What types of entry-level jobs are typically available to majors in American Literature or English?
What types of internships are typically secured by American Literature or English majors?
What are American Literature and English majors doing now?
What sort of graduate study have majors in American Literature and English pursued?
How can you learn more about careers that might interest you?
The beauty of a liberal arts education is that it challenges students to develop a wide range of universally applicable and life-enriching skills, so your major is less representative of your abilities than it is of your interests. In other words, you can do just about anything with any degree. The following entry-level jobs are typical of those that majors in American Literature or English pursue because jobs like these make use not only of the broad liberal-arts skill set, but also of the interests cultivated in the American Literature and English curricula.
The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA: Features Reporter
The Roanoke Times seeks a reporter who's plugged in to pop culture and likes trolling for trend stories in every corner of the universe, whether it's reality TV, the buzzworthy online or what's happening at the mall. (from JournalismJobs.com)Randolph Senior High School, Randolph, VT: English Teacher
Grades 9-12 senior high school English position with a 7-12 department of 6 FTE teachers. This is a full time high school position, with classes adjusted yearly according to enrollment. (Schoolspring.com)Random House, Inc., New York, NY: Publicity Assistant
The Alfred A Knopf Publicity Department seeks a Publicity Assistant to join its team. Responsibilities consist of both administrative and project work. Special projects include helping to implement book publicity campaigns, preparing mailings to reviewers, helping to coordinate authors' tour schedules and maintaining databases. Duties may grow to include creating and writing materials such as press releases and press kits. (bookjobs.com)Warner Faith, Nashville, TN: Editorial Assistant
The Editorial Assistant provides editorial and administrative support to the editorial staff of this renowned publisher of Christian and spiritual fiction, self-help and non-fiction books, targeted to a broad Christian audience. Responsibilities include: reading and reporting on manuscripts; writing flap, catalog and promotional copy and preparing fact sheets; coordinating meetings and events, including Sales Conference, Christian Booksellers Association and other Trade Shows and performing administrative duties, including: photocopying, sorting mail; preparing packages for shipment; filing, directing/responding to phone calls, etc. (bookjobs.com)First for Women, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Assistant Editor
FIRST FOR WOMEN magazine seeks assistant editor responsible for generating ideas, interviewing sources and writing and editing copy for the health, wellness and nutrition departments. Ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree and magazine editing experience. Must be detail-oriented and able to work well under deadlines. (mediabistro.com)The Week Magazine, New York, NY: Copy Editor
The Week is a spirited newsweekly that distills the best of the news, opinion, and ideas from the United States and international media. It's smart, incisive, and wry.
The Week magazine is seeking an enthusiastic Copy Editor to join its team.
Candidate should have an impeccable command of grammar, punctuation, and spelling; the ability of to spot inconsistencies and factual errors, and experience in working under tight deadline pressure. Some news background preferred. Salary is commensurate with experience. (mediabistro.com)
What types of internships are typically secured by American Literature or English majors?
The following is a very short list of the types of internships typically pursued by majors in American Literature or English:
Time Inc. - Interns perform the duties of reporter/researcher on the staff of one of their magazines: Entertainment Weekly, Fortune, Money, Sports Illustrated, Time.Detroit Free Press- Interns work side-by-side with professional journalists, taking progressively more ambitious assignments while being supported by editors and professional partners.The Spizman Agency -Interns will participate in all aspects of the public relations business including research, writing, pitching media, event planning, and occasional administrative duties. The agency services clients in healthcare, publishing, retail, corporate, and entertainment.HarperCollins Publishers – Rotate through various departments, learning many aspects of the publishing process, from manuscript to bound book. Have lunch with the best in bookmaking. Develop a book concept and pitch it to a panel of executives.The America China Teaching Center – Summer English teachers will be expected to teach 30 hours a week, and in return receive roundtrip airfare, room and board, a week of touring in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities throughout China. College credit can be arranged.
What are American Literature and English majors doing now?
Here are the job titles and employers of a few Middlebury alumni who majored in American Literature or English. If you'd like to speak with an alumnus or alumna about his or her career, or ask for advice about your own, then search MiddNet for an alumni career advisor today!
Partner, Northstar Capital Partners, New York, NY
(American Literature)Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA
(American Literature)Event Marketing Specialist, Stanwood and Partners, Jackson, WY
(American Literature)Attorney, Wharton Aldhizer and Weaver, Harrisonburg, VA
(American Literature; M.A., Hunter College; J.D., U. of Louisville)Executive Editor, Macmillan/McGraw Hill, New York, NY
(American Literature; M.A., U. of Montana; M.F.A., U. of Iowa)Architect, Han/Archibald Designs, Lake Forest, IL
(English)Editor, Bloomsbury Children's Books, New York, NY
(English)Freelance Television Producer, Toronto, ON
(English)Commissioner, City of New York Parks & Recreation Department
(English)Communications Manager, Pfizer, New York, NY
(English)Paintings Conservator, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
(English)
What sort of graduate study have majors in American Literature and English pursued?
Listed below are some of the graduate schools attended, and degrees attained, by Middlebury alumni who majored in American Literature or English:
Northeastern University: M.B.A. (American Literature)Smith College School of Social Work: M.S.W. (American Literature)New York University: M.D. (American Literature)Emory University: R.R.A. (American Literature)University of Maryland: M.L.S. (American Literature)Yale University: M. Div (American Literature)University of Iowa: M.F.A. (English)University of Arizona: J.D. (English)Harvard University: D.M.D. (English)
How can you learn more about careers that might interest you?
Read a book. The following books, available for perusal in the CSO Library, may be of particular interest to American Literature and American Civilization majors:
100 Jobs in Words, Scott A. MeyerCareers in Marketing, Lila B. Stair and Leslie StairHow to Succeed in Advertising When All You Have is Talent, Laurence Minsky and Emily Thornton CalvoCareers for Bookworms and Other Literary Types, Marjorie Ebarts and Margaret GislerGreat Jobs for English Majors, Julie DaGalan and Stephen Lambert
Use the Web. The following Web sites may be useful:
"What Can I Do with this Degree?" PDF guide from the University of Tennesee, KnoxvilleMonster's Major to Career ConverterCSO's Virtual Career LibraryFerguson's Career Research Center (accessible through the CSO Password Page)
More Resources and Services
Stop by CSO for a Drop-In, or call to make an appointment with a counselor to talk about contacting alumni, assessing your career interests/preferences, and other actions you can take to prepare yourself for the transition from Middlebury to the professional world.