ENGLISH – IS IT FOR ME?
English is a common degree choice for many students, as it is a subject that allows them the freedom of expressing their thoughts and conveying them effectively. The skill of communicating ideas and concepts – by mouth or on paper, is quite a desired one for many employers. English is a subject that gifts you with many qualities that can be widely applied to several job sectors.
WHY A CAREER IN ENGLISH?
Graduates who pursue career paths in English are notably interested in language, different types of literature and most often, writing. Many of the jobs they decide to do are related to their subject at least on a small level. English gives you more than just writing skills however, it allows you the chance to think critically with both logic and open-mindedness, which is great for those looking to progress to careers such as law or politics as many English graduates do.
Academics
Teachers, as you may know, are people tasked with inspiring young children’s minds and helping them grow and learn. English graduates often take this path, as it is probably the most obvious route to take after completing an English degree. As a teacher, you’ll be responsible for the lesson plans and learning of children, ensuring that it is following the appropriate curriculum. Aside from that, you will have to do this by maintaining good relationships with students, keeping updated on learning resources and ensuring health and safety.
Other very important tasks you’ll have are helping children develop their social and developmental skills while keeping in mind their age and ability. Other duties you may have already guessed are also related to classroom activities, such as recording progress and guiding students to prepare for national exams. All in all, your role will be around children and helping them reach their maximum potential.
One thing to keep in mind is that there is more than one type of teacher, as working in education is a broad and varied career. For example, if being a teacher in school isn’t for you, you could work with older children or even adults. As a teacher, you could teach in colleges, universities or just one-to-one as a private tutor to someone learning English in another country, meaning that this can be a perfect role for international graduates who are interested in travelling.
Working in at a college or university has similar job responsibilities, like planning and preparing lessons, but there are significant differences in each role, as there are amongst all teaching careers. Remember that even with the same type of job, they’ll always be slight differences that make every job a unique experience.
Academic careers are very popular with many graduates with English degrees, and many of them find employment here than in other industries. Have a look below at how you can become each one of these positions and the salary along with it!
Ultimate Earning Potential Position in Career Associated Salary (UK) Entry Level School Teacher
To achieve qualified teacher status (QTS) as a primary school teacher in England, you must have completed a degree and initial teacher training (ITT). This degree can be an undergraduate degree in education, or if you don’t have this, then you can do a postgraduate instead. £25,714 – £36,961 College Teacher
College teachers teach older pupils, typically aged 16 and above. To teach in further education, you’ll have to have a teaching qualification, such as the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training – where you can officially work and choose a specific area to follow. As you gain experience and rise to management and leading positions, your ultimate salary can reach up to £90,000 a year. £24,702 – £90,000 University Lecturer
Teaching in higher education like at universities means that you can lecture students in academic subjects and teach vocational subjects too. As you can imagine, you’ll need to start off with a degree with a high pass in English or the subject you want to specialise in. You’ll also need to have a master’s or PhD and might be offered the opportunity to gain experience by undertaking teaching duties while you’re still studying. Beginning as a teaching assistant, you can progress to a senior lecturer or professor and earn salaries of over £90,000. £41,761 – £90,891 Private Tutor
If you’re unsure whether teaching large classes or groups of people is for you, then don’t worry because you can still teach by becoming a private tutor! There are no standard or right methods you need to follow to be a private tutor. However, you need to have a great deal of information and knowledge about English or the relevant subject in order to teach it – this means a degree. You can gain experience as you work, and your salary will depend on your experience too. Many private tutors are self-employed so your career progress will be limitless! £30 – £50 per hour
Top 10 Employers
- Hoxton Garden Primary
- Gainsborough Primary School
- Whitehall Primary School
- Kingsbury Green Primary School
- Galleywall Primary School
- Liberty Woodland School
- Mossbourne Parkside Academy
- Bevington Primary School
- Singlegate Primary School
- Roundwood Primary School
TOP EMPLOYERS and WHAT THEY WANT
When it comes to creative subjects like English, many people struggle with visualising a clear, straight career path for themselves, and are uncertain due to this lack of confidence and understanding. In fact, this should be something to celebrate as with no clear line, it means that you get to choose what path to follow – or even make you own! As an English graduate, many doors will be open for you, even if you can’t see all of them. Many top employers are looking for enthusiastic people who are willing to give their all to a role, and able to put in the hard work and effort. More importantly, previous experience will make you stand out amongst the other candidates.
In conclusion, there are many different career pathways you can take as an English graduate, and there are many more that you might not have heard of, let alone considered. These career profiles give you a sense of what careers are on offer, but its up to you to investigate further and decide which one is for you. While how to progress in each career path has been stated, its always important to remember that there is more than one route to acquiring a job. Make sure you don’t feel restricted to only one method, as employers and the employment sector are open minded to other means. This is especially true for university degrees; when picking your subject, it can be hard to see how you can do jobs outside the obvious ones directly related to your degree. So even if you find yourself thinking you’re not sure what to do with your English degree, don’t forget that the answer is almost anything!
If you are considering studying abroad why don’t you discuss your prospects and opportunities with experts at Lurnable’s dedicated study abroad counselling division LurnPathways?
