3 of the Best Jobs for English Majors

By Emily Numa
Mar 22, 2023
3 min read

The knowledge you gain by pursuing an English degree is valuable, no matter what career you choose. English majors develop a variety of marketable skills through their studies – such as writing, research, and critical thinking.

If you studied English or are thinking about it, consider a career in proofreading, editing, or copywriting. These options are ideal because:

1. The skills you learn will help you excel.

2. You can specialize in an area you particularly enjoy.

3. They offer rewarding career paths.

4. Freelance work provides flexibility.

5. Knowadays courses can enhance your existing knowledge.

Keep reading to learn more about why proofreading, editing, and copywriting are three of the best jobs for English majors.

1. The Skills You Learn Will Help You Excel

What you learn as an English major will be incredibly valuable for any career related to language. Whether you’re writing or editing, it’s important to have a strong foundation in grammar, spelling, and punctuation skills – if you already have a firm grasp of the rules of English, you’ll have a head start in your new career.

In addition, most English majors develop strong research and computer skills, which are highly marketable abilities that will help you get ahead in the industry.

2. You Can Specialize in an Area You Particularly Enjoy

While proofreading, editing, and copywriting are all centered around language, there’s a lot of variability within each specific job. For example, you can choose to become an editor and specialize in a niche market, such as creative writing. Or you could become a copywriter and focus on writing about technology.

There’s a broad range of options within each career path, allowing you to pursue a profession related to your degree while focusing on what you enjoy.

3. They Offer Rewarding Career Paths

A career in the written word is rewarding for lots of reasons. As a proofreader or editor, you can use your skills to help authors publish their work and ensure their unique voice is heard. Or as a copywriter, you could help businesses succeed by getting the word out about their product or service in the most effective way. These career options also provide interesting, challenging, and varied work.

4. Freelance Work Provides Flexibility

If you choose to become a freelancer after completing your English major, you can work when and where you want – you could even travel the world while you work!

Freelancing gives you the flexibility to work around other commitments, meaning you can fit it around your busy schedule. For example, if you decide to pursue another degree, working as a freelance editor or copywriter could allow you to supplement your income while you study.

5. Knowadays Courses Can Enhance Your Existing Knowledge

You can never learn too much about the English language. So even if you majored in English, taking a Knowadays course is the perfect way to brush up on your skills and even learn something new.

And if you pass our Becoming A Proofreader course with a distinction score of at least 80%, you can kickstart your freelance career with guaranteed work with our partner company, Proofed. Sign up for a free trial and get started today!