If you’re considering a career in an English-related field, an MA or MFA may be the right choice for you. Both degrees will prepare you to work in a variety of fields, while also allowing you to further customize your studies to meet specific interests. Although there are many ways to direct your graduate study following a bachelor’s degree in English, there are several jobs that you’ll likely qualify for right out of school.
If you have a Masters in English, you are well-equipped to work in a number of different industries. You could work as a teacher at the high school or university level. You could also work as an editor or writer for a newspaper, magazine, or publishing house.
You can also work in publishing as an acquisitions editor or copywriter. If you have experience writing fiction and non-fiction books, you may be able to get a job with a publishing company that produces books.
Jobs like these often require some writing experience and an educational background in English.
What jobs can you get with a masters in english
Introduction
An English major can open up a wide range of job opportunities. Here are some of the most popular options for graduates with an English masters degree:
Writing and editing
Communications
Public Relations
Law
Publishing
Translating and Interpreting
Marketing and Advertising
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Researcher / Teacher / Librarian / Archivist etc.
With all these career possibilities, how do you choose which is best for you? That will probably depend on your own personal interests! But there are also some other factors to consider, such as whether or not you want to work full time or part time; where do you want to live?; what kind of salary can expect with each position?; etc. It’s helpful to research each option before making any decisions about which direction might be right for your future career goals so that when it comes time make those important choices, they will already have been made!
Writing and editing
If you are seeking a job in the field of writing and editing, there are many options available to you. A Master’s degree can be an asset when applying for work in journalism, publishing, marketing and advertising, public relations, education and research. It may also help with careers in law or business.
Whether you choose to focus on one area or try to cover all bases by seeking entry-level work in multiple fields (as some students do), having a master’s degree will provide more opportunities than a bachelor’s without it. However, this is not always true. Some employers prefer candidates who have specialized knowledge of their industry over those who have general knowledge as well as academic credentials such as a Master’s Degree Program In English Literature And Creative Writing–especially if they feel like they can train someone up within their own company rather than bringing someone new onboard who needs more training themselves!
Communications
Communications is a broad field, but generally, it involves helping organizations communicate with their stakeholders and the public. If you go into communications, you might work in public relations (PR), corporate communications, government relations or even journalism. Some people who study communication find jobs in advertising or media relations instead.
In this section:
- Public Relations – Helping large organizations to manage their image and reputation by communicating with stakeholders and the general public
- Corporate Communications – Helping corporations manage their brand identity through internal and external messaging
- Government Relations – Advising government officials on policy issues that affect your client’s industry or business model
Public Relations
Public relations is a field that requires the ability to create and manage communications between an organization and its publics. To do this, PR professionals use research, writing and analysis skills to promote products or services by building positive relationships with target audiences. A master’s degree in public relations will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to build successful campaigns for your client or employer. By earning a master’s degree in English as a second major, you can earn additional credentials while pursuing your career goals. While many people think of creative writing when they hear “English major” or “literary magazine,” there are many other potential careers within the field of English that may be more applicable for students seeking employment after graduation.
Law
- Law
English majors are particularly well-suited to law school, where they will have the opportunity to hone their writing and communication skills while mastering the legal reasoning necessary to become a lawyer. While at law school, you’ll study not only criminal law but also civil procedure and constitutional law. In addition, you’ll be required to take courses focused on areas like international law and civil rights. When you graduate from an American Bar Association–approved institution with your Juris Doctor degree (JD), you will be prepared for both admission into an American Bar Association–accredited state bar association as well as practice within that state’s court system.
Publishing
If you’re a fan of writing, publishing is a great option for you.
Jobs in publishing are available at all levels, from entry-level writer positions to editor jobs and even more senior editorial positions. Publishing jobs are also located all over the world in cities such as New York City, Boston and Chicago; smaller towns like Iowa City; and internationally in London or Paris.
Translating and Interpreting
Translating and interpreting are two of the most common jobs for people with Masters in English. Translators take one language and translate it into another, while interpreters can translate between two languages but also have the added skill of being able to communicate in both languages.
Interpreting requires a lot of training; certification is required for an interpreter to work in courtrooms or hospitals, government meetings and other highly specialized situations where accuracy is crucial.
Marketing and Advertising
Marketing and advertising are closely related. Marketing is the process of making and communicating a value proposition to the customer, through which a company can create products or services that meet customer needs. Advertising is one of the most important tools for marketing because it allows companies to provide information about their products to consumers.
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
The title of this job may sound like it’s only applicable to people who are fluent in other languages, but actually it’s available to anyone with a degree in English. TEFL is an industry that requires teachers to train new students how to speak, read and write English so they can communicate with native speakers around the world. According to the British Council, there are currently 20 million non-native speakers of English learning the language worldwide. To become a TEFL teacher, you need at least a master’s degree in English or linguistics from an accredited university and experience teaching ESL courses at least once before taking on your own class.
If you have any interest in traveling abroad and working with people who want to learn our language—or if you just want some more job options—then this could be an option for you!
Researcher / Teacher / Librarian / Archivist etc.
What is a researcher? A researcher is someone who gathers information on a subject and then analyzes it.
What is a teacher? A teacher teaches others about a particular subject, typically by lecturing or leading discussions in classrooms. Teachers may also work with students one-on-one to help them learn more effectively.
What are librarians and archivists? Librarians are professionals who help people find materials they need, such as books, journals and other sources of knowledge or entertainment (like movies). Archivists preserve documents from the past for future generations to study them.
An English masters degree is useful for many jobs
The best jobs for English majors are those that involve writing, editing, and teaching. These careers allow you to use the skills you already have, plus give you a chance to hone and expand upon them. There are also many other possibilities for English majors who want to use their degree in an unusual way. Here’s a short list of jobs that can be viable options:
- Teaching (elementary school through college)
- Writing or editing for newspapers or magazines
- Translating for scientific journals or computer software products (though this requires advanced training)
- Public relations work at companies or non-profits; writing press releases, creating newsletters, designing marketing materials etc.)
- Lawyer/attorney specializing in contracts/business law
- Publishing company employee (editors & writers)
- Marketing & advertising manager; market research analyst; graphic designer
Conclusion
A master’s degree in English provides you with the skills and knowledge to pursue a career in many fields. You can use your degree to work as a writer, editor, or researcher in the media industry. You can also pursue careers in law, communications or marketing. Finally, if you have an interest in teaching others about this subject matter then your master’s degree will be useful for that too!
