7 most lucrative careers for English Graduates
Literature, particularly, English literature, is a very popular subject today, among undergraduate students in India. A bachelor’s degree in English is highly sought after, and, you must clear a competitive entrance exam to get through to most prestigious undergraduate colleges. Unlike its counterparts in the science or commerce streams, literature offers its students more liberty to explore a variety of themes and nurture their own creativity and imagination.
In India, a typical English literature course would last 3 years, at the end of which you are awarded a Bachelors degree in English Honours. During the course of these 3 years, you would read and analyze a variety of texts ranging from different historical periods, learn about different literary movements and trends in writing. However, the reading of literature is not just limited to a bland reading of the texts itself. A detailed scrutiny of the texts also enriches the reader’s knowledge about the historical, political and social scenario and aspects surrounding the same. Today, the studying of literature is not just limited to reading classical texts of yore, but entails the inclusion of topics as diverse as Shakespeare’s sonnets to the Harry Potter books.
01. Careers in academics
For a literature graduate in India, a career in academics or teaching is an “obvious” career option. This includes teaching both at a primary/secondary school level, as well as teaching as lecturers or professors in colleges and universities. If you like teaching younger students and are interested in teaching at the school level, you must acquire a B.Ed degree as well, but a bachelor’s degree in literature is a good place to start. If you are looking for career options as a lecturer or college professor you must also aim at acquiring a post graduate degree and clearing the National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), which would make you highly eligible for a well paid career as an assistant or senior professor in any university in the country.
02. Careers in research
A bachelor’s degree in English literature is a stepping stone to a career in research on topics of your choice. Many undergraduate students go on to pursue their masters, MPhil degrees and finally their PhD degrees in literature. And since, many universities intertwine research and teaching to a great extent, many students work as research scholars and lecturers while simultaneously pursuing their PhD degrees as well.
03. Careers in media and journalism
An English honours degree can help you develop your command over the English language as well as boost communication skills, all qualities that will assist you for a lucrative career in both print and digital media. Literature graduates are often sought after for their superior writing and communication skills by newspapers and magazines to work as editors and content developers. A thorough knowledge of the English language and good spoken English skills can land you a challenging job in radio and television channels as well. Moreover, with most media houses and news channels hosting their respective websites, the demand for graduates with excellent communication skills in definitely on the rise.
04. Careers in publishing
Another interesting option for literature graduates lies in the publishing industry. Publishing houses are always on the lookout for fresh graduates who can help develop content, work as editors and proofreaders for their content before it goes into print. Today the publishing industry is expanding fast especially with the introduction and popularity of e-books, e-readers, digital libraries and online magazines, thus creating a whole new space for freshers with a comprehensible knowledge of the English language, creativity and good time management skills.
05. Careers in advertising and public relations
Advertising agencies often rely on English graduates to work as copy writers at an entry level. If you possess creative and artistic qualities, along with good language skills and looking to work in a dynamic, challenging environment, you would excel in this industry.
06. Careers in civil services
The civil service examinations in India is a 3 part examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) that includes the preliminary test, the mains and the personal interview. The candidates appearing for the Mains are required to select an optional subject on which they would be tested, and English literature is a popular optional subject. Those students who have a detailed knowledge of the subject and a flair for writing can score high marks in these examinations, and if selected, can acquire prestigious positions as officers in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) among others. Equivalent examinations and positions are conducted by individual states in the country as well.
07. Careers in social media and blogging
Social media plays an important role in our lives today, with many of us and particularly the youth, spending a considerable amount of time engaging on either Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other popular social media websites. Politicians, celebrities, housewives, teenagers – all use social media for interaction, communication and entertainment among other things. For this reason, several firms have started hiring people to manage and handle their social media accounts, and this is where the role of English graduates again comes into play. Superior communication skills, interest in current events and trends and an internet savvy disposition can help you find a career in this sector that is fast becoming the next big thing. One may work as a blogger too, which would allow you the creative freedom to express yourself on a variety of topics while earning a considerable amount of money through advertisements or by lending your content to other firms/websites. Blogs on fashion, photography, travel and food have mushroomed all over the internet and their owners generate revenue depending on the popularity or traffic attracted by their blogs.
As literature belongs to a liberal arts discipline, many English graduates have branched out into other diverse career paths after their undergraduate courses. Several English graduates in the country now work as lawyers, actors, entrepreneurs and civil servants. And some others have opted the most obvious and lucrative option of all – writing and publishing a book of their own. So a degree in literature not just offers deep insights into life and society but can also lead to a range of profitable and satisfying career options for those interested. If you have any queries regarding selecting a career path as an English student, do send us an email at hr@joblagao.com . You can also leave a comment and let the joblagao family help you with answers.
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