Undergraduate Careers
What Can You Do With an English Major?
We’ve heard this question before, and you probably have too. We’ve got good news: in the English major, you’ll develop skills that will prepare you for jobs in a wide array of industries, from tech to publishing to finance to law and beyond. Here are some of the jobs our alumni have gone on to do within a year of graduating with their BA in English:
- Media and Marketing Advisor at CityScene
- Donor Services Associate at Orthodox Union
- Marketing Specialist at E2 Optics
- Contract Analyst at Grange Insurance
- Enrollment Counselor at Ohio State Marion
- Recruiter for Ringside Talent
- Law Clerk at Hastie Law Offices
- Marketing Specialist at FlightSafety International
- Communications Coordinator at St. Joseph Montessori School
- Administrative Assistant at University Exploration at Ohio State
- Proofreader at Williams Lea
- Communications Coordinator at Goodwin Law
- Science and Medical Content Writer at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
And here are some jobs our alumni have held 3+ years after graduating:
- Account Manager at Insight Global
- Talent Acquisition Specialist at DRW
- Vice President of Content at iSynergy
- Assistant Director of Publishing at Penguin Random House
- SEO Specialist at Stanley Steemer
- Technical Writing Manager at Forge Biologics
- Director of Editorial at Scripps National Spelling Bee
- Development Manager at Urban Sustainability Directors Network
- Grants Management Analyst for the City of Columbus
- User Experience Writer at NetJets
- Senior Copywriter at Root Insurance
- Manager of Volunteer Engagement at United Way of Central Ohio
Support Resources
And we support our students as they transition from the academic world to the professional world. We offer:
- You can always schedule an appointment with your academic advisor, Jameson Gower or Rachael Speck, by emailing english@osu.edu. Our advisors are experts at helping you not only figure out what classes you need and want to take, but also how those classes will fit into your overall plan for your time at Ohio State and beyond.
- Undergraduate Studies Program Manager Elizabeth Falter sends out a career newsletter to English majors every week during autumn and spring semester, which includes highlighted job postings, career exploration and preparation tips, and highlighted career-related events. She also offers one-on-one career advising, which can be scheduled by emailing english@osu.edu.
- Many of our students complete internships during their time at Ohio State while also receiving credit through English 5191, an asynchronous internship course. Check out our internships page for more information about where English students have interned, and how you can receive credit for 5191.
- The Minor in Professional Writing includes placement in a capstone internship and enrollment in English 4189. Students work with the Program Coordinator to be placed in a credited internship that meets their individual interests and goals. Student-interns in English 4189 recieve support from both their teacher and their peers in the minor while completing their capstone internship.
The College of Arts and Sciences also offers career resources through ASC Career Success, which has guides and tip sheets, drop-in career advising through Career Studio, and individual career coaching appointments. The Office of Student Life Buckeye Careers also has individual coaching, as well as resources for career exploration and preparation!
What should I be doing at this point to prepare for my career?
Getting Started
Explore the student organizations at Ohio State, and think about joining one or two that are of interest to you! It can be especially useful to think about organizations that might have leadership opportunities in years to come.
Start building your Handshake Profile.
Schedule an initial career exploration appointment with Undergrad Studies Program Manager Elizabeth Falter by emailing english@osu.edu.
Read the Career Roundup every Tuesday.
Attend an English department career event.
Use the PebblePad course reflection and assignment reflection templates to start keeping records of how your classes are helping you develop career readiness skills and competencies. You can check out the English sample portfolio for ideas on how to do this.
Bookmark the English job board.
Gaining Professional Experience and Growing your Resume
Take a career class with ASC Career Success.
Explore leadership opportunities in your student organization. This might be running for an executive board, joining a committee, planning an event, etc.
Apply for professional opportunities outside of your classes. Internships are the gold standard of career preparation, and distinguish candidates on post-college job applications, and an internship is valuable even if it’s not in the exact field you imagine entering after graduation.
- If you’re not able to pursue an internship, make sure to pursue other extracurricular professional opportunities, like leadership in student organizations, part-time work, or volunteering.
Build your network by reaching out to alumni for informational interviews! You can connect with alumni via LinkedIn, AlumniFire, or by talking with your academic advisor or Elizabeth Falter to find alumni in fields of interest to you.
Keep using the PebblePad course reflection and assignment reflection templates.
Attend one or more career fairs; make sure to prepare by meeting with Elizabeth Falter or an ASC Career Coach, and/or reviewing ASC’s Career Fair information
Transitioning to Your Next Steps
Actively research and apply for what you’d like to do post-college, whether that’s a job or graduate/professional school.
Attend one or more career fairs, making sure to prepare beforehand.
Update your Handshake and LinkedIn profiles.
Review the PebblePad reflections you’ve completed, and make sure to add relevant coursework or projects to your resume. Visit the English sample portfolio for ideas on how to do this.
Prepare 2-3 STAR stories to use in interviews; consider scheduling a mock interview with Career Success.