IX. CAREER PREPARATION

An English major learns to read intelligently, to analyze and comprehend difficult material, to use language forcefully and accurately both in speech and in writing. These skills are essential in a great many fields of work, and they are not common skills by any means. Deans of law schools and medical schools, business executives, government officials, editors of magazines and newspapers, publishers and administrators repeatedly call for job applicants who can use language effectively.

Rather than thinking exclusively of careers in teaching or in publishing, advertising or public relations, English majors should realize that there are many opportunities in other areas. Think of yourself not simply as an English major, but as a liberal arts major, a college graduate, a bachelor's degree holder, a person of intelligence, perseverance, and maturity. In addition to the verbal and analytic skills you have already gained, you have shown yourself to be capable of learning new skills, mastering bodies of information.

Federal, state and local government are all interested in the bachelor's degree holder, particularly those with verbal skills. No general federal job exam is given at present, but some federal agencies have devised their own exams. You must apply directly to specific agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency or the Treasury Department or the State Department. Your communication skills, combined with your potential for acquiring administrative and managerial skills, make you a highly attractive job candidate for government agencies.

Business and industry are also interested in people with your skills. Many corporations and companies offer excellent opportunities to liberal arts graduates as management trainees and sales representatives. In a survey measuring the job satisfaction of English majors who are now working in various occupations, the largest proportion of "very satisfied" respondents are administrators in business and government.

To prepare yourself for the widest possible range of job opportunities, you would do well to take one or two courses in computer science, marketing, management, accounting, statistics, and/or business administration, in addition to a broad spectrum of arts and sciences courses. Particularly valuable would be 3 to 6 hours of computer science. This minimum of technical comprehension would be valuable in publishing, journalism, and advertising, all of which presently use computers for layout, editing, and page design.

Internships, volunteer and part-time work provide first-hand knowledge of those fields in which you are interested. Such experiences may also be used on your resume and often provide contacts and references for use in your later job search.

The English Undergraduate Office circulates a small collection of books on careers for English majors. The Undergraduate Advisor can provide basic information on typical careers and the steps you should take to successfully pursue an internship or permanent position. The Office also sponsors workshops during the school year on going to graduate school in English, internships, and careers for English majors.

The next step is to visit the Career Development Center (625 N. Jordan), which provides a large library, counselors, and workshops on resume writing, interviewing, and job seeking. This office also has information about many federal agencies, maintains files of national job opportunities, offers individual assistance on a walk-in basis, distributes a newsletter, and hosts on-campus recruiters who are searching specifically for liberal arts majors, and offers credential services. Career Counseling Services (also 625 N. Jordan) supplies information on careers and offers individual counseling by appointment. This office can arrange for undergraduates to "try out" a potential career by spending a day with an I.U. graduate who is a practicing professional in the student's area of interest.

A. If you’re thinking about a career in College Teaching or Research, you need to:

1. Ask the English Department's academic advisor for a copy of "Advice for English Majors Applying to Graduate School in English."
2. Take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and the Advanced Test in English. It is recommended that you take the GRE both in the second semester of your junior year and again early in your senior year. The "paper and pencil" test is administered three times a year. The general test, delivered by computer through the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) Program, is available year-round at many locations. Applications are available in BH442 and at the Bureau of Evaluative Studies and Testing, Franklin Hall, Room M005 (855-1595). Additional information is available at http://www.indiana.edu/~best/
3. Make arrangements for 2-3 letters of recommendation.
4. Submit applications to schools in time to meet admissions and financial aid deadlines.
5. Check the Graduate Programs and Admissions Manual.
6. Talk to faculty who have attended schools of interest to you.
7. Consider a teaching internship with a faculty member.
8. Set up a credentials file in the Career Services Office of the School of Education, W.W. Wright Education Building, Room 1000, 201 N. Rose Ave. (856-8506).

B. If you’re thinking about Graduate work in English leading to careers other than College Teaching, you should:

1. Ask the English Department academic advisor for a copy of “Advice for English Majors Applying to Graduate School in English.”
2. Talk to the English Department Director of Undergraduate Studies about Indiana University’s Master of Arts degree with Special Field Concentration (for further information, see page 6).
3. Take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and the Advanced Test in English. It is recommended that you take the GRE both in the second semester of your junior year and again early in your senior year. The “paper and pencil” test is administered three times per year. The general test, delivered by computer through the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) Program is available year-round at many locations. Applications are available in BH442 and at the Bureau of Evaluative Studies and Testing, Franklin Hall, Room M005 (855-1595). Additional information is available at http://www.BEST.indiana.edu.
4. Make arrangements for 2-3 letters of recommendation.
5. Check the Graduate Programs and Admissions Manual.
6. Submit applications to schools in time to meet admissions and financial aid deadlines.
7. Talk to faculty who have attended schools of interest to you.
8. Consider an internship related to your projected field of concentrations.
9. Set up a credentials file in the Career Services Office of the School of Education, W.W. Wright Education Building, Room 1000 (856-8506).

C. If you’re thinking about Graduate work in Business (MBA or DBA), you should:

1. Take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) which is given four times a year.
2. Make arrangements for reference letters (usually 2-3).
3. Check the Guide to Graduate Management Education.
4. Submit applications to schools in time to meet admissions and financial aid deadlines.
5. Have a year or two of practical work experience.

D. If you’re thinking about Law School, you should:

1. Visit the Pre-Law Information Center in Maxwell Hall, 855-1873, or see www.indiana.edu/~udivhpp.
2. Check the Pre-Law Handbook for information on various schools. You may buy your own or use one in Maxwell 021.
3. Plan to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Forms are available in Maxwell 021. The test is given 4 times a year, but you're encouraged to take it in the spring of your junior year.
4. Attend the Law Caravan sponsored by the Pre-Law Information Center with admission representatives from more than 85 law schools.

E. If you’re thinking about work in agencies of the Federal or State governments, you should:

Look at the Federal Government information available at Arts and Sciences Placement (625 N. Jordan). No general federal job examination is given at present, but some federal agencies have devised their own exams. Also consider a visit to the SPEA placement office (SPEA 200).

F. If you’re thinking about a job in the Foreign Service, you should:

Take the Foreign Service Office Examination (FSOE), usually given in November. You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 20 years of age at the time of the exam. Deadline for test application is usually in early October. Additional information is available at Arts & Sciences Placement (625 N. Jordan) and the SPEA Career Center (SPEA 200), and on the World Wide Web http://www.state.gov/ <(www.state.gov)>

G. If you’re thinking about a job in Business, you should:

1. Consider a minor in Business or the Liberal Arts and Management Program. Students seeking admission to the Liberal Arts and Management Program must apply early in their college study. For more information on LAMP, contact Jane Rogan, Wylie Hall, Room 247, 856-4966.
2. Enroll in COAS Q400, Employment Strategies for COAS Graduates, which provides information on resume writing, interviewing skills, and job search strategies with emphasis on the liberal arts major entering the business world.
3. If you plan to use the Business Placement Office, you are required to take Business X420, Business Career Planning and Placement, to be registered. This course also gives you help in preparing your resume and information on job possibilities. Employers come to campus and interviews are arranged through the Business Placement Office. You may not receive credit for both COAS Q400 and BUS X420.

H. If you’re thinking about other job options, you should:

1. Explore these options with staff at Career Counseling Services.
2. Register with the Arts & Sciences Placement Office.
3. Take advantage of Placement Office workshops on resume writing, and employment strategies, and COAS Q400.
4. Note that this office has job search advice, vacancy listings, and a growing list of employers who come to campus for interviews with liberal arts majors.

I. If you’d like to have some work experience before you graduate, you should:

1. Consider an internship through the English Department, the Internship Opportunities Program (IOP) or the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA).
2. Talk to IOP staff at 625 N. Jordan or SPEA staff in SPEA 200 at the end of your sophomore year about jobs available for English majors. As with any job, you must apply, be interviewed, and selected.
3. Consider applying for one of the internship or field experiences described in section VIII of this booklet.
4. Review internship information at Arts and Sciences Placement.

J. If you are undecided about your future career plans:

Go to Career Counseling Services/Career Development Center (625 N. Jordan) for help in determining your interests. Take a look at videos, CD rom resources, and books about career exploration in the Career Resource Library. Ask to speak to a career counselor. You can also begin at the Career Development Center website http://www.indiana.edu/~career or the Career Resource library page http://www.indiana.edu/~career/features/crl.html. You can also check out career books from the Undergraduate English Office in BH442.

K. Useful Addresses for Career Planning

CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER
625 N. Jordan
855-5234
http://www.indiana.edu/~career

BUSINESS PLACEMENT
BPO Career Services Office
Business P100
855-5317
http://bpo.indiana.edu/bpo-cgi/bpoweb.htm-cgi

HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND PRE-LAW INFORMATION CENTER
Maxwell Hall 021
855-1873
http://www.indiana.edu/~udivhpp/

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM
625 N. Jordan
855-8208
http://www.indiana.edu/~career/internships/

JOURNALISM PLACEMENT
Ernie Pyle 202
855-1704
http://www.journalism.indiana.edu/placement/index.html

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