As the global economy becomes more and more tech-based, many English majors and other humanities graduates are wondering: how can I get ahead with my unique skills? Industries like journalism, teaching, and copywriting aren’t paying what they used to, and you may be wondering what other opportunities are out there.
For those who want to be in the heart of a tech company’s development process, content design and UX writing are growing fields with a lot of opportunities for English majors to increase their earning potential and have a meaningful, lucrative career.
Before making a career change, it’s important to recognize the skills you’re coming with so that you can feel confident presenting yourself to a potential employer. English degrees are the #1 degree mentioned in job postings for UX writers and content designers, so you can be sure that employers will understand the value of your education.
English is an option for a humanities degree with a lot of flexibility, so the curriculum can vary a lot. Each student can choose to focus on a different topic throughout their studies, building on the foundation of excellent reading and writing skills.
For example, while some English majors might choose to take classes primarily focusing on literature including poetry, creative writing, and theater, others may dive deeper into non-fiction or cultural studies. The common thread throughout all English degrees is the development of strong research, writing, organization, and critical thinking skills.
A graduate degree in English can further develop these skills and generally requires writing a longer thesis based on research done throughout the program. Whichever focus or type of program you chose to study, an English degree provides a strong foundation for a variety of vocations, including UX writing and content design.
As an English major, we already know that you have a knack for words, and as a UX writer you get to take your skills and apply them to the challenging and impactful work of writing for digital products.
You’ll get to collaborate with a team to ensure that the voice and tone of the brand comes through the entire product. You’ll get to edit and refine text to ensure clarity and ease of use. You’ll get to make an impact on the structure of the product design. In short, working as a UX writer or content designer is a great way for English majors to apply their skills in a lucrative and dynamic high-tech role, where you get to make a real impact in a company.
