Jobs You Can Pursue with an English Literature Degree

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If you graduate with an English Literature bachelor’s degree, many people may jokingly think your next career will be a poet or maybe the next Shakespeare. In the era of Industry 4.0 where digital transformation has taken many areas by storm, having an arts degree may not be very marketable or in demand nowadays. But fret not, with your language expertise and analytical thinking skills, there are wide-variety of well-paying jobs you can land with an English Literature degree!

Transferable Skills of English Literature Graduates

English Literature graduates are known to be proficient at communicating effectively on various aspects. This is because for years, they have studied the art of analyzing, reading between the lines, structuring, and putting thoughts into words. Analyzing, thinking critically, and communicating proficiently are essential skills that will help you pursue careers in a range of sectors, including publishing, media and journalism, academia, law, and marketing and public relations. 

Here are five in demand jobs you can land with your degree:

1 . Translator and Interpreter

Companies are actively striving to operate beyond their local region; they are expanding globally to escalate their business. To ensure the expansion process runs smoothly, companies located in non-English speaking countries are heavily relying on translators and interpreters. This is where English Literature graduates thrive; their English language skills and broad knowledge of cross-cultural understandings can help local companies go global without a language barrier. English language and literature proficiency, paired with their native language mastery, can make translators and interpreters valuable in communicating business matters. If translators mostly work with written documents and publishing materials, interpreters engage more in spoken translation, which both equally contribute to successful business communication. 

2 . Content Writer

If writing fictional novels or becoming an independent author is not your cup of tea, you can always go for a corporate writer. Businesses are expected to do more than selling products; they need to engage with current and potential customers by providing insightful information. Content writers are essential to serve this purpose because they have proficiency in analyzing information, research, and writing. English Literature graduates are generalists that can research on various fields and write compelling content pieces that are fun to read, making them the perfect choice for a writer role. 

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3 . Copywriter

Similar to a content writer role, copywriters are also rising in demand. Copywriters work in a variety of industries to create unique, attention-grabbing text based on the company’s needs. This is a creative work that English literature majors may embrace since they can combine their writing with creative skills in using expression for advertorial purposes. Their understanding of literary expressions can surely enhance the creativity of copies made for company marketing. Copywriters are frequently employed in the advertising industry, where they create slogans, catchphrases, scripts, content marketing, and other materials.

4 . Journalist

If you want to rely more on your structural writing skills rather than creative writing, a job as a journalist may suit you. A background in English literature can help you undertake important duties such as writing and presenting events in a comprehensible way. These professionals research, investigate, and collect information for their stories and news coverage. Journalists are also in charge of conducting interviews, keeping crucial connections, and confirming statements. With a broad knowledge in both expressive and technical writing structure, you can thrive as a journalist and news writer who knows exactly how a news piece can be easily digested by the public. 

5 . English Teacher

We all know English is the universal language, thus mastering it is fundamental  to comprehend in competing with the global market. The demand for English teachers of all levels, especially in countries with English as their secondary language, is always high. This is a great career path for English Literature graduates to pursue teaching language and literature. Many curriculums are now encouraging students to learn not only basic English language, but also English literature, and this makes English Literature graduates no less prominent than English Education graduates.

The misconception about English Literature graduates being exclusively designed to become ‘the next Shakespeare’ is no more than a myth. There are plenty of marketable and in demand jobs to land with an English Literature degree. English Literature graduates can also use their analytical skills to grow beyond writing, such as to become business developers and marketing strategists. Stay tuned with Talentvis job updates to make sure you will be the first person to land a strategic career with your English Literature degree.

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