Careers

Major

Related Skills

A bachelor's degree in English is sufficient for many entry-level positions in business and industry.
A graduate degree is required for teaching at the college or university level.
Develop a specialty area of interest via additional coursework and/or work experience for greater marketability within that specific career field.
Save samples of written work to be used for a portfolio.
Be prepared to be proactive, determined, assertive, and confident in order to secure freelance writing opportunities. Writers typically experience many rejections for each piece that is accepted for publication.
Obtain additional areas of expertise such as journalism, broadcasting, technical writing, or politics for specialized positions.
Conduct informational interviews or shadow professionals in careers of interest to learn more about their jobs.

Creative writing: poetry, plays, novels (fiction and nonfiction), screenplays, scripts, lyrics/jingle writing, blogs
Journalism: writing/columnist, reporting, editing, critique
Technical writing: science-medical, information technology, corporate communications and training
Grant writing
Freelance writing
Advertising/marketing/sales
Circulation/production

Publication companies: books, newspapers, magazines, alternative media (e-books and audio books)
Mass media (television, radio, internet sites, and the movie industry)
Government agencies
Universities and university presses
Self-employed/freelance