu/dept/career/
• Cooperative Education:  http://www4.cord.edu/careerctr/Coop%20Ed/cooperative_ed_.htm

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