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Careers & Internships


The English Department is committed to preparing our students  for professional success. This page includes career resources available to all English majors and minors. 

There are many career paths for English majors! English majors are found in a wide range of fields including law, medicine, publishing, advertising, education, nonprofit management, public relations, government, and more.

What You Can Do With an English Major

With their versatile skills grounded in sharp writing and clear-eyed analysis, English majors and minors go into a variety of careers after they graduate. A degree in English offers a broad set of career options, including fulfilling work in fields such as education, management, business operations, media, finance, law, arts, entertainment, sales, sports, and health care, among others. Career services offers current listings of jobs and internships in arts, media, and communications. Click on the chart below to learn more.

Upcoming Events

Our department regularly hosts events geared towards professional development for our majors and minors. Below are a list of upcoming events hosted by either the department or the university to help you prepare for your professional development. 

Spring 2024

  • March 5th: Education, Non-Profit, and Social Service Fair
    • Are you looking for a full-time job, part-time job, or internship in social services, non-profits, counseling, social work, or mental health? Attend UTK’s Education, Non-Profit, and Social Service Fair on March 5th to meet employers including the McNabb Center, the Emerald Youth Foundation, YMCA, and more.
  • March 6th: Quick Career Coaching: Cover Letter 101
    • Stop by this 15 minute mini-workshop to learn the basics of a cover letter.
  • March 6th: Sustainability Lunch and Learn
    • Join Career Services to learn about a career path in the sustainability industry. Hear from our special guest on their career journey and ask them questions. Free Lunch will be provided so registration is recommended.
  • March 6th: Master Your Grad School Apps with Strengths
    • Preparing for the next step in your higher education journey? Join representatives from The Graduate School and Jones Center for Leadership and Service to learn tips and tricks to master your graduate school applications while leaning into your Strengths. As a bonus, unlock your Full 34 CliftonStrengths report free of charge when you participate!
  • March 7th: English Majors in Medicine Roundtable
    • Join University of Tennessee English alumni Carolyn Thompson and Nicole Matis for a roundtable discussion on how their English degrees helped them in their future careers in medicine. This online discussion will take place on Thursday, March 7th from 5:00-5:30 PM EST on Zoom.
  • March 18-27: Pre-Health Prep Week
    • Every Spring the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration and The College of Arts and Sciences Advising Services team up to put on a series of events for students at UTK who are interested in the health professions. Please take note of each event as some require registration and have limited capacity.
  • April 4th: English Majors in Journalism Roundtable
    • Join recent alumni for a roundtable discussion on how their English degrees helped them in their future careers in journalism. This online discussion will take place on Thursday, April 4th from 5:00-5:30 PM EST on Zoom.

Find a full list of events offered by Career Services on their website.

You can find past career workshops and interviews on our YouTube channel.

Handshake

Handshake connects UT students to professional opportunities including part-time jobs, internships, and full-time positions. It’s easy to navigate with personalized feeds and custom recommendations based on major and career interests.

Handshake is free for students and alumni and offers access to more than 500,000 employers. More than 800 colleges and universities use Handshake, so you can connect with a wide national network of employers.

Create a profile to make appointments with career coaches and to search for career-related panels, workshops, job fairs, and other recruiting events. Visit the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration, call 865-974-5435, or email career@utk.edu for help.

During the Fall and Spring semesters, English majors receive a bi-weekly newsletter tailored to the career interests of Humanities and Social Science from the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration. It includes information about upcoming career events, featured resources, and internship/job postings.

Mentorship Program

The English Department is excited to offer an alumni mentorship program for our students. Students interested in working with an alumni in their field can reach out to Dr. Erin Elizabeth Smith at esmith83@utk.edu.

Looking to Hire an English Major?

UTK English majors are intelligent, compassionate, and creative people who are excellent problem-solvers and communicators. English majors are not only accomplished writers, but also innovative thinkers and thorough researchers. Their skills can be brought into the corporate and nonprofit worlds in numerous ways including digital marketing, social media management, content creation, fundraising, grant writing, technical writing, event coordination, corporate education, and more.

If your business or nonprofit is looking for people to join your team, you can let our students know about your current openings or email our Director of Career Development, Dr. Erin Elizabeth Smith, at esmith83@utk.edu to discuss ways that the department can help support possible future internships.