There are many misconceptions that come with being an English major. No – we don’t live in the library amongst stacks of old books, feeding off Shakespeare. No – we have not read all the “classics.” No – we do not always use perfect grammar and spelling, and we definitely do not know the definition of every word in the dictionary. 

The most common misconception is that the skills learned in the English major, however, do not translate into the necessary skills required in today’s economy. Many people seem to think that in the digital age of 2020 there is a sea of job opportunities in finance and STEM with little room for English majors.

When I tell my friends or family members that I plan to major in English, the question I often receive in response is, “So what do you want to do with that?” The truth is I have so many options to choose from that I don’t really know.

The open-ended nature of this question speaks to the fact that there is no clear, definitive career path for the typical English major to dive into right after college. The broad skills of comprehensive reading, writing, and analysis taught in English classes end up applying to a variety of fields.

A 2018 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers reported the three key characteristics in college graduates that employers considered most desirable: communication, problem solving, and ability to work in a team.

These three characteristics are in fact the backbone of the English major. Through passionate discussions and carefully curated essays, English students perfect their written and verbal communication skills to become experts in the workforce.Employers are seeking critical thinkers who can jump in and solve the problem, just as English students fearlessly tackle dense literary passages and analyze the intent behind each word.

The English major even teaches students to work in a team. Though that might seem contradictory, considering reading a book and writing an essay are not collaborative processes. However, discussion is. English classes are filled with vibrant discussions in which students bounce ideas off one another and offer various opinions, just as a group of co-workers might in a meeting. 

Dear all English majors: The skills you learn from the English degree will set you up for success in a wide range of fields. You have the chance to become an author, go into law, journalism, publishing, and so much more. You can also go after a career in finance or a STEM related position. If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, manager, or an employee at any company in any field, you will need to know how to write effectively for business. 

I am not suggesting students should avoid majoring in STEM and I am not trying to convince you to major in English either. As someone who is progressing towards an English major, I don’t feel limited and am excited for all the possibilities in my future. Though sometimes I am intimidated by the options and don’t know what my life will look like after college, this flexibility has allowed me to try new things. Avoid the misconceptions that the skills learned in the English major do not apply to “the real world.” Go after what you love and don’t hold back. 

If you liked this article, check out our podcast episodes: Elaine Pofeldt – Build Your 1 Person Million Dollar Business and Bejay Mulenga – An Entrepreneur at 14