English Alumni Stories
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With English and writing, there are endless possibilities to combine different subjects that you are interested in.
What sets me apart from many of my colleagues is the habit of approaching legal documents not just as technical instruments but as pieces of communication. I aim to make contracts intelligible and purposeful, reducing unnecessary complexity so that clients and counterparties alike understand the rights and obligations at stake. This balance of precision and clarity--rooted in my English background--strengthens both advocacy and client trust.
My advice to current students would be: if there's a career that interests you, take your English degree skills into it. You will be welcomed, appreciated, and capable even if that career isn't one that automatically comes to mind for "English major." Don't arbitrarily narrow your field of options, because when they say "you can do almost anything with an English major," they're telling the truth! OR I use the skills from my major daily!
I'm currently earning an MBA. . . and [because of my English training] I have been leaps and bounds ahead of others when it comes to writing and presentation skills.
The reading and writing assignments are important and will teach you a lot. But the analysis, discussion, and interpretation skills we developed in classes have been so helpful in my work and life in general. Take advantage of and participate actively in those discussions.
Be open-minded about where your degree can take you. Above all else, and English degree helps you learn to think in ways that others don't or can't. Whatever you do next, use that to your advantage and don't underestimate the importance of that skill.
Communication has been absolutely vital in my career, and I really don’t think any program could have better prepared me for the communication that my job. . .required.
Don’t let anyone tell you your English degree is worthless. Getting my first job was hard, and honestly a lot of luck, but once I was in people were very quickly able to see that my critical thinking and logic made me very successful.
There are so many ways to apply your skills, and your career path can and will change. In the era of AI, job roles are changing so quickly. Your best advantage to finding and nurturing a meaningful career path is to be flexible and curious. Keep looking for new and exciting challenges.
There are so many career options with an English degree!
If I have been surprised at anything, it has been that I realize again and again over the years that English applies to this, that, and that too. . . [N]othing that is understood can be understood except by language. In such a world, English majors are formidable, for their subject is meaning itself.
Understanding the humanities and the various ways in which a text can be interpreted has helped me gain a motto of "What's the bigger picture?" Marketing is all about seeing the bigger picture.
Read widely. Explore the world. Be open to other people and experiences, and also hold your sacred experiences and people close.
I have gained many tools for communicating ideas clearly, which has helped me in teaching positions, writers' rooms, and as a wife and mom! Critical thinking and communication have been instrumental in every interpersonal relationship in my life.
Don't be afraid of jobs you're not totally qualified or comfortable with. I didn't know anything about digital marketing, but those skills I could learn. My soft skills of writing and storytelling are harder to pick up.
Going into a career that doesn't feel adjacent to my English major isn't a failure of the major— it is a major benefit.
It helped me transition to a career in tech, which I would have never assumed.
"It still surprises me how much learning to interpret text helps me to analyze symptoms, and make diagnoses."
"I think I have an advantage as a writer and speaker in the legal context because of my bachelor's degree and professional background in literature and creative writing."
"In the children’s publishing industry, I’m the whole package—I can write and illustrate. I had an easier time getting an agent because I can do both."
"BYU's English department pushed me as a writer, which means it pushed me as a thinker, because those two go hand in hand."
"A big part of my job is taking someone else's vision and hammering it down into something that makes sense for the brand and team, and breaking it down into actionable steps. The process is messy and takes some organizational skills and finesse, but the English major absolutely prepped me for this kind of work."
"There's not just one path for English majors. It's not just teaching or bust. So many businesses need good writers, they need you."
"It's actually pretty surprising to me how many people hate writing. I love writing. And I think a talent in writing sets you apart in tech."
"Part of my job is research, which is just "systematic inquiry." [It] brings me face to face with people, where I have to be insatiably curious: constantly challenging my assumptions, sensing ambiguities, asking questions that are framed in JUST the right way. This systematic inquiry and curiosity is fostered by the kind of work we do in an English degree, both in and out of class. And I'm really grateful for it."
"I also think the empathy, thoughtfulness, and critical thinking that studying literature cultivates have helped me excel at designing user-centered content and navigating the corporate world."
"I’d wished I’d known that it is okay to want to be a writer. It is a valid career choice, and can be even more so when it is paired with other concrete skillsets that one can gain at BYU. "
"Being able to work cross-functionally to communicate ideas and value in clear, concise, and inspirational ways has propelled me further than I ever realized it could."
"I took for granted the ability to write coherently and in an organized way. It's not a skill that most people have, and I feel like I was really able to hone that skill in my English classes."