17 Unbelievable Things You Can do with Your English Degree ...

I have an English degree. Let me give everyone a moment to giggle. Done? Awesome! I get that reaction a lot, but here's the thing – although people like to “joke” that English degrees are worthless, that's actually a short-sighted, rather ignorant point-of-view. There's a world of opportunity waiting for you when you graduate with an English degree, so it's by no means a waste of education. It's not for everyone, that's true, but there's so much potential for a truly epic career. And, yeah, okay. There's room for lots of jokes, as well.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

You Can Frame It

You worked hard for it, after all, so why not stick it in a frame and display it for all to see?

Or Use It to Patch up a Hole in Your Wallpaper

Intenze, person, hairstyle, moustache, EHEHEHEHEHE, Nah, I'm being tongue-in-cheek – there's no way that my English degree is currently patching the wall.

Frequently asked questions

Correct Everyone's Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation Online Because People Love That

person, profession, musician, pianist, KDAMMAFRICAWHAT, I'm lying because people actually do not like that at all.

You Can Obsessively Pick out Every Typo in Every Book You Read

player, speech, And, the, way,, I think this is more of a personality quirk, tbh – I may or may not need help.

Or Become a Bomb-ass Editor

person, profession, religion, Look,, there's, Seriously, though, if you find joy in discovering grammar mistakes in books, blogs, closed captioning, or online, you can absolutely parlay that into an amazing career as an editor.

Think about a Career in Publishing, Too

person, blond, didn't, come, here, Most English and literature majors love to read and that love, combined with a flair for editing, is ideal for the publishing industry, whether you start out wading through the slush pile or working as a proofreader.

You Can Start Your Own Blog, of Course

person, profession, You don't need an English degree to start a blog, naturally, but it definitely doesn't hurt.

Or Try Your Hand at Journalism

film, Shit, just, got, real., Although a journalism degree is sometimes a better bet for print newspapers, there are scads of online magazines, newspapers, and blogs that are happy to have an English graduate.

Make up Your Own Words

person, profession, going, type, every, Okay, so you don't really have any authority to do this, except you do – so have fun.

You Can Get Just about Any Freelancer Job You like

person, I'm, gonna, with, this., Assuming that you're a good writer and/or have an excellent tone, of course, you'll find that you have a competitive edge in the world of freelance writing.

Teaching is Definitely an Option

person, profession, glasses, writing, FELCIEInFRnGIRLLRnD, In general, you'll need more than a BA to be a teacher, but there are certain schools, certain jobs, and certain positions available to you, or you may choose to go back to school.

Tutoring is a Top Choice for Many English Grads

person, profession, gentleman, Boring, Studying, Even if you only do it part-time, you're more than qualified to tutor students in English, literature, grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, tone, composition … the list goes on and on, pretty much.

Or Take It up a Notch and Help with SAT Prep

person, DOESTANYBODYKNOW, HOW, STUDY?, High school students who are preparing for their PSATs, SATs, and ACTs will be ever so grateful for your expertise – as will their parents.

Write to Your Heart's Content

black, person, white, black and white, human action, You also don't need a degree to write, but an English degree and a love of writing do put you in the perfect position to become a writer, whether you enjoy writing poems, essays, non-fiction, or novels.

Get Made Fun of by Everyone

performance, performing arts, art, entertainment, classical music, Not that you should ever care, but read any comment section on any article about students, millennials, politics, the workplace, or Justin Bieber's latest hit, and you'll see some crotchety old butt trumpet making fun of liberal arts students with an English degree.

An English Degree is a Stellar Basis for a Career in Law or Government

person, profession, writing, This, good, English students often do well in law school, public speaking, public relations, and political science, although you may need to go back to school to achieve some of these goals.

Give Back by Teaching English as a Second Language

person, profession, album cover, gentleman, JHASKJHNUYIUYHAKJH, This is always needed, and it's so fulfilling.

I loved getting my English degree. I adored every class I ever took, and I'm in no way ashamed of or disappointed in my chosen path. All kidding aside, English majors are not worthless, and neither are their degrees – but if you have one, or choose to go after one, it definitely doesn't hurt to be self-deprecating. Don't you agree?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

I became a grammar nazi. I also taught English as well as doing editing.

Categories