English Alumni Stories
24 results found
"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."
"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 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."
"[My English degree has] helped me a lot when it comes to my HR career; I can be very diplomatic due to a lot of the skills I learned as an English major."
"You will be surprised to discover how bad most people are at writing. It’s a skill you probably take for granted, but is actually very valuable and will be attractive to future employers."
"Throughout my studies in English, my professors continually prepared me for an unconventional career path, making it clear that the skills of analysis and communication that we were learning and practicing would come in handy, and they were right."
"Written and verbal communication are key skills to a successful career. Many people in the corporate world lack these two skills. Someone who can master these skills has a significant advantage over others."
"I have learned that writing is probably one of the most marketable skills there is. Businesses are always looking for good writers because, believe it or not, they are few and far between!"
"With an English degree, you really can do anything. Don’t apologize for having an English degree—play up the benefits!"
"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."
"Strong writing is in serious demand in most companies. It goes far beyond writing-specific roles like those of copywriters or PR specialists."
"Good writers and editors are needed in almost every industry, so find yours and make a place for yourself."
"Communication—specifically written communication—is super important, especially in reading and understanding law documents."
"So many people I work with are very logical thinkers, but they struggle to communicate the nuances of writing, rewriting, and editing."
"I use data to tell stories. This often requires looking outside the box, thinking critically about the subject matter at hand, and exercising a lot of creativity to shape points of data into a compelling narrative."
"This isn’t often mentioned, but writing is a HUGE part of social media. And you learn how to do it well as an English major."
"My experience as an English major taught me to be curious and teachable, always ready to learn more and change my mind if given new data."
"Being able to read, think critically, write, and edit are the keystones to any successful position."
"I never thought the way I was trained to write an essay would impact work. I can clearly articulate arguments and am open to different philosophies."
"Critical thinking is highly underrated but highly valuable; it enables you to work smarter, not harder, and understand problems in a unique way. It makes you valuable."
"An English degree doesn’t make you a different person. However, the study of literature and rhetoric does create a space to practice empathy, critical thinking, and kindness."
"More than anything, my critical thinking skills have set me apart from colleagues and made me successful. I feel like my English degree set me up well."