Careers for English Majors

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

• Get Career Support from an English Faculty Member
• See What Our Alumni Have Done with Their English Degrees
• Building a Successful Resume and Cover Letter
• Internships and Part-Time Jobs
• What You Can Do with an English Major
• Career Fairs and Graduate School Workshops
• Sign Up for Handshake
• Mentorship Program with UT English Alumni
• Looking to Hire an English major?

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. 

Fall 2023

• Law School Fair – October 2nd from 10 AM- 2PM, Student Union Ballroom *hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences
• Graduate School 101: Graduate School Admissions – October 3rd from 4-5 PM, On Zoom
• Personal Statement Basics – October 4th from 4-5 PM, Student Union 360
• Applying for MFA Programs in Creative Writing – October 11th from 5-6PM in Mary Greer Room
• Health Professions Fair – October 17th from 10 AM -2 PM, Student Union Ballroom *hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences
• Graduate School and Funding – October 23rd from 5:00-6:00 PM, Hodges Library 128, Register Here
• Getting to Know the New GRE Test – October 24th from 4:00-5:30 PM, On Zoom

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

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 by emailing our Director of Career Development, Dr. Erin Elizabeth Smith, at esmith83@utk.edu.