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Career Opportunities for Majors in English

Introduction

The study of English provides opportunities to explore the worlds of literature and culture. Coursework focuses on areas such as literary study, the historical periods of medieval, renaissance, and eighteenth through twentieth centuries, and other English literature topics.

A bachelor's degree in English provides you with skills for a variety of positions in business, government, research, education, publishing, as well as in the cultural, entertainment, and communications industries. English as a major is versatile and helps you develop skills useful in many career fields. Your major is only one of many variables to be considered when developing career plans. Many careers do not require a specific major, but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Effective career decision making is based on a thorough assessment of your skills, interests, values, and experiences. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability to employers through internships, work experience, good grades, and college activities.


A Sample of Related Occupations

Administrative Asst.Fact CheckerNonprofit Administrator
Advertising Account ExecutiveFundraiserPersonnel Trainee
Campaign Mngr.Historical Society SpecialistProduction Asst.
Claims ExaminerJournalistPublic Relations Specialist
Communications SpecialistLegislative Asst.Publicity Asst.
Community Relations SpecialistLibrarianResearch Asst.
Copy WriterLobbyistResearcher
Corporate TrainerManagement TraineeSales Representative
CriticMarketing/Sales Mngr.Special Events Coordinator
Customer Service Rep.Media AnalystTeacher
Editorial Asst.Media BuyerVolunteer Coordinator
Editor/WriterMuseum Curator 
Education Director  


Types of Employers

Private & Nonprofit Organizations
Advertising AgenciesFoundationsMedia (Radio, TV)
Book & Magazine PublishersHealthcare FacilitiesMuseums
Community Arts CentersHistorical SocietiesNewspapers/Magazines
Community Service OrganizationsHospitality OrganizationsPublic Relations Firms
Consumer OrganizationsInsurance CompaniesResearch Organizations
Cultural OrganizationsInvestment FirmsRetail Stores
Educational InstitutionsLibrariesTelecommunications Firms
Financial InstitutionsMarket Research CompaniesTheaters

Government Agencies
Civil Rights CommissionLegislative AffairsPolitical Organizations
Consumer Affairs OfficeMotor Vehicle DepartmentSmall Business Administration
Cultural AffairsNational Endowment for the HumanitiesTravel & Tourism Department
Department of EducationNational Institutes of Health 
Division of Youth & Family ServicesPeace Corp/AmeriCorps 


Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates

First Jobs of Recent Graduates
Asst. Editor, Hobby PublicationsFinancial Analyst Trainee, Goldman Sachs
Asst. Mngr., B. DaltonFitness Director, Aaron Health Center
Asst. Mngr., BloomingdalesFulbright Scholar/English Teaching Assistant
Bank Teller, Hudson United BankHealth Educator, Planned Parenthood
Brokers Asst., Merrill LynchManagement Trainee, Action Rent a Car
Client Service Representative, Merrill LynchMedia Asst., Ogilvy & Mather Advertising
Department Coordinator, R R Bowlar PublishingParalegal, Davis & Saperstein
Editor, Common Boundary MagazineProduction Asst., Research on Education Association
Editorial Asst., Bantam Doubleday DellRecruiter, Entology, Inc.
Editorial Production Asst., Country Inns PublicationReporter, Forbes Newspapers
Executive Team Leader, Target CorporationTeacher, Edison School District

Jobs of Experienced Alumni
Account Executive, Agnew Carter McCarthy Public RelationsLitigation Analyst, City of San Jose (JD)
Administrator, Audubon High School (MA)Managing Director, Advertising Women of NY (M Ed.)
Asst. Director of Communications, Leukemia SocietyMarketing Mngr., TV Guide (MBA)
Asst. V.P. & Communications Mngr., Chasemellon Shareholder Srvcs.Media Analyst, Alexander & Associates
Associate Editor, Editor & Publisher Magazine (MS Journalism)Principal, Newark Board of Education (M Ed.)
Attorney, Greenbaum Rowe Smith (JD)Production Mngr., American Home Foods (MBA)
Classified Advertising Mngr., Roberts Publishing CompanyProfessor, St. Johns University (PhD)
Corporate Communications Specialist, J&J/Ortho (MCIS)Program Director, Princeton YWCA (MA Public Policy)
Communications Consultant, Andreoni & AssociatesProject Specialist, Partners in Care (MA, Health Administration)
Customer Service Mngr., Continental Health AffiliatesPublic Information Director, Somerset County
Director, Career Services, Rutgers Law - Camden (M Ed.)Public Relations Director, AT&T (MBA)
Director, Internet Fundraising, Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietySales Mngr., PR Newswire
District Sales Mngr., Squibb PharmaceuticalSales Promotion Asst. Mngr., Liz Claiborne
Editor, Gannett Westchester NewspapersSecurities Analyst, New Japan Securities (MBA)
Employment Mngr., Abraham & StrausTeacher, Teach for America
Exhibition Coordinator, Zimmerli Art Museum (MA Art History)Technical Writer, Dialogic Corp.
Export Mngr., J.F. Hillebrand GMBHTrade Show Mngr., Toy Manufacturers of America
Financial Analyst, Nabisco (MBA)Traffic Director, Tarlow Advertising
Freelance Writer, Self Employed (MA Journalism)Training Consultant, Metropolitan Life Insurance
Guidance Counselor, Highland Park H.S. (MA Student Personnel)VP of Research, Primerica (MA Asian Studies)
Healthcare Editor, J.P. LippincottVP of Human Resources, Drake Beam Morin (MBA)
Law Librarian, United States Attorney's Office (MLS)Writer/Photographer, Arline Zatz Publication
Library Director, Kenilworth Public Library (MLS) 


Graduate Schools Attended

Clemson University, MA, EnglishRutgers University-Newark, JD, Law
Harvard University, PhD, EducationRutgers University, MA, English Education
Johns Hopkins, PhD, EnglishRutgers University, M.Ed., Elementary Education
New York University, PhD, EnglishRutgers University, MLIS, Library and Information Science
New York University, PhD, French LiteratureThe New School, PhD, Creative Writing
Ohio State University, PhD, EducationUniversity of Calif.-Irvine, PhD, Comparative Lit.



Additionally, you may:
 


 

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