Writing a future as an English Graduate
English students leave university with a broad mix of skills that can take them down many different career paths. With so many directions to choose from, where do most English graduates end up?
We spoke to two graduates about their job prospects upon leaving university, and how they feel their English degree has prepared them for the working world.
Daniel Lane
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- English and Drama
- Current position: Marketing Executive at Natural Wood Flooring Co.
Daniel Lane studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths, University of London, and graduated in 2012. He now works as Marketing Executive at the Natural Wood Flooring Co., a leading flooring business based in South London.
Daniel's work involves promoting the company through numerous channels, from social media to speaking directly with customers. He says it is a busy position, which offers a lot of variety.
"My day-to-day tasks consist of populating the company's social media channels, writing blog articles and uploading them to the company website, updating the press coverage on the website, photographing new products and uploading them to the product pages on the website, serving customers in the showroom, responding to enquiries sent via email or potential customers who contact us over the phone."
"It's a busy role but it is a new position within the company so it is constantly developing."
A career in Marketing was an easy choice for Daniel - it built directly upon the skills learned in his degree, as well as his passion for writing.
"Although an English degree does lend itself to almost everything," he says, " the role includes tasks that I do enjoy, such as writing copy, photography, communication, design, and marketing, and aspects that I did not foresee being part of my job, such as sales."
Most popular sectors for English graduates
Daniel says that his English degree has provided him with such a wide base of skills, he could apply his expertise to most careers. He believe that the academic rigour of university has allowed him to seamlessly adapt to the work place.
"Both articulation and communication are skills that I developed during my time at university," he says. "My understanding of various styles, audiences and approaches to communication have allowed me to hit the ground running."
When it comes to the types of careers which are typically considered appropriate to English students, Daniel says the competition to find work has become fierce in recent years.
"The traditional careers that English graduates would have pursued cannot cater for everyone. Teaching, journalism, and becoming an author (to name a few) are work areas that are saturated because of the attractiveness and exciting activities of the roles above, but also because there are now far more graduates than before."
Daniel recommends Marketing as an equally fulfilling and exciting career, with a lot more room for innovation.
"The skills that you have honed and you enjoy can be taken across vocations with the right approach," he says. "And doing so actually tests you in ways you are not used to, as you have to apply these skills to hurdles you haven't yet jumped."
"This occurs a lot, especially in Marketing, where you are always facing unique problems and have to make the most of your skills to overcome these."
According to Daniel, English graduates face a different challenge if they are looking to work in the editorial side of Marketing. He warns that elaborate prose is not the way forward.
"What I have found is that 'long words', unfamiliar diction and syntax are most of the time an ineffective tool on a verbal and written level," he says.
"In a digital environment, English that you would normally find in a novel - the level of good English that I was trying to develop during my degree - would be completely out of place and counter-productive. For this reason, it is the skill of succinctly communicating your point that is probably a skill I most appreciate."
Anna Neydorff
- Coventry University
- English Literature and Language
- Current Position: Job Hunting Graduate (Publishing)
Anna Neydorff left university last year after studying a combined course of Literature and Language. She is looking for permanent employment and has her heart set on one particular industry: publishing.
Anna says she wasn't sure how she wanted to apply her degree until she found one which could combine her love of writing and reading.
"I knew I wanted to use my degree somehow, I just wasn't sure where I really saw myself," she says. "I love writing and thoroughly enjoy reading, so finding a job that incorporates the two was something I wanted to do."
Anna's uncertainty about her future was part of her decision to choose an open-ended degree like English, but her competence in the subject was also a factor.
"I actually chose to do English because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do after university, and I knew there were various fields of work I could go into with that degree," she says. "I was always interested in writing when I was younger. I loved journalism and creative writing, so I knew it would be something I'd enjoy and probably get decent grades in."
Most popular locations for English graduates
Much like Daniel, Anna believes that her command of the English language is a benefit to her in the job market and will help her secure a graduate job.
"The most valuable asset I gained from my degree is my writing skills. I'm able to write for different audiences, different platforms and can adjust my style to suit most fields," she says.
"This means that my communication skills both orally and written will serve me well in the working world, as I know how to adapt myself in different situations."
Standing out from the crowd is a problem for many graduates, including those with an English degree. Anna says she has been taking internships as a way to expand her CV and improve her job prospects.
"The competition is crazy, so it's a case of finding ways to make yourself stand out," she says. "Many employers say they want someone with a publishing degree or marketing degree. This is why I have been doing unpaid internships, so that I can say I have a year's experience in publishing."
For Anna, the dream of a career in publishing may take some further study - which she is willing to save up for.
"I would love to do a Master's in the future and it's something I'm considering. I'm looking to start saving the funds to return to university for a Master's in a publishing-related area."