Students who major in English at Carthage develop skills that allow them to pursue any career, especially ones that requires the ability to think critically and creatively.
Why choose a career in English?
1. Critical thinking creates innovation One skill you learn while being an English major is the skill of critical thinking. Not only do you dive into a text to dissect its parts and interpret it, but you also learn how to craft your own opinions and how to back them up through cohesive writing. Future employers seek this out in candidates because it allows companies to obtain fresh and new ideas. If that doesn’t interest you, a career in English allows you to be your own boss, and you can take your ideas and create something out of them! You can question or support what’s around you and change the world one idea at a time!
2. Diverse perspectives opens doors Through studying literature, English students are exposed to a diverse world. Stories introduce them to new perspectives, cultures, and historical eras — allowing them to cultivate a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of human experiences. This broader worldview prepares them to engage thoughtfully with global issues and contribute positively to an increasingly interconnected world.
3. There’s a job for everyone The skills acquired with an English degree can be carried over to a variety of different fields. Whether you want to be a writer, editor, librarian, educator, or anything else; the English career path allows you to chase after your passion!
Careers you can get with an English degree
An English major is a springboard to many different professions. Take your time exploring all the various options.
Please note that this list includes careers requiring differing degrees of education and training.
Those working as an advertising copywriter play a crucial role in a company’s identity. They review and edit the writing turned in by copy editors, all to make sure that the final product is cohesive and reflects the company’s message and values for marketing and advertising purposes.
Yearly salary: $59,809 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Attorneys are licensed professionals who work to uphold the law by advising and representing clients in legal matters to protect rights. Their roles include researching legal issues, providing legal advice, settling disputes, drafting legal documents, researching case facts, and presenting their case in a courtroom.
Yearly salary: $98,330 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Book editors work alongside authors to improve their piece of work. They do this by reviewing a manuscript and suggesting changes to things such as grammar, formatting, organization, and plot. Their goal is to take the author’s manuscript and improve it.
Yearly salary: $63,060 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Development assistants are tasked with the role of fundraising for a company or brand. This includes working on donor relations, creating progress reports, managing fundraising efforts, directing public relation strategies, and more.
Yearly salary: $45,509 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Grant writers secure funds for programs and projects for non-profit organizations. They do this by reaching out to operations, businesses, or government agencies that can be potential funders and offer grants. Grant writers also craft proposals that communicate the organization’s mission.
Yearly salary: $66,107 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Human resources generalists manage various HR functions within an organization, including recruitment, employee relations, performance management, training, compliance, and administration. They ensure HR policies and procedures align with legal requirements and support organizational goals while fostering a positive work environment.
Yearly salary: $65,839 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Journalists investigate and gather information to report on news. They do this through researching, interviewing a subject, and observation. There are many different kinds of journalism, including: photojournalism, investigative journalism, sports journalism, political journalism, crime journalism, political journalism, and more. Journalists can work in mediums of print, online, radio, and television.
Yearly salary: $60,979 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Librarians work in a library to provide literacy service, social, and sometimes technical assistance to their citizens. Librarians also are tasked with taking care of and maintaining the library, which includes organizing and managing the tools offered by the library.
Yearly salary: $65,193 (according to ZipRecruiter)
News editors write and edit news stories for a newspaper, website, or magazine. They advise a group of writers and organize coverage. They proofread work alongside writing their own articles, traveling to different events, conducting interviews, and ensuring the newsroom is moving smoothly.
Yearly salary: $107,640 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Public relations professionals are tasked with the responsibility to uphold the reputation of a company. They do this by expanding the brand, writing press releases, maintaining a positive public image, and conducting communication campaigns, among other tasks.
Yearly salary: $83,626 (according to ZipRecruiter)
School administrators create an environment that offers positivity and academic achievement to their students. They are the leaders of an educational institution by managing and overseeing school operations.
Yearly salary: $106,959 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Social media managers oversee an organization’s social media presence and strategy, creating and curating engaging content, managing social media channels, analyzing performance metrics, and interacting with followers. They aim to enhance brand awareness, drive traffic to websites, and foster community engagement through effective social media campaigns and initiatives.
Yearly salary: $64,845 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Teachers and professors work in an educational institution and provide knowledge to their students through teaching an assigned academic program. Teacher’s typically work in a K-12 school and professors work in higher education. Both require different levels of schooling.
Teacher yearly salary: $46,590 (according to ZipRecruiter) Professor yearly salary: $114,792 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Technical writers create technical documents that instruct an audience of two or more people on how to do something. These documents include user manuals, guides, journal articles, technical reports, and more.
Yearly salary: $81,001 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Web designer developers are responsible for creating the layout of a website and maintaining its content. Their main focus is crafting the aesthetic of the website while making sure everything is cohesive and as user friendly as possible to guarantee customer satisfaction.
Yearly salary: $59,509 (according to ZipRecruiter)
Resources for Carthage English Majors
Carthage provides English students with tools to help them prepare for their future after college.
Faculty guidance Carthage English faculty members help students decide what career path to take, offer scholarship opportunities, and create connections between those with a career in English and students to help further the student’s future.
The Aspire Program Carthage’s comprehensive career development sequence, The Aspire Program, helps students prepare for the workforce by assisting them in creating resumes, developing interview strategies, setting up their profile on Handshake to search for open positions, and more.
Where Carthage English graduates work now
Alumni of the English program work as writers, teachers, and a diverse mix of other occupations for employers such as:
Communication/development assistant — Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
Early literacy specialist — Lincolnwood Library
Academic program coordinator for the sciences — Beloit College
Teacher — Craig High School, Janesville, WI
Assistant state’s attorney — Chicago, IL
Admissions office — College of Lake County
Navigator — State of Illinois Affordable Care Act
Web designer — Amazon
Youth services coordinator — Zion-Benton Public Library
Librarian — Racine Public Library
Professional novelist
Copywriter — Bon Ton, Racine, WI
Teacher — Reedsburg High School District, WI
Teacher — Case High School, Racine, WI
Teacher — Mountain View Middle School, WA
Professional actress — Chicago, IL
Digital art manager — Jockey International
Recruiter — Aerotek
Officer — U.S. Army
Teacher — Great Hearts Academy, Arizona
Web editor — American Nurse Anesthetists Association
Librarian — Milwaukee Public Library
Teacher and librarian — Harwood Heights Elementary School, IL
Software tester — Epic Systems, Madison, WI
Adjunct faculty, Boise State University, Boise, ID
Carthage English graduates have also continued on to top graduate programs in fine arts, law, American literature, political science, gender studies, and journalism.
University of Texas at Austin — Ph.D. program in English
Columbia College Chicago — MFA program in film
University of Kent (England) — Ph.D. program in English
School of the Art Institute of Chicago — MFA program in creative writing
University of Wisconsin-Madison — MLS program
Columbia College Chicago — MA program in journalism
University of Swansea (Wales) — MA program in gender studies
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