What are the pros and cons of being an English major?

[Wildlush]

[NearlyNapping]

I'll try not to be quite so negative, but still negative. Yes there are jobs that you can get with an English degree. However they are limited and tend to have low pay. It can be used for any kind of writing, such as journalism, technical writing, speech writing, editor, teacher, etc.

There are also a lot of companies that require all managers to have a degree, but they don't specify what the degree has to be in.

What you should do is go to a local university and talk to people in the English department. They will not only know what types of jobs their graduates are getting, but it will be the local market. People on here would most likely only know their own local market, and probably not even that very well.

You can also combine an English degree as a dual major, or get a graduate degree. I suspect it does much better when combined with something else.

Companies always complain that employees don't know how to write. That doesn't mean they want an English major, but it can be a big plus when combined with something else. Larger companies can always use someone well versed in English to check things over. The last thing a company wants is some kind of official document, press release, marketing material, or whatever, that makes them sound like morons with a 3rd grade education.

So while the jobs are limited and won't pay as well as many other fields, I don't think it's entirely hopeless. Check with the local universities though.

[NedfromtheNed]

Well i would imagine its pretty hard for you to get up to that level but im sure if you give it your all you will climb the ranks pretty quickly.
The pay is pretty good and i've found that it can range from around $73720.84 to $88289.30 U. S. dollars. I would imagine the life couldnt be to hard, especially because i believe you get your expenses covered and it allows you to travel the world and meet many people.
Here is a website that will allow you to learn more about it:
https://www.army.mod.uk/home.aspx
www.army.mod.uk/.../Rates_of_Pay_Officer_2015.pdf

Do you see what i did there :P?

[BiscuitesSwag]

Pro is that you will be a walking dictionary with perfect grammar. And pretty much everything, as in getting a job, what to do with it, etc., are cons.

[Anonymous]

Well there's specific things you can do with it like others have said editors technical writers journalism etc. It's also nice for things like jobs that require a general degree as they'll like an English degree because they don't want people reading and writing like shit. Cons not a lot of the jobs are super high paying like other fields. I'm actually majoring in English but I plan on going to law school.

[meatballs21]

Pros: You'll be the most well spoken employee at McDonald's.

Cons: That will be your own career prospect.

[tony72722]

You can sound really smart and articulate yourself very well. Cons you pretty much have one job lined up after.. English Teacher.

[psychomonkey]

Pro: you get to correct everyone's English and grammar

Con: the only real jobs you are qualified for are government jobs

[RationalMale]

Whelp, you become good at writing and reading.

But what jobs does that really apply to? Teaching, journalism? Both those already have specific majors...

[niDaye]

it will be awesome if I am the only guy in class, surrounded by all these cuties

[Dred1614]

What are you going to do with that degree? That's your con. I can't think of any pros.

[Redstang88]

Pros: Good vocabulary
Cons: No jobs

[JSmuve]

Pros: none
Cons: everything