Career Corner

BYU Connect featured a guest speaker, Engineering Career Director Tony Jewkes, who said that traditional face-to-face networking, which he termed "asking for a job," is now outdated. He advised shifting to "informational networking" instead, especially within competitive industries where online applications have become somewhat of a black hole or a spaghetti-on-the-wall scenario. 

So how does this type of networking work? It means holding what he called an "informational interview" with industry professionals--not taking the approach of "What can you do for me," but rather striking up a conversation about that professional's experience within the field. He recommended asking questions like: 

• "How did you get this job?"
• "What are the opportunities within this industry?"
• "What are the challenges?"
• "What is a typical day like for you?"
   

Jewkes pointed out that most people enjoy talking about themselves, and even if they aren't directly responsible for hiring, they can connect you more directly with those who are. Developing relationships with these professionals can be crucial in the most crowded job markets. He referenced one local company that hires 10-15 BYU engineering interns a year and usually receives 80-100 applications for those spots. This year, they received nearly 1000.

When it comes to careers in English, consider networking with BYU alumni in your chosen field. You'll find dozens of stories of alumni on our website, many of whom have made their email addresses available to undergraduates.

If no industry professional is available or this type of networking isn't an option, he recommended utilizing "less saturated" resources by doing the following:

• Join BYU Connect
• Follow BYU Humanities' LinkedIn account
• Join Handshake

Click here to watch the webinar replay now.

1. There are no jobs out there for English majors.

Despite its widespread nature, this misconception couldn't be more wrong. English majors have more career options than graduates from many other fields. According to MLA's 2024 report, English graduates especially excel in the following career fields:

• Business & Technology
• Creative Arts & Communication
• Education & Training
• Government & Law
• Human Services
  

One reason for this is the varied and layered nature of their acquired skills and competencies. Coffey's Degrees at Work report says that Humanities and English majors are "specialists in areas where most people have a more basic and general knowledge." For that reason, they're actively sought out by companies who understand the value of complex thinking, problem solving, and effective communication.

2. Jobs for English graduates don't pay well.

This is also a common myth, especially among those involved in STEM-related careers. The truth is that English graduates' salaries are comparable with those in other fields. MLA reports that English graduates commonly earn $76k-83k, which is similar to salaries reported from other grads, including business majors.

3. It's better to study something you don't enjoy if it means higher earning potential. 

Given the uncertainty of our economy, it's understandable that some students are concerned about the future--but MLA's salary data shows that there's no need to choose between what we love and a well-paying career. English graduates can enjoy both.

Unfortunately, job satisfaction is often forgotten when it comes to career preparation. It's interesting to note that 87% of Humanities majors in MLA's study said they were satisfied with their jobs, and that number jumped to 91% for those with graduate degrees. The Norton Survey of English alumni reported that 96% said they would choose English again.

In summary, MLA report says of English graduates, "They earn respectable salaries that are comparable with their peers in other majors. They are fulfilled in their work, having chosen to pursue a college major that helped them develop their core interests, strengths, ambitions, and values—a major that then connected them to meaningful professional careers."

Sherami Jara, an assistant dean of the BYU School of Humanities and the director of Liberal Arts Advisement and Careers, delivered a powerful devotional address in summer of 2025. She shared that she almost let fear keep her from attending BYU after high school. She faced self-doubt but ultimately chose to act in faith and move from California to Utah. Through this experience she learned that incredible experiences often lie on the other side of fear.

She reminded us that stepping into the unknown with faith often brings us face-to-face with difficult questions such as: “What if I’m wrong? What if God doesn’t show up?” She also explained that faith does not mean the absence of pain or fear. Instead, it means moving forward anyway, leaning on Christ’s promises, covenants and strength.

“God does care what you do with your life and your talents and how you use them to bless the world,” she said. “He will not forsake you. He will show up and lead you toward opportunities that allow you to learn and grow."

If your concern about your future comes from a place of worry about the economy, potential careers for English majors, or the strength of your portfolio, we encourage you to meet with your advisor at the LAAC so you feel more prepared for this exciting step in your life.

We recommend asking an advisor, since the answer to that question depends on your interests, goals, and aspirations. You can schedule a meeting here.

In the meantime, when making this decision, it's important to read through the description carefully and determine what you want to get out of your Study Abroad experience. Will the courses being taught give you valuable experience in your fields of interest? Will the places being visited and the material being studied be both interesting and helpful for your future?

Be sure to get acquainted with our department Study Abroad page that features programs led or co-led by English faculty, which you can find here.

If your studies involve literature or creative writing, consider applying for the Wordsworth Trust, a unique opportunity for four BYU undergraduates per year.

In a survey of 2000+ English majors conducted by W.W. Norton & Company, students reported that they were learning and experiencing the following:

• 25%: Expanded Worldview 
• 21%: Communication & Creativity
• 18%: Critical & Analytical Thinking
• 16%: Collaboration
• 15%: Exposure to Powerful Literature
• 15%: Personal & Professional Development
• 9%: Supportive Department Culture

Interestingly, some of these are also competencies or "core qualifications" listed by Indeed as most sought after by employers. Click here to view Indeed's 17 Core Competencies that you should consider including on a job application.

If you feel anxious about an off-campus future, you aren't alone. The prospect of entering a world without credit requirements, guidelines, and academic advisors may at times feel both exciting and daunting.

First, take comfort in knowing that the decision to advance your education and get a degree was the right one. At convocation, Scott Miller, Dean of the BYU Humanities, quoted Theodore Roosevelt in saying, “An uneducated man may steal from a train but, with a college education, he can steal the whole railroad.”

It's also important to remember that knowledge can help you prepare, and you'll already be armed with the resources and information you'll use to navigate your future. As an English major in particular, you'll also have a diverse and flexible skillset that may give you a distinct advantage over many of your fellow graduates.

"Within a couple of decades," Dean Miller continued, "you graduates may be doing some remarkable things with your degrees. You may, for example, be serving as US ambassadors, or performing brain surgery; publishing novels or 'entrepreneuring.' You may be serving as judges, running corporations, or teaching in various capacities, including in the home. You may be directing international charities, producing Hollywood films, or even founding startup companies that hire STEM graduates to work for you!"

Our students are often asked what they'll do with their English skills, and the possibilities may sometimes feel too vast for a clear answer. We loved Dean Miller's response. "The answer to the question of what you can do with your degrees is simple. Just about anything!”

To learn more about potential career paths, explore this Humanities Career guide or meet with a career advisor by visiting the Liberal Arts Advisement & Career Center in 1049 JFSB.

Now is a great time to make plans, especially as fall registration draws closer. You already know about benefits such as making friends, having fun, and possibly getting course credit. The biggest factor to consider, however, is the experience you'll gain.

Trina Harding and Frank Christianson often remind students that they are here for two reasons: 1) to fulfill a course of study, and 2) to fulfill a course of experience.

Many students don't realize how important that second reason is--especially in industries where both a diploma and experience are required. That's where involvement in student publications and clubs, even those requiring just a few hours a week, can make a big difference in elevating a graduate's portfolio.

So where should you start? Examine your interests, skills, career goals, and schedule to determine where to invest your time. If you aren't sure which skills you have to offer, the LAAC provides a free online self-evaluation worksheet and skills assessment.

When you're ready to research options, be sure to check out these helpful resources:

• Student Organizations
• Student Publications

Yes! According to the National Association of Colleges & Employers, 68% of entry-level positions still require a bachelor’s degree. This is likely because 75% of employers value these degrees very highly—and, as a result, their recipients. It’s projected that in 2025, there will be a 7.3% increase in demand for applicants with degrees.

The true test, however, is what graduates say. In a NACE poll of the class of 2023, 91% of graduates said their education was worth it and they would do it all over again. Over 85% of those students were employed or engaged in further education shortly after graduation. The statistics for BYU English graduates were similar—over 71% of polled students said they received at least one job offer before or shortly after graduation. Norton even reports that 96% of English graduates would choose to major in English all over again.

Handshake is a powerful listing platform for jobs and internships designed especially for students like you! These opportunities are posted by companies seeking applicants from BYU in your major and with your particular skill set, interests, and experience. Best of all, the listings are curated by the School of Humanities so you see what’s most applicable to you.

Handshake is completely free for BYU students and recent graduates, and creating an account only takes 5-10 minutes. The English Department strongly encourages every student, freshman through senior, to create an account and become familiar with the many varied and exciting careers available to English students upon graduation.

If someone tells you writing and teaching are your only options, “Run,” says BYU English alumna Ruth Yaritza Gordillo-Favela, an AI-Integrated Content Marketing Manager for Tomorrow.io. “I wish I would have known how my degree could be applicable outside of writing.”

“With an English degree, you really can do anything,” says Kiyomi Carbone, BYU English alumna and financial manager for a community bank. “Don’t apologize for having an English degree—play up the benefits!”

Read their stories at https://english.byu.edu/english-alumni-stories and discover BYU English graduates excelling in positions such as actor, comedian, marketing director, data quality analyst, video game narrative designer, family medicine doctor, attorney, product manager, church history archivist, human resources, podcast producer, operations manager, and yes—editor, teacher, and New York Times best-selling author.

“There sadly isn’t a career track [for English] in the same kind of way as mechanical engineers,” said Timothy Robinson, one of our English at Work panelists. “You have to be very assertive about your own skills and abilities.”

“A portfolio is essential, and you want to create that portfolio right now while you’re here at BYU,” said Alan Theurer, a panelist who has worked with Meta and Xbox. “The best part of a portfolio is that you can say, this is what it was and here’s how I made it impactful...Does your portfolio show mastery of the craft? Your craft is words, so that’s what you really want to focus on.”

Kristi Gilbert said she’d recently advised her daughter to find a company with a fantastic product but a terrible social media presence and volunteer to help them with their messaging, appearance, language, and overall branding. “Just offer to help companies [or] products that you like and then you can represent that on your résumé,” she said.

“You can branch out from any place that you’re at,” said Nick Scholz. “That includes an internship, an entry-level job, or just finding places where someone could use a lift or a little bit of help…I made friends with our marketing person because what they did sounded really fun and interesting, and I knew they had bandwidth limitations…So I said, ‘Is there anything I can do? Can I write a script?...Look at your network and don’t feel bashful asking, because you know a lot more people than you think you do who will go to bat for you because they care about your well-being and they love the skills that you have.’”

Timothy Robinson reminded that audience that companies are constantly seeking BYU students for internships and called them “a great way to jump in.” These internship opportunities can be viewed on the English Internship page, in the Scoop, or on Handshake. “Wherever you go, just start asking everybody, ‘How can I be helpful? What can I learn? What do I need to do?’ Curiosity really is your best friend.”

"You're not going to lose a job to AI, in my opinion," said Nick Scholz, one of our 2025 English at Work panelists with extensive technical writing experience. "You're going to lose a job to the person who knows how to use AI. It's just another tool...It's a hammer in a toolbox and some problems aren't nails."

"We are on the precipice of the next wave [of technology] with AI," said Kristi Gilbert, another panelist and former employee of Word Perfect, one of the original word processing tool companies. She said that she sees AI as an opportunity, not a threat. "People who are being hired now at these companies are English majors, and they are working on large language models and they're query designers and things like that. There is a lot of opportunity out there as this next wave of technology changes everything once again."

Timothy Robinson, another panelist, said, "AI is like prefab houses, so there are a lot of new systems to create, prefab walls and cinder blocks...but that doesn't mean we don't need architects and interior designers and all the people that are doing that important work...We still need people who can edit and communicate. The AI doesn't know what the relationships are between the words. It just has mathematical patterns so it's going to be read by other AI...The relationships are where you come in. What does this mean? What is the direction? What [needs] to be communicated?"

All the panelists said that they used AI in one way or another to help them craft their content--not to replace the writing skills they learned at BYU, but rather to inspire, enhance, and refine them.

"More companies are now realizing we need content designers," said Alan Theurer, who's worked with large companies such as Meta and Xbox. "We need people who really understand [the] language systems of words...Mostly we hire English and journalism majors because we're looking for people who really have a handle on language and voice and tone. AI is here to stay. Embrace AI. It's a tool and I use it every single day."

"These are human beings," said Nick Scholz, "and human beings need to be spoken to like human beings...Your involvement as human beings is checking the facts, understanding what the message should really be, and knowing the story you really want to tell, because human beings connect to stories. That is where your greatest value is going to be."

Are you task-oriented or people-oriented? Do you prefer a fast-paced work environment or take a more methodical, careful approach? Are you an innovative leader or do you prefer to receive a detailed task list from a manager?

Knowing the answers to questions like these can help you more effectively narrow your job search and find careers that will help you thrive. You'll waste less time pursuing jobs that aren't a good fit and enter the workforce more self-aware and able to quantify your interests and skills.

Essentially, the Clifton Strengths assessment is a proven way to discover what you naturally do best and learn how to develop your greatest talents into strengths--and best of all, those strengths can also be emphasized with a potential employer or on a résumé.

Here are a few things to know:

• The assessment takes about 45 minutes to complete and each question is timed so you will respond with your first instinct (which means you'll want to eliminate potential distractions or interruptions)
• The test normally costs $40, but the cost for BYU students is $13--so don't wait until after graduation! 
• Afterward, you'll receive a list of your top five strengths out of 34, which you can learn more about here 

A strong résumé can mean the difference between the job you want and an email rejection. Did you know that most employers only spend 7-10 seconds scanning a résumé? That means you have very little time to effectively communicate your skills, experience, and identity. Don't wait until after graduation to start crafting what could become the most impactful piece of paper you'll ever write.

Here are three tips from the Career Center:

• Structure your résumé correctly. Your name should be in a clearly visible font sized at least 2-4 points larger than the next largest text. Outline and organize your education, skills, and experience, but be sure to place the most important information in the top third of the page. If education is the majority of your experience, share your GPA, awards you've received, service you've performed, and any relevant clubs. You can also meet with an advisor at the LAAC to find other relevant life experience. To download a simple résumé template, click here. 

• Don't forget the hard skills. Rather than listing soft skills such as "fast learner," which can be difficult to prove or quantify, be specific about what you've learned and how quickly. If you aren't sure what your hard skills are, visit with an advisor to help you craft an impactful list or visit the LAAC's career readiness page to view your major's list of competencies. Use action verbs to instantly make the text stronger. 

• Get feedback. A résumé isn't a one-and-done document--it grows with you over a lifetime of changing experience and interests. Expect to rewrite, revise, and improve your document as you receive feedback. Test your résumé online, bring it to the Career Studio at 1134 WSC for review, or ask for in-person help from an advisor or trusted mentor.  

English+ is a requirement for every BYU English major* that takes what you're learning in the classroom and applies it in a real-world setting. You'll get to see the value of your English skills in a professional setting and learn better how to articulate those skills those outside the major.

Department-approved internships are one way to fulfill the English+ requirement. You can explore all the options for English+ on the E+ page. You can also make an appointment to visit with Trina Harding, the English+ and Internship Coordinator, to find the best E+ experiences for your circumstances and future goals. You don't have to wait until your senior year, as this can be done at any point in your studies.

Visit our Instagram to view our internship coordinator's video series.

*If you're an English Teaching major, you'll participate in student teaching or a teaching internship.