Many students and parents question the practical applications of an English major in today’s job market, particularly when considering technical careers. However, an English Major Is An Excellent Tool For Technical Career Preparation, providing a robust foundation of skills highly sought after in technology and other technical industries. The skills honed through the study of English, such as critical thinking, communication, and analytical abilities, are not only valuable but essential in navigating and excelling in technical fields.
First Year: Discovering the Technical Career Landscape for English Majors
Your first year is about exploration and understanding the diverse career paths available to English majors, including those in technical domains. Begin by evaluating your interests and strengths and actively discover how they align with technical career options.
- Exploring Technical Careers for English Majors: Don’t limit your career vision. Start researching technical roles that benefit from strong communication and analytical skills. Consider fields like technical writing, UX writing, content strategy, technical communication, project management in tech, and even roles in tech sales and marketing.
- Attend the Part-Time Job Festival (Fall): Look for part-time roles, even outside of your immediate field of study, to gain general professional experience. Any work experience helps build your resume and demonstrates responsibility.
- Career Workshops: Specifically seek out workshops that bridge the humanities and technology. Attend workshops focusing on transferable skills and how they apply to various industries, including the tech sector. The “Careers for the Common Good” workshop, for example, can broaden your perspective on how your English degree can contribute to technological advancements with a societal impact.
- Attend Research & Internship Day: Actively investigate internships and research opportunities pursued by English majors, paying close attention to those in interdisciplinary fields or tech-related areas. Learn how other English majors have successfully positioned themselves in technical internships through programs like the Summer Undergraduate Research Program.
- Attend Major/Minor Fair: While exploring minors, consider those that complement an English major for technical careers, such as Computer Science, Information Technology, or even Business. A strategic minor can enhance your technical profile.
- Join Eagle Connect: Network with alumni, especially those with English majors who have transitioned into technical careers. Their insights and experiences are invaluable for understanding career pathways.
- Order Business Cards from the Career Design Center: Networking is crucial. Having business cards, even as a first-year student, shows initiative. Include your major and class year and use them when networking at career events or meeting professionals in fields that interest you.
- Earn Good Grades & Find Mentors: Academic success is important, but so is engagement. Join clubs like the English Club to connect with peers and faculty. Contribute to publications like Jigsaw or Stylus to build a portfolio of your writing skills – essential for many technical roles requiring content creation. Seek out mentors within the English department who can guide you on academic and career paths.
Second Year: Sharpening Your Professional Toolkit for Technical Fields
Your second year should focus on developing a professional approach and acquiring tools and deeper insights into technical career options suitable for English majors.
Choosing a Technical Direction
- Attend Career Events (with a technical focus): Continue attending career events but now with a more targeted approach. At events like the Part-time Job Festival, Careers for the Common Good, and Jobs and Internships Fair, specifically look for companies in the technology sector. Inquire about roles that value communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills – strengths inherent in an English major.
- Informational Interviewing & Job Shadowing in Technical Roles: Conduct informational interviews with at least three individuals working in technical roles that intrigue you. Ask to job-shadow one of them to gain firsthand experience of a typical day in a technical environment. This direct exposure is invaluable for career clarity.
- Develop a Résumé & Have the Career Design Center Review It (Tailored for Technical Applications): Create a resume that highlights the skills gained through your English major that are transferable to technical roles. Emphasize communication, writing, research, and analytical skills. Have the Career Design Center review your resume, specifically asking for feedback on how to best position it for technical job applications.
- Volunteer with The Office of Community Development (Tech-Focused Initiatives): Look for volunteer opportunities through the Office of Community Development that involve technology or digital literacy. This demonstrates your commitment to applying your skills in practical, tech-related contexts.
- Take a Professional Writing or Career Preparation for English Majors Course (with a technical slant): Enroll in courses like Professional Writing or Career Preparation for English Majors, and actively steer your coursework towards technical communication and career paths. If possible, choose projects and assignments that align with technical writing or communication in technology.
- Round Out Your Experiences (with technical exposure):
- Study Abroad (Tech Hubs): If studying abroad, consider programs in locations known for their tech industry presence. Experiencing different cultures and tech environments broadens your perspective.
- Choose a Technical Minor: Select a minor that directly enhances your technical skills, making you a more competitive candidate in technical fields.
- Volunteer Service Award (Tech-Related Projects): Aim for a volunteer service award through the Office of Community Development by engaging in projects that involve technology and community service.
- Attend Scholars Day and Writers Forum Reading (Present Tech-Related Work): If possible, present work at Scholars Day and Writers Forum that touches upon technology, digital humanities, or the intersection of English and technology.
- Apply for Internships (Washington, DC, New York City, SURP – Tech Focused): When applying for internships like the Washington, DC internship semester, the New York City alumni trip, or the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), actively seek out opportunities within technology-focused organizations or projects.
- Apply for Scholarships (Highlighting Technical Career Goals): When applying for scholarships, articulate your career aspirations in technical fields and how your English major and related experiences make you a strong candidate for a technical career.
Third Year: Building a Technical Professional Profile
Your third year is critical for building a professional profile with demonstrable career credentials, internship experience, and relevant experiences that showcase your readiness for technical roles.
Developing Technical Credentials
- First or Second Internship (Ideally Technical): Secure your first or second internship, aiming for a role in a technical field. Internships provide invaluable practical experience and can significantly boost your resume.
- Continue to Attend Career Workshops (Focus on Technical Skills): Keep attending career workshops, but now prioritize those focusing on skills relevant to technical careers, such as digital marketing, project management software, data analysis basics, or UX principles.
- Get a Professional Photo (For LinkedIn and Technical Networking): Utilize opportunities like job fairs to get a professional photo taken. This is essential for creating a professional LinkedIn profile, which is crucial for networking in the tech industry.
- Take a Professional Writing or Career Preparation for English Majors Course (Advanced Technical Communication): Take advanced courses in Professional Writing or Career Preparation for English Majors, focusing on developing technical documentation, user manuals, API documentation, or other forms of technical communication.
- Leverage Your Coursework (Showcase Tech-Relevant Skills):
- Present at Scholars Day, NCUR or SURC (Tech-Focused Projects): Present your coursework or projects at events like Scholars Day, NCUR, or SURC, especially if they have a technical or digital humanities focus.
- Cultivate Mentor Relationships (Technical Field Mentors): Seek out mentors, not just within the English department, but also from other departments or alumni working in technical fields.
- Publish in the Stylus or Jigsaw (Digital or Tech-Themed Content): If possible, contribute to publications like Stylus or Jigsaw with content that explores digital themes, technology in literature, or other tech-related topics.
- Apply for Scholarships (Emphasize Technical Skill Development): When applying for scholarships, highlight any technical skills you are developing and how they complement your English major for a technical career.
- Research Grad Schools (Technical Communication or Related Fields): If graduate school is on your radar, research programs in Technical Communication, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Science, or related fields that build upon an English major for technical careers.
- Take Qualifying Exams (GRE or relevant exams): If grad school is a serious consideration, prepare for and take qualifying exams like the GRE.
- Gather Letters of Recommendation (From Faculty familiar with your technical interests): Request letters of recommendation from faculty who can speak to your abilities and potential for success in technical fields.
- Craft Personal Statement (Highlighting Technical Career Goals): Develop a compelling personal statement that clearly articulates your technical career goals and how your English major and experiences have prepared you for them. Review your statement with an advisor or the Career Design Center.
- Develop an “Elevator Pitch” (Focused on Technical Skills and Aspirations): Craft a concise and compelling elevator pitch that clearly articulates who you are, the technical skills you possess (even as an English major), and your aspirations in the technical field. Practice delivering this pitch confidently.
Fourth Year: Launching Your Technical Career
Your final year is all about preparation for launch! Polish your job application materials, refine your professional networking, and hone your interviewing skills, all geared towards securing a technical role.
Articulate & Target (Technical Roles)
- Complete a First or Second Internship or Do Student Teaching (Technical Internship Priority): Ideally, complete a final internship in a technical role. If student teaching is relevant to your career path (e.g., teaching digital literacy), ensure it is aligned with your broader technical career goals.
- Present at Research & Internship Day (Highlight Technical Internship Experiences): Present at Research & Internship Day, focusing on any technical internships or projects you have undertaken. Showcase the skills you gained and how they are relevant to technical careers.
- Continue Research for Grad Schools (Technical Programs): If pursuing graduate studies, finalize your research and applications to programs in Technical Communication or related technical fields.
- Re-take Qualifying Exams (If needed for target programs): If necessary, retake qualifying exams to improve your scores for your target graduate programs.
- Gather Letters of Recommendation (Tailored for Grad Programs): Ensure your letters of recommendation are tailored to the specific graduate programs you are applying to.
- Craft Personal Statement (Focused on Grad School and Technical Career Path): Refine your personal statement to be specifically targeted towards your chosen graduate programs and clearly link your academic background to your desired technical career path.
- Continue Attending Career Workshops (Advanced Interview Skills for Tech Roles): Attend career workshops focusing on advanced interview skills, specifically targeting the types of interviews common in the tech industry (e.g., behavioral questions, technical aptitude discussions – even for non-coding roles).
- Update, Scrub & Align All Your Social Media Accounts (Professional Tech Presence): Update and scrub your social media profiles to ensure a professional online presence. Align your LinkedIn profile and other relevant online profiles to reflect your technical career aspirations and skills.
- Visit the Career Design Center Express Desk (Résumé and Cover Letter Review for Tech Jobs): Utilize the Career Design Center Express Desk for final reviews of your resume and cover letters, specifically tailoring them for technical job applications. Send out your applications strategically, targeting roles that align with your skills and career goals.
- Take a Capstone Course (Tech-Related Project): If possible, choose a capstone project that is related to technology or digital communication. Also, consider taking Career Prep for English Majors or Professional Writing if these courses can further refine your job application and interview skills.
- Assemble an Interview Outfit (Professional and Appropriate for Tech Culture): Assemble a professional interview outfit that is appropriate for the culture of the tech companies you are targeting. While tech culture is often more casual, it’s always best to err on the side of professionalism for interviews. Utilize the Professional Clothes Closet in the Career Design Center if needed.
- Schedule a Mock Interview (Technical Interview Practice): Schedule a mock interview with the Career Design Center, specifically requesting a mock interview focused on technical roles. Practice answering common technical interview questions and articulate how your English major makes you a valuable asset in a technical environment.
