English Alumni Stories
51 results found
Read widely. Explore the world. Be open to other people and experiences, and also hold your sacred experiences and people close.
"Practicing law is about reading and writing, analyzing texts, and creating. It's an ideal path for someone who loved the analytical and creative sides of an English degree."
"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."
"BYU's English department pushed me as a writer, which means it pushed me as a thinker, because those two go hand in hand."
"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."
"Strong writing is in serious demand in most companies. It goes far beyond writing-specific roles like those of copywriters or PR specialists."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"Being able to read, think critically, write, and edit are the keystones to any successful position."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"My English degree taught me to read critically and write honestly—as a graduate student I feel that I’m still developing skills to apply in my career."
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.
"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."
"Communication—specifically written communication—is super important, especially in reading and understanding law documents."
"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."
"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!"
"It still surprises me how much learning to interpret text helps me to analyze symptoms, and make diagnoses."
"With an English degree, you really can do anything. Don’t apologize for having an English degree—play up the benefits!"
"My English degree helped me fall in love with people and their stories. English for me was all about learning what others can experience or imagine."
"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."
"Being able to communicate efficiently and clearly with people who are busy with their own tasks helps me a lot. Another huge part is being able to tell a story or at least recognize what is important in a story."
"As an English major, I loved being able to see the different perspectives that you can find and how a story can be told in so many ways. I’m very grateful that I learned that as it has helped me keep an open mind and be able to work well with people of various backgrounds."
"[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."
"Good writers and editors are needed in almost every industry, so find yours and make a place for yourself."
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.