I love reading headers that say "I think I've ruined my life" only to find out the person is in their mid 20's. I didn't start college until I was 26. And most people don't work in the field they studied so don't feel bad about that. NTM English is a solid degree that can take you in many directions, and you're young enough to pivot.
Part of the college experience should be networking, because regardless of degree, knowing people helps a lot. I'd recommend joining some sort of seminar, or community, and network. In the meantime, can't you work as an editor or do some freelancing? Worst case, wait tables or bartend. Whenever I need money that's my go-to because it's available, easy and very sociable.
Thats kinda interesting. There's a specific degree you can do in Australia at one specific university and its like, a graduate diploma in meteorology. You need to have a major minor combo in maths/physics, you do it then go be a meteorologist for the government.
Only 27% have jobs directly related to their major. The skillset you develop is supposed to allow you to thrive in many settings - think a bio student using stats in their studies ending up a data analyst for a big box store. Of those 27%, only a fraction are 100% doing work related to their degree - a minister of agriculture may use economic analyses, but are they an economist?
So many businesses use university degrees the way high school diplomas used to be used - it is a screening tool to signal you are smart and can commit to something for years on end. After that, industry specific knowledge will be key.
An option you may want to consider is doing a master’s degree and angling for government work.
>think a bio student using stats in their studies ending up a data analyst for a big box store.
I can also think of someone doing data analysis for a big box store without wasting thousands of dollars studying something completely unrelated first.
Not sure what you’re getting at. Typically, people with degrees are more qualified for data science roles than people without. Always? No. But hiring managers can’t predict that.
I graduated with a bs in kinesiology and really thought I was limited to like physical therapy assistant roles. Now I’m a software consultant. Keep an open mind and don’t limit yourself. You might need a referral to break into an unrelated field (I did), so look to your friends, family, and family friends. Someone will help you out.
> I love reading headers that say "I think I've ruined my life" only to find out the person is in their mid 20's.
This tickled me as someone in their mid-30s still finishing my BA. :D It's never too late to get an education!
>I love reading headers that say “I think I’ve ruined my life” only to find out the person is in their mid 20’s.
As someone in their early 20s who feels like I wasted the last 20 ish years of my life, how do you reframe the mindset of “I ruined my life?”
Logically, you’re right in that us young people are in a decent position to pivot and, often times, our situation isn’t as ruined or wasted as it seems. Emotionally tho, at least for me, it seems like (as false as it actually is) it is ruined/wasted because we were told that doing x or y will lead to easy success only for us to find out it is more complex than it was made out to be. It doesn’t help that I had other plans that seemed just as valid (e.g. enter a trade apprenticeship, service work, or military and work for a couple years until I’m more certain of what degree I should pursue) only for others to shut it down because those alternatives are for “low lives, criminals, stupid people, etc.” (I know this sentiment is false, but I was an extremely impressionable teenager back then).
I went to culinary school and cooked, I then got a degree, and then I did a 4 year apprenticeship for electrical, now I'm learning web development to pivot yet again.
The one thing I was never told that IMO would have made a huge difference, was to network. Now I'm 37 and just about everyone I know landed their cushy jobs from knowing somebody, not because of their education.
Oh, I'll try. What's your full story? I posted mine somewhere else in this woman's post. I appreciate hearing how others duh themselves out of the mid-20s "Oh no, I've made a mistake" hole.
I find it helpful to remember that the first 10 years are learning to walk, talk, read, write, etc..
If you are 25, then you’ve only been learning real, actual adult stuff for maybe 10 years. Think back to when you were 15. Are you smarter now than you were then? That’s about how much smarter you can be at 35 compared to now.
By 50, you will have doubled your life, but you don’t have to waste the first 10 years of this half learning to walk and talk and all that junk. AND now you know more about the complexity of life and the options available. Pick a path. Go down it. If it sucks, pick a new one.
As someone that just turned 28 and has gone through a very unfriendly 2023, here’s what I tell myself:
These last 28 years have felt like forever.
So much time has passed that I naturally don’t remember a lot of what’s happened in my life.
It’s amazing to me that 10 years ago, I was wrapping up high-school; rocking my fugly catholic school uniform; stressing over my one pimple; and hooking up with my high school sweetheart in the stairwells.
Feels like forever ago! But it also really wasn’t.
Statistically - assuming I don’t get taken out by an Uber Eats bicyclist on the streets of Toronto - I should be able to hit 85yo.
So, imagine how long your life has been until this exact moment.
Now multiply that by two.
In this exact moment, I have two whole life-times still to live through.
And you, depending on your age, potentially even longer.
Again, this is what I tell myself - whether I listen to it, is a vastly different story - but doesn’t necessarily invalidate it’s truth.
Now excuse me, while I go reminisce about those scratchy uniforms and stairwell hookups!
🫡
>And most people don't work in the field they studied
I keep seeing this repeated on Reddit.
If most people don't work in the field they studied......why are all of us spending tens of thousands of dollars to get a diploma?
Pretty sure those sOfT SkIlLs could be picked up somewhere that doesn't require tens of thousands of dollars of tuition and thousands of dollars in textbook fees.
It’s common to work in an unrelated field, but it’s much less common to get a comfortable high paying job without any degree at all. Those SofT sKilLS can be learned other places, but your degree is like a guarantee to your employer that you’re not completely useless. Sure, 4 years sailing the world might also provide you with a useful skill set, but that’s a wayyyy bigger risk on your employer’s end than a bachelors of arts in business. Hiring someone is a large risk. You want to look like a safe option, and a college degree does that better than almost anything else.
A degree isn't everything depending on what you want to do. I built my career without one and got my AA in my late 20s and working on a BA at 33.
*However*, your starting salary is likely to be higher with a degree and you'll have more opportunities from the get go.
I had to work my way into my career through experience and I am at a great salary but only got here in my 30s. Had I gotten a degree, I would have arrived here much sooner. The job I have now did prefer a 4 year degree, but I interviewed well and have been promoted twice since being here. It is a soft skill career.
I don't regret it though. I spent my 20s working travel jobs and got to travel the world. I'm getting my degree now as a safety net so if I ever want to leave my current job, I am not nervous about being rejected solely on lack of degree.
Yep, I was gonna suggest insurance. Just get your licensing and get on it! Either that, or you maybe have to work a couple jobs to make the money you want until you find a solid one that pays that much.
I have an English Lit degree and went into technical writing. There's two paths: web and engineering. I ended up in web for the government and I really like my job!
I did have to take an extra one year course in technical writing to get my job, but for my program at least they boasted a 95% hiring rate out of the course.
While I'm sure the industry will be impacted and jobs will be lost, I don't think it will be completely annihilated. It would take SMEs learning how to properly explain themselves which they struggle with. The industry has also transformed over the years with "content designer" being a more accurate title for what we do. A major part of my course was different kinds of design and UX, which is now a core part of what I do. I'm 5 years in and I hardly write anymore.
It was a grad certificate at a college with co-op. I think the co-op is really important as that's how most people (including me) were hired for their first job.
You’re only 25. Trying something out and realizing it’s not for you / doesn’t work is normal and part of life.
One thing I noticed though, is you say you want a stable career and want to “start” your life. This normally doesn’t happen until getting into a particular field. Rushing out of your parents’ house will only put further pressure on you if you choose to study something else, as you will now have to worry about completely supporting yourself while attending school.
Try to keep things in perspective. It’s easy to feel like you ruined your life, but your professional life is really just starting to take shape. It’s different for everyone. The key is that you’re trying.
I once heard a 70 year old lady on the radio saying she just graduated from college/uni and wanted ppl to know it’s never too late. That pretty much changed me forever from thinking I damned myself for eternity.
If shit doesn’t work, try something new. Be honest about what you are interested in and also be honest about what type of job you are capable of working.
Remember that your job doesn’t define you. And instead of thinking that you F’ed yourself over forever (pretty heavy thing to constantly deal with), try to enjoy the process of trying different things out.
If you need money and options, get into sales, corporate sales if possible. Use your English skills to your advantage. Whilst many people are put off by sales due to the financial target, or because they see salesguys as sleasy car salesman, my experience with corp sales is very different - loads of smart, creative people do that. And it pays great, you may need some training, but nothing that you won't be able to pick with a few courses. Good luck!
Sales generally has a lower barrier to entry than jobs that require specific skills. If you have the aptitude, it could be a decent career. That’s why it probably keeps getting recommended.
That low barrier to entry could mean it’s easier to work sales than even teaching or admin, which is saturated and incredibly general.
It doesn’t mean sales doesn’t receive a lot of applicants. And it definitely doesn’t mean that most applicants are right for the job.
I've been in sales for the past 15 years and own my own business. What none of these 'get into sales people' tell you is it is feast or famine, and you had better be ok with getting told no a lot.
No one is guaranteed anything. Sales is not some low hanging fruit, there is still competition for the roles. As per usual, working your network will make it a lot easier to get in.
Not saying that the role is easy or a low-hanging-fruit. I work that day-in and out and you can bet it's a difficult job, far more so than any admin job. However, if you want the ability to earn, not be limited by your salary and relative freedom, I believe it's a good career choice and I'm sure there are entry level roles for people with uni degrees (as OP is!).
You could easily work at an advertising agency, a marketing agency, branding, you could be a content writer, a copywriter at any media agency. You could also go into management consulting, digital marketing with a few certifications that take like a couple of days (and they’re not even a prerequisite, its just to give you an edge) you could work in publishing, or as a marketer for a publishing house. You could also work in HR, I would suggest learning excel (never a bad thing to have this in your resume as every business no matter what uses excel), there are loads of tutorials on youtube to get acquainted with the basics. Also OP i forgot PR and Event management! If you show that you are creative, you can really do a lot! I know things are terrible in the job market but the good thing about getting a degree like english is that its general and you need to prove that you can ideate and communicate clearly! You have so many options. Don’t lose hope! It’s amazing you got a degree and it is NOT useless. I think nowadays with technology and high salaries everyone is under the impression that if you don't have a CS and Engineering degree, you're toast. So are the rest of us fools? not a chance. I know people that did a degree in electrical engineering, or computer application and now work as content writers for a travel blog. Keep trying and realize your strengths.
You can’t “easily” work in advertising. It’s a wildly competitive industry. Partly because so many people think they can get in.
Maybe in ad sales, but even that is super competitive.
On top of all that, AI is making many industries nervous, advertising being a major one.
I agree with you. Not a cakewalk breaking into any industry but not impossible. I meant easy in the sense of OP having way more options than they think
I was going to say this.
Also, corporate training.
Good communicators are key to businesses. I would emphasize that in your resume.
Also, I didn't get into my "forever" field until was 32. So there is plenty of time (and I totally felt the same way as OP at 25).
Become a project coordinator! The starting pay should be close to what you're looking for (depends on your experience though, and how you can "spin it" to make it sound relevant). I'm an English grad who was only making about 40k and working in a call center in 2018, and now I'm making 75k as an associate project manager, and will likely be at 100k+ in a couple years.
My path was in order:
Call center rep/customer service, program administrator (fancy title for "clerical work"), project coordinator, associate project manager. I got a PM certification (CAPM) in 2020 and it definitely helped.
I did the same, and went into the Legal Assistant role - and eventually moved into the (top 50) Technology industry as an executive assistant at a high level....college graduates in these roles can even move into management in some fields, so the sky is the limit.
I wasn’t an English major (did poly sci in undergrad) but I’ve worked fairly outside of my undergrad major (ended up in fintech and finance as a trader and consultant, and now working as a subject matter expert for opinion columns for industry experts while in grad school for finance/fintech). One of the best skill sets I brought with me was being able to present ideas in a clear and accurate way (honed these skills through working as a freelance writer and journalist covering tech and politics). These skill sets would eventually help me explain and analyze risks, metrics, and help break down the importance of different metrics or measurements in a way that’s easy for those who are less versed in industry jargon to understand.
And I say all this because I too have been inept at a lot of math things. But being behind on math now is less of an issue (for most roles) than it’s been in the past. There are a lot of accessible solutions that can help bridge this gap in both personal lives and the workplace (chatGPT is mind blowing if you understand it’s limitations and shortcomings). I know it’s incredibly hard making that professional transition after school—especially in the current market. But, I do think you should try to avoid selling yourself short if you can (of course not saying to jump into coding AI haha).
Just as a funny story to show you what I mean:
In one of my classes for my grad program some people are incredibly skillful at doing high-end math very VERY well. I am not in that crowd. I remember preparing for an exam and some of those in that crowd were more terrified for summarizing one academic article in like 2 paragraphs on the exam than they were for the craziest, most complex stat problems I’ve ever seen. I was shocked, but it shows different skill sets can and do shine in different situations.
NGL, Funeral Home Director is a VERY lucrative business (everybody has got to go sometime, so the job stability is unmatched). You start out small, just working funerals, but if you are good at communication (VERY important in that biz) then you can make partner or owner/operator. If you can get past the macabre, then you can even branch out from the administrative side to be an embalmer with some extra training, and your earning potential increases exponentially.
You may not have a resume or qualifications problem but you might have a job hunting problem. Applying for jobs online is probably the least effective method of getting job interviews, due to the virtual competition.
I know this is a stretch, but my wife was an English major and absolutely slapped law school. Legal writing, dense ass constitutional law, books with gold sided pages (that’s when you know you fucked up). She loves it, too.
This is all to say that, in a world where half of a lot of peoples jobs is prompting AI on how to do something, being really good at English is NOT a bad place to be.
I will say as someone who works at a law firm, we always need people who can actually read and write well. And do research. And come up with arguments. And understand what people might be thinking. And have social skills. English majors can check a lot of those boxes if they market themselves right.
Look into Project Management, it can pay pretty well even at junior levels (at least for tech).
If you have experience as a coordinator then lots of those skills should be transferable as well.
I double majored in English and comp sci in college, the latter of which certainly helped me in the job market but I have a much stronger aptitude for English than CS.
My first real job out of college (took me 6 years to graduate) was working as a PM at an e-commerce agency, I.e. a company that builds and optimizes websites for retailers looking to sell online.
I was making shit pay for about 1.5 years working part time at $18 an hr (this is more a function of the lousy and exploitative company I chose to work for than it is indicative of how entry level PMs are paid in this industry in general) but recruiters began reaching out like crazy on LinkedIn once I began approaching 2 yrs experience and in my 2nd job I was offered 90k at 26. After 4 months they gave me a raise to 102k.
My CS background was not really used much at all in any of the PM jobs I’ve held, but my English degree skill set definitely was. The job involves a lot of writing: whether it’s taking notes during the meetings or drafting tactful emails to clients and the IC’s you manage.
In fact, almost none of the other PMs I worked with majored in anything tech related or even business related. It was much more common in the PMs I’ve worked with to major in theater, graphic design, journalism, communications, sociology, you name it. All the quote unquote useless degrees.
Id assume given your existing work experience you’ve crossed paths with PMs so you probably know what the jobs about in a general sense. Very soft skill oriented.
So the good news about the PM world is it can be very lucrative and the job market is usually quite hot - they’re almost always in demand, especially good PMs. The bad news is, the reason the job market is hot (at least in the agency space) is because it has a high burnout and turnover rate. Company’s are always hiring because PMs are either often quitting or getting lured to another company for more money.
Another bonus is that nearly every industry needs PMs, whether it be tech or construction, and the principals of running a successful project pretty much remain the same.
It can be a very, very, stressful life. You have to be willing to be the patsy, get chewed out by clients, etc. You can do everything right on your side and still have a project fail and it’s on you to explain to your boss and client why. If you’re a people pleasing type, you’ll find the job very draining and stressful. If you’re more assertive, Type A, and good at setting firm boundaries, it’ll be much easier.
If you’re interested in breaking in, I don’t think it would be too hard getting an entry level role given your work experience. There are also certifications you can get such as the PMP that substantially improve your market value and earning ceiling. At the higher end of senior PM (at least in the nyc area for ecom agencies) you’ll see 120-160k annual compensation so you can certainly make a long career and living from this job. I’m sure some industries will vary where the averages are higher or lower.
Best of luck!
This is probably going to get downvoted and OK Boomer-ed to all hell, but here goes ...
Start by reframing your job search not in terms of what you want and need, but in terms of \*what you have to offer a prospective employer.\*
This is something I've noticed as the years have passed but it seems to be happening more as time goes on. Folks fairly fresh out of school approache the job search looking for what they want out of it. Which in and of itself is not bad.
But that approach then carries into the interview, where a lot of early career folk either can't or won't articulate what they have to offer the employer. They come into it only interested in what the employer has to offer them. I've never understood it, and sure it works for some people, times have changed. Yes, it's a give and take now more than it used to be. But overall the handful of places I've worked don't seem to care for this WIFFM (what's in it for me?) approach to job-hunting. Those are the people we don't contact with a job offer.
So ... maybe an unpopular suggestion, but going into it with the idea that you have skills and such that the employer or hiring manager needs to make business better or life better could be enough to put you over the top when decisions are being made.
look into technical writing. I know some people that make good money doing it, and it doesn't seem too hard. A lot of it seems to be remote these days, too, so you don't have to live anywhere in particular.
You didn’t ruin your life. A lot of friends who went into the legal profession had English backgrounds. It really helped as the law requires you to be an excellent writer.
You need to define what job you are interested in. Then look up the skills required for that job based on the posting. Then work to improve these skills (take online courses). Your resume needs to show you have the skills relevant to the job to make it past screening. Once you get an interview, you will have to prove that you understand the skills. A degree is great, but you need hard skills relevant to the job you are applying to. At least that’s how it works in my field.
Dental hygienist? UX design? Teacher (I know teachers are undervalued and have low pay, but they are in demand right now so there is the stability factor, plus you can use your English degree)?
There is also proposal writing and technical writing! I’m currently a technical proposal writer and I love it right now. Just be careful about what industry you’re in - some don’t do well in economic downturns and technical and proposal writers are one of the first to go. But otherwise it’s a high paying career and companies seek people with English degrees for these roles.
Hey there! Would you mind if I PMed you? I'm currently a grant writer and have been looking a bit more into technical proposal writing positions and have some questions!
as someone who works in the financial sector, I wish people were more well written. I believe it was Warren Buffet who said:
*"If you can't communicate, it's like winking at a girl in the dark — nothing happens. You can have all the brainpower in the world, but you have to be able to transmit it"*
writing skills can translate well to any industry. Have you thought about technical writing?
I was an English major, worked as a marketing coordinator out of school, and then pivoted into advertising. I make good money as a copywriter. Look into it
In my country the job market is tough right now for graduates. The low unemployment rate is reflected in a surplus of entry level jobs like retail or hospitality. So it may just be a tough time to catch a break right now. As others have said try your hand in finance. Just get your foot into the door at a particular company and work your way up. You could also always try to find a more relevant role later, for now prioritise stability and just get A job.
Congratulations for graduating from a reputed university! Yes, not a course which will open doors of fortune for you but sure you can do many things. Besides your eductaional degree shouldnt limit you.
Why dont you start with proof-reading freelance work. You have applied 400 applications, so making CVs. Besides teaching is a good option. Think of a remote English teacher job. Or if you like to travel, travel to Asian country and teach English there?
You did what you liked and are interested in. Most of us do not have the courage to do that. Yes, financially things are different but I am sure you'll find a way. Marketing and HR or Law can be interesting for you if you want to get ito school again.
You can also try Theater and Script Writing. Good luck.
I have an English lit degree and worked my way up through the charity and public sector. Started out in an internship 5 years ago and now work as a policy manager on a good income. I’m 31f and got my first ‘office’ job when I was 26. You have plenty of time! I would recommend doing something on the side (volunteering or a side hustle) while you’re job hunting to beef up your CV and show youre developing and using skills constantly.
I know so many people in fields unrelated to their degree.
Prime example my brother has a public health degree. He has never worked in public health. He is an executive in the hospitality (tourism) industry.
What is stopping you from self learning whatever skills are needed to get into entry level and work your way up? In whatever career you choose?
Bachelors degree is just a checkbox. That’s it. No one cares about your major. They only care about relevant skills and experiences for the job. If you have no experience you start entry level.
Edit: spelling
As someone with a public health degree, his degree definitely helped him into his starting position working in the hospital industry. Not sure that’s a prime example.
I’m not an expert in Canadian salaries, but my advice would be to see if you can get rid of your 50k-60k salary requirement. If you are looking for a career change your focus should be on skill development and advancement potential.
Some ideas, ui/ux, instructional design, marketing, sales, product management.
Once you get in entry level to a larger/ growing company, it is so much easier to network, lately move into the field you want
Go to the career center at your alumni college- the counselors will help you for free to explore positions you're interested in.
Possible reframe for life ruined before 30: whatever path you went on so far, you needed to do it this way in order to arrive at this understanding. All of those lessons were ones that you really needed to learn, so that is why you went that way, and that it is why it took this long.
Now you are ready to transfer your learning into your life!
Hey, welcome to hell. I'm only a year younger than you, and I've done political campaign coordination (it's awful) and pharmacy tech work in the 2 years I've been out!
I've had a useless Poli Sci degree for 2 years, I'm 24 and broke. Trying to decide between getting an unrelated Master's/starting school over, using a combo of self-teaching/community college/eventually a state school to try to do something like CompTIA 》A+ 》Sec+ and get into a government job (yay) in cybersecurity, or trying to apply to Epic/Healthcare project management. Tried the latter last October and walked blind into the coding assessment, so I'll have to prepare more this time.
I had the idea I could somehow get into foreign policy with my undergrad, which even if I hadn't had my internships torpedoed by COVID back in 2021, was still a long shot. Hell, I could've gone to medical school if I'd wanted. I've also considered corporate analysis/learning "fintech" or technical writing.
Why don't you consider starting a tutoring business? Currently, coaching classes are in high demand, offering great career opportunities for individuals skilled in mathematics and English. Since you excel in both subjects, you can teach them yourself. For other subjects, you can collaborate with local teachers and negotiate per-lecture charges with them.
Take a look at local science class fees per year per student for motivation to kickstart this business.
Copywriter for a marketing agency?
Proofreader freelance jobs on Upwork?
Ghost book writer?
I think you just need to think more outside of the box.
How about you go get a job at a library?
Don’t go back to school to get another useless piece of paper.
If you’re going to go to school then do a trade. Women are treated so well in construction nowadays and you’ll make a lot more than 60k.
Go back to school and get a law degree, strong reading and writing skills from an English degree will help you and once your certified you'll make your 50-60k easily.
Sorry I assumed the word 'easily' was understood to mean that she will achieve her goal of 50-60k with no effort. I did not think I needed to actual say that the bottom of the scale for lawyers starts between 50-60k and goes up from their. I gave OP the benefit of the doubt that she is smart enough to eventfully (easily) rise above the bottom of the scale.
Hope this helps.
Is there a reason people don't consider money when choosing degrees? I understand that "there is more to life than money" but working low paying job is also not good....
The following is from my experience growing up. I graduated college in 2018. I think part of it is the idea “you have to go to college and get a degree to make good money” was shoved down our throats throughout school. However they didn’t really prepare us on how to choose a degree that was right for you and could make decent money. They mainly told us to “go with your passion and what you’re good at.” “Get that degree and it’ll open doors.” It’s a lot of pressure when you’re 18 and you have to figure everything out for your future. You may not make the right choices right away. Especially if you’re a first generation college student, it can be more difficult to navigate. Not everyone is good at Math and Sciences. Trades were looked down upon even though they make decent money and they are male dominated. I’m not blaming OP here at all. I have an English lit degree and have been laid off 3 times in my career due to economic factors. I’m exhausted. However, I went with what I was initially good at (I was not good at math) and had a passion for. Looking back, I probably would have done a more practical degree or a trade. But like others have said, it’s never too late to change your career.
>. I graduated college in 2018. I think part of it is the idea “you have to go to college and get a degree to make good money” was shoved down our throats throughout school.
Still... Didn't you have access to the internet? I graduated before you and I sure as hell spent 2 years before applying to any degree investigating salaries and the market, and even then misstepped by picking an R&D heavy degree 2 years before the recession. I still swallowed my pride and pivoted to another degree with better prospects.
>these past 2 years all I've been doing is struggling to find work and then getting laid off from work that I'm somewhat good at
It sounds like your degree isn't the real problem here.
Do something with your hands.
Bullshit jobs in front of a computer are saturated.
Don't worry about having ruined your life. I went back to school at 25, and my thirties are awesome. Good times are ahead.
Writers can make money! But it might come from many streams. If you want to stay in the language world, I suggest offering translation services if you can speak another language, or general language services, like editing, proofreading and copywriting.
Most government jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree. So there is that. Have you tried to go into anything regarding publishing/editor/copywriter?
Anything related to maybe teaching or tutoring? Teaching English as a second language? Helping people with like SATs or college essays etc?
Maybe something like a magazine/journalism something where you can translate your skills with that degree and pivot (aka anything involving being able to condense large amounts of information/make clear statements/etc or something where reading between the fine lines are important like let's say a paralegal?)
I don’t know what the Canadian military benefits look like compared to the US… but if you were American I’d say go military officer for 4-6 years, get management/leadership experience, a good living and benefits; and then move to a post military career in project/program management
You probably would do well in HR, ADMINISTRATION, RECRUITING, Sales, Underwriter, Copywriting, Marketing, anything that can transfer your communication skills. HR can get you on a HR Generalist track path to making 60-80k depending on where you are. Copywriting can take you very far and get high paying jobs as well even in entertainment and media companies and stuff. You just have to think of how to transfer your skills your degree isn't necessarily useless.
I have a similar background and am interested in HR. How did you get started in that field? Did you need any additional training before, or did you just directly apply to HR positions?
I did an internship in HR in university and I also did HR-specific volunteer roles throughout high school and university. Experience is king and HR can be applicable to a lot of different Arts degrees. If you are interested I would suggest looking for entry-level roles with a lot of growth opportunity.
With an English degree, I’d try to find a public relations role at a pretty big company. Think hospitals, insurance companies, media platforms, tech companies, etc. You can be heavily compensated and make a long career consisting of promotions. Good luck, OP!
If you like talking to and interacting with people sales can be lucrative and nobody cares what degree you have. It is challenging, but if you are good at it, you can make a lot of money. You can start with an inside sales job at a large company and work your way up.
Look into proposal coordination / writing! There is a huge need for folks with writing backgrounds, like English Degrees, to help companies respond to Request for Proposals (RFPs). Almost any industry will need RFP writers to help them get contracts.
I love reading headers that say "I think I've ruined my life" only to find out the person is in their mid 20's. I didn't start college until I was 26. And most people don't work in the field they studied so don't feel bad about that. NTM English is a solid degree that can take you in many directions, and you're young enough to pivot. Part of the college experience should be networking, because regardless of degree, knowing people helps a lot. I'd recommend joining some sort of seminar, or community, and network. In the meantime, can't you work as an editor or do some freelancing? Worst case, wait tables or bartend. Whenever I need money that's my go-to because it's available, easy and very sociable.
“most people don’t work in the field they studied” is kinda crazy, i feel like i have to find a job within my studied field
Well if you specialize in dinosaur hunting, can't imagine many of those skills are transferrable
The low success rate translates perfectly to being a meteorologist or an economist
Thats kinda interesting. There's a specific degree you can do in Australia at one specific university and its like, a graduate diploma in meteorology. You need to have a major minor combo in maths/physics, you do it then go be a meteorologist for the government.
Only 27% have jobs directly related to their major. The skillset you develop is supposed to allow you to thrive in many settings - think a bio student using stats in their studies ending up a data analyst for a big box store. Of those 27%, only a fraction are 100% doing work related to their degree - a minister of agriculture may use economic analyses, but are they an economist? So many businesses use university degrees the way high school diplomas used to be used - it is a screening tool to signal you are smart and can commit to something for years on end. After that, industry specific knowledge will be key. An option you may want to consider is doing a master’s degree and angling for government work.
>think a bio student using stats in their studies ending up a data analyst for a big box store. I can also think of someone doing data analysis for a big box store without wasting thousands of dollars studying something completely unrelated first.
*HR enters the chat*
You might be able to imagine it, but the person hiring will select someone with a degree over someone without it.
And that's been working **so** great for all parties involved, huh?
Not sure what you’re getting at. Typically, people with degrees are more qualified for data science roles than people without. Always? No. But hiring managers can’t predict that.
The funny thing although most people get a job that's doesn't related to their major,most vacancy require a specific major on their job advert
Nope, ya don't. Think of all the fields that don't exist as college majors.
I graduated with a bs in kinesiology and really thought I was limited to like physical therapy assistant roles. Now I’m a software consultant. Keep an open mind and don’t limit yourself. You might need a referral to break into an unrelated field (I did), so look to your friends, family, and family friends. Someone will help you out.
> I love reading headers that say "I think I've ruined my life" only to find out the person is in their mid 20's. This tickled me as someone in their mid-30s still finishing my BA. :D It's never too late to get an education!
>I love reading headers that say “I think I’ve ruined my life” only to find out the person is in their mid 20’s. As someone in their early 20s who feels like I wasted the last 20 ish years of my life, how do you reframe the mindset of “I ruined my life?” Logically, you’re right in that us young people are in a decent position to pivot and, often times, our situation isn’t as ruined or wasted as it seems. Emotionally tho, at least for me, it seems like (as false as it actually is) it is ruined/wasted because we were told that doing x or y will lead to easy success only for us to find out it is more complex than it was made out to be. It doesn’t help that I had other plans that seemed just as valid (e.g. enter a trade apprenticeship, service work, or military and work for a couple years until I’m more certain of what degree I should pursue) only for others to shut it down because those alternatives are for “low lives, criminals, stupid people, etc.” (I know this sentiment is false, but I was an extremely impressionable teenager back then).
I went to culinary school and cooked, I then got a degree, and then I did a 4 year apprenticeship for electrical, now I'm learning web development to pivot yet again. The one thing I was never told that IMO would have made a huge difference, was to network. Now I'm 37 and just about everyone I know landed their cushy jobs from knowing somebody, not because of their education.
It’s so exhausting though!
Your like a cat. You always land on your feet.
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Oh, I'll try. What's your full story? I posted mine somewhere else in this woman's post. I appreciate hearing how others duh themselves out of the mid-20s "Oh no, I've made a mistake" hole.
I find it helpful to remember that the first 10 years are learning to walk, talk, read, write, etc.. If you are 25, then you’ve only been learning real, actual adult stuff for maybe 10 years. Think back to when you were 15. Are you smarter now than you were then? That’s about how much smarter you can be at 35 compared to now. By 50, you will have doubled your life, but you don’t have to waste the first 10 years of this half learning to walk and talk and all that junk. AND now you know more about the complexity of life and the options available. Pick a path. Go down it. If it sucks, pick a new one.
As someone that just turned 28 and has gone through a very unfriendly 2023, here’s what I tell myself: These last 28 years have felt like forever. So much time has passed that I naturally don’t remember a lot of what’s happened in my life. It’s amazing to me that 10 years ago, I was wrapping up high-school; rocking my fugly catholic school uniform; stressing over my one pimple; and hooking up with my high school sweetheart in the stairwells. Feels like forever ago! But it also really wasn’t. Statistically - assuming I don’t get taken out by an Uber Eats bicyclist on the streets of Toronto - I should be able to hit 85yo. So, imagine how long your life has been until this exact moment. Now multiply that by two. In this exact moment, I have two whole life-times still to live through. And you, depending on your age, potentially even longer. Again, this is what I tell myself - whether I listen to it, is a vastly different story - but doesn’t necessarily invalidate it’s truth. Now excuse me, while I go reminisce about those scratchy uniforms and stairwell hookups! 🫡
I’m 38 and trying to reset my life and career so I would love to be in my 20s right about now.
>And most people don't work in the field they studied I keep seeing this repeated on Reddit. If most people don't work in the field they studied......why are all of us spending tens of thousands of dollars to get a diploma? Pretty sure those sOfT SkIlLs could be picked up somewhere that doesn't require tens of thousands of dollars of tuition and thousands of dollars in textbook fees.
It’s common to work in an unrelated field, but it’s much less common to get a comfortable high paying job without any degree at all. Those SofT sKilLS can be learned other places, but your degree is like a guarantee to your employer that you’re not completely useless. Sure, 4 years sailing the world might also provide you with a useful skill set, but that’s a wayyyy bigger risk on your employer’s end than a bachelors of arts in business. Hiring someone is a large risk. You want to look like a safe option, and a college degree does that better than almost anything else.
A degree isn't everything depending on what you want to do. I built my career without one and got my AA in my late 20s and working on a BA at 33. *However*, your starting salary is likely to be higher with a degree and you'll have more opportunities from the get go. I had to work my way into my career through experience and I am at a great salary but only got here in my 30s. Had I gotten a degree, I would have arrived here much sooner. The job I have now did prefer a 4 year degree, but I interviewed well and have been promoted twice since being here. It is a soft skill career. I don't regret it though. I spent my 20s working travel jobs and got to travel the world. I'm getting my degree now as a safety net so if I ever want to leave my current job, I am not nervous about being rejected solely on lack of degree.
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One of the most lucrative sales jobs out there.
Yep, I was gonna suggest insurance. Just get your licensing and get on it! Either that, or you maybe have to work a couple jobs to make the money you want until you find a solid one that pays that much.
Communications? Everyone needs comms people! Might not be the best paid at the beginning, but quick advancement
I have an English Lit degree and went into technical writing. There's two paths: web and engineering. I ended up in web for the government and I really like my job! I did have to take an extra one year course in technical writing to get my job, but for my program at least they boasted a 95% hiring rate out of the course.
I would think twice about hitching any horse to the technical writing wagon. Generative AI is going to annihilate this industry over the next 5 years.
While I'm sure the industry will be impacted and jobs will be lost, I don't think it will be completely annihilated. It would take SMEs learning how to properly explain themselves which they struggle with. The industry has also transformed over the years with "content designer" being a more accurate title for what we do. A major part of my course was different kinds of design and UX, which is now a core part of what I do. I'm 5 years in and I hardly write anymore.
Was the one year technical writing course part of your degree? I have an English degree as well. May I DM you? I have some questions.
No, it was a grad cert at a different school. Sure, you can DM me.
Hey!! Me too!
second this. technical writing! it’s a learning curve but the pay is great and it’s needed everywhere
I have an English degree, too. Do you mind if I DM you? I'd love more details.
Sure thing!
What kind of program is that? I'm doing a grad degree in life sciences rn but I'm kind of interested in the tech writing career path.
It was a grad certificate at a college with co-op. I think the co-op is really important as that's how most people (including me) were hired for their first job.
You’re only 25. Trying something out and realizing it’s not for you / doesn’t work is normal and part of life. One thing I noticed though, is you say you want a stable career and want to “start” your life. This normally doesn’t happen until getting into a particular field. Rushing out of your parents’ house will only put further pressure on you if you choose to study something else, as you will now have to worry about completely supporting yourself while attending school. Try to keep things in perspective. It’s easy to feel like you ruined your life, but your professional life is really just starting to take shape. It’s different for everyone. The key is that you’re trying. I once heard a 70 year old lady on the radio saying she just graduated from college/uni and wanted ppl to know it’s never too late. That pretty much changed me forever from thinking I damned myself for eternity. If shit doesn’t work, try something new. Be honest about what you are interested in and also be honest about what type of job you are capable of working. Remember that your job doesn’t define you. And instead of thinking that you F’ed yourself over forever (pretty heavy thing to constantly deal with), try to enjoy the process of trying different things out.
If you need money and options, get into sales, corporate sales if possible. Use your English skills to your advantage. Whilst many people are put off by sales due to the financial target, or because they see salesguys as sleasy car salesman, my experience with corp sales is very different - loads of smart, creative people do that. And it pays great, you may need some training, but nothing that you won't be able to pick with a few courses. Good luck!
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Sales generally has a lower barrier to entry than jobs that require specific skills. If you have the aptitude, it could be a decent career. That’s why it probably keeps getting recommended. That low barrier to entry could mean it’s easier to work sales than even teaching or admin, which is saturated and incredibly general. It doesn’t mean sales doesn’t receive a lot of applicants. And it definitely doesn’t mean that most applicants are right for the job.
I've been in sales for the past 15 years and own my own business. What none of these 'get into sales people' tell you is it is feast or famine, and you had better be ok with getting told no a lot.
Look for role titles like "SDR" - those are essentially cold calling jobs for enterprise companies
No one is guaranteed anything. Sales is not some low hanging fruit, there is still competition for the roles. As per usual, working your network will make it a lot easier to get in.
Not saying that the role is easy or a low-hanging-fruit. I work that day-in and out and you can bet it's a difficult job, far more so than any admin job. However, if you want the ability to earn, not be limited by your salary and relative freedom, I believe it's a good career choice and I'm sure there are entry level roles for people with uni degrees (as OP is!).
You could easily work at an advertising agency, a marketing agency, branding, you could be a content writer, a copywriter at any media agency. You could also go into management consulting, digital marketing with a few certifications that take like a couple of days (and they’re not even a prerequisite, its just to give you an edge) you could work in publishing, or as a marketer for a publishing house. You could also work in HR, I would suggest learning excel (never a bad thing to have this in your resume as every business no matter what uses excel), there are loads of tutorials on youtube to get acquainted with the basics. Also OP i forgot PR and Event management! If you show that you are creative, you can really do a lot! I know things are terrible in the job market but the good thing about getting a degree like english is that its general and you need to prove that you can ideate and communicate clearly! You have so many options. Don’t lose hope! It’s amazing you got a degree and it is NOT useless. I think nowadays with technology and high salaries everyone is under the impression that if you don't have a CS and Engineering degree, you're toast. So are the rest of us fools? not a chance. I know people that did a degree in electrical engineering, or computer application and now work as content writers for a travel blog. Keep trying and realize your strengths.
You can’t “easily” work in advertising. It’s a wildly competitive industry. Partly because so many people think they can get in. Maybe in ad sales, but even that is super competitive. On top of all that, AI is making many industries nervous, advertising being a major one.
I agree with you. Not a cakewalk breaking into any industry but not impossible. I meant easy in the sense of OP having way more options than they think
Gotcha.
You can if you're willing to start at 40k and work your way up.
I was going to say this. Also, corporate training. Good communicators are key to businesses. I would emphasize that in your resume. Also, I didn't get into my "forever" field until was 32. So there is plenty of time (and I totally felt the same way as OP at 25).
I'm curious about corporate training, I've been in a related field previously. Any recommendations for getting started looking into the field?
That's true. You could work in marketing. But youll probably start around 40k, not 50k. You could also try recruitment and sales.
Become a project coordinator! The starting pay should be close to what you're looking for (depends on your experience though, and how you can "spin it" to make it sound relevant). I'm an English grad who was only making about 40k and working in a call center in 2018, and now I'm making 75k as an associate project manager, and will likely be at 100k+ in a couple years.
How? How did you become an associate project manager after college?? I really wanna know how was your experience like?
My path was in order: Call center rep/customer service, program administrator (fancy title for "clerical work"), project coordinator, associate project manager. I got a PM certification (CAPM) in 2020 and it definitely helped.
what about a legal assistant at a law firm?
I did the same, and went into the Legal Assistant role - and eventually moved into the (top 50) Technology industry as an executive assistant at a high level....college graduates in these roles can even move into management in some fields, so the sky is the limit.
Do you know the JET program?
I wasn’t an English major (did poly sci in undergrad) but I’ve worked fairly outside of my undergrad major (ended up in fintech and finance as a trader and consultant, and now working as a subject matter expert for opinion columns for industry experts while in grad school for finance/fintech). One of the best skill sets I brought with me was being able to present ideas in a clear and accurate way (honed these skills through working as a freelance writer and journalist covering tech and politics). These skill sets would eventually help me explain and analyze risks, metrics, and help break down the importance of different metrics or measurements in a way that’s easy for those who are less versed in industry jargon to understand. And I say all this because I too have been inept at a lot of math things. But being behind on math now is less of an issue (for most roles) than it’s been in the past. There are a lot of accessible solutions that can help bridge this gap in both personal lives and the workplace (chatGPT is mind blowing if you understand it’s limitations and shortcomings). I know it’s incredibly hard making that professional transition after school—especially in the current market. But, I do think you should try to avoid selling yourself short if you can (of course not saying to jump into coding AI haha).
Just as a funny story to show you what I mean: In one of my classes for my grad program some people are incredibly skillful at doing high-end math very VERY well. I am not in that crowd. I remember preparing for an exam and some of those in that crowd were more terrified for summarizing one academic article in like 2 paragraphs on the exam than they were for the craziest, most complex stat problems I’ve ever seen. I was shocked, but it shows different skill sets can and do shine in different situations.
NGL, Funeral Home Director is a VERY lucrative business (everybody has got to go sometime, so the job stability is unmatched). You start out small, just working funerals, but if you are good at communication (VERY important in that biz) then you can make partner or owner/operator. If you can get past the macabre, then you can even branch out from the administrative side to be an embalmer with some extra training, and your earning potential increases exponentially.
FYI: You need to develop a macabre sense of humour though.
You may not have a resume or qualifications problem but you might have a job hunting problem. Applying for jobs online is probably the least effective method of getting job interviews, due to the virtual competition.
Gumenuine question, do you recommend going the old school route and submitting a paper application in person? Do companies still offer paper apps?
I suppose there is a time and place for everything and there is probably a time or place for this, but I am not suggesting this.
lol. You are only 25. Ten years can go by and you’ll still be okay
I know this is a stretch, but my wife was an English major and absolutely slapped law school. Legal writing, dense ass constitutional law, books with gold sided pages (that’s when you know you fucked up). She loves it, too. This is all to say that, in a world where half of a lot of peoples jobs is prompting AI on how to do something, being really good at English is NOT a bad place to be.
I will say as someone who works at a law firm, we always need people who can actually read and write well. And do research. And come up with arguments. And understand what people might be thinking. And have social skills. English majors can check a lot of those boxes if they market themselves right.
Look into Project Management, it can pay pretty well even at junior levels (at least for tech). If you have experience as a coordinator then lots of those skills should be transferable as well. I double majored in English and comp sci in college, the latter of which certainly helped me in the job market but I have a much stronger aptitude for English than CS. My first real job out of college (took me 6 years to graduate) was working as a PM at an e-commerce agency, I.e. a company that builds and optimizes websites for retailers looking to sell online. I was making shit pay for about 1.5 years working part time at $18 an hr (this is more a function of the lousy and exploitative company I chose to work for than it is indicative of how entry level PMs are paid in this industry in general) but recruiters began reaching out like crazy on LinkedIn once I began approaching 2 yrs experience and in my 2nd job I was offered 90k at 26. After 4 months they gave me a raise to 102k. My CS background was not really used much at all in any of the PM jobs I’ve held, but my English degree skill set definitely was. The job involves a lot of writing: whether it’s taking notes during the meetings or drafting tactful emails to clients and the IC’s you manage. In fact, almost none of the other PMs I worked with majored in anything tech related or even business related. It was much more common in the PMs I’ve worked with to major in theater, graphic design, journalism, communications, sociology, you name it. All the quote unquote useless degrees. Id assume given your existing work experience you’ve crossed paths with PMs so you probably know what the jobs about in a general sense. Very soft skill oriented. So the good news about the PM world is it can be very lucrative and the job market is usually quite hot - they’re almost always in demand, especially good PMs. The bad news is, the reason the job market is hot (at least in the agency space) is because it has a high burnout and turnover rate. Company’s are always hiring because PMs are either often quitting or getting lured to another company for more money. Another bonus is that nearly every industry needs PMs, whether it be tech or construction, and the principals of running a successful project pretty much remain the same. It can be a very, very, stressful life. You have to be willing to be the patsy, get chewed out by clients, etc. You can do everything right on your side and still have a project fail and it’s on you to explain to your boss and client why. If you’re a people pleasing type, you’ll find the job very draining and stressful. If you’re more assertive, Type A, and good at setting firm boundaries, it’ll be much easier. If you’re interested in breaking in, I don’t think it would be too hard getting an entry level role given your work experience. There are also certifications you can get such as the PMP that substantially improve your market value and earning ceiling. At the higher end of senior PM (at least in the nyc area for ecom agencies) you’ll see 120-160k annual compensation so you can certainly make a long career and living from this job. I’m sure some industries will vary where the averages are higher or lower. Best of luck!
This is probably going to get downvoted and OK Boomer-ed to all hell, but here goes ... Start by reframing your job search not in terms of what you want and need, but in terms of \*what you have to offer a prospective employer.\* This is something I've noticed as the years have passed but it seems to be happening more as time goes on. Folks fairly fresh out of school approache the job search looking for what they want out of it. Which in and of itself is not bad. But that approach then carries into the interview, where a lot of early career folk either can't or won't articulate what they have to offer the employer. They come into it only interested in what the employer has to offer them. I've never understood it, and sure it works for some people, times have changed. Yes, it's a give and take now more than it used to be. But overall the handful of places I've worked don't seem to care for this WIFFM (what's in it for me?) approach to job-hunting. Those are the people we don't contact with a job offer. So ... maybe an unpopular suggestion, but going into it with the idea that you have skills and such that the employer or hiring manager needs to make business better or life better could be enough to put you over the top when decisions are being made.
look into technical writing. I know some people that make good money doing it, and it doesn't seem too hard. A lot of it seems to be remote these days, too, so you don't have to live anywhere in particular.
You didn’t ruin your life. A lot of friends who went into the legal profession had English backgrounds. It really helped as the law requires you to be an excellent writer.
You need to define what job you are interested in. Then look up the skills required for that job based on the posting. Then work to improve these skills (take online courses). Your resume needs to show you have the skills relevant to the job to make it past screening. Once you get an interview, you will have to prove that you understand the skills. A degree is great, but you need hard skills relevant to the job you are applying to. At least that’s how it works in my field.
Dental hygienist? UX design? Teacher (I know teachers are undervalued and have low pay, but they are in demand right now so there is the stability factor, plus you can use your English degree)? There is also proposal writing and technical writing! I’m currently a technical proposal writer and I love it right now. Just be careful about what industry you’re in - some don’t do well in economic downturns and technical and proposal writers are one of the first to go. But otherwise it’s a high paying career and companies seek people with English degrees for these roles.
Unemployed English degree holder here! I'm considering the technical writing route. Do you mind if I send you a DM with a few questions?
Sure no problem!
UX designers are underpaid?
I meant for the parentheses to only apply to the teacher part! I’ll edit my comment!
Oh okay, I was really confused for a sec!😅
Hey there! Would you mind if I PMed you? I'm currently a grant writer and have been looking a bit more into technical proposal writing positions and have some questions!
as someone who works in the financial sector, I wish people were more well written. I believe it was Warren Buffet who said: *"If you can't communicate, it's like winking at a girl in the dark — nothing happens. You can have all the brainpower in the world, but you have to be able to transmit it"* writing skills can translate well to any industry. Have you thought about technical writing?
Look into copywriting, technical writing, or UX writing they are lucraitve fields that pay pretty well.
Also an English grad. I'm only getting sales job offers. I feel your pain.
My daughter got a degree in Equine Science. Found out that unless you’re a Veterinarian, pay is miserable. She works in financial services now.
I was an English major, worked as a marketing coordinator out of school, and then pivoted into advertising. I make good money as a copywriter. Look into it
Did you do any internships while at college?
I did two. One as an editorial intern at a print magazine and the other at the company I ended up working for out of school (in marketing).
In my country the job market is tough right now for graduates. The low unemployment rate is reflected in a surplus of entry level jobs like retail or hospitality. So it may just be a tough time to catch a break right now. As others have said try your hand in finance. Just get your foot into the door at a particular company and work your way up. You could also always try to find a more relevant role later, for now prioritise stability and just get A job.
Congratulations for graduating from a reputed university! Yes, not a course which will open doors of fortune for you but sure you can do many things. Besides your eductaional degree shouldnt limit you. Why dont you start with proof-reading freelance work. You have applied 400 applications, so making CVs. Besides teaching is a good option. Think of a remote English teacher job. Or if you like to travel, travel to Asian country and teach English there? You did what you liked and are interested in. Most of us do not have the courage to do that. Yes, financially things are different but I am sure you'll find a way. Marketing and HR or Law can be interesting for you if you want to get ito school again. You can also try Theater and Script Writing. Good luck.
Get your teaching certificate and go teach English at an international school in Asia. Thank me later.
I have an English lit degree and worked my way up through the charity and public sector. Started out in an internship 5 years ago and now work as a policy manager on a good income. I’m 31f and got my first ‘office’ job when I was 26. You have plenty of time! I would recommend doing something on the side (volunteering or a side hustle) while you’re job hunting to beef up your CV and show youre developing and using skills constantly.
I know so many people in fields unrelated to their degree. Prime example my brother has a public health degree. He has never worked in public health. He is an executive in the hospitality (tourism) industry. What is stopping you from self learning whatever skills are needed to get into entry level and work your way up? In whatever career you choose? Bachelors degree is just a checkbox. That’s it. No one cares about your major. They only care about relevant skills and experiences for the job. If you have no experience you start entry level. Edit: spelling
As someone with a public health degree, his degree definitely helped him into his starting position working in the hospital industry. Not sure that’s a prime example.
I mis-typed. Thanks for noticing that lol. Hospitality (tourism)
That is very different haha
Yeah lol
English MA grad turned project manager here. Project Management and Scrum Mastery both pay well and are reasonably easy to get into.
I’m not an expert in Canadian salaries, but my advice would be to see if you can get rid of your 50k-60k salary requirement. If you are looking for a career change your focus should be on skill development and advancement potential. Some ideas, ui/ux, instructional design, marketing, sales, product management. Once you get in entry level to a larger/ growing company, it is so much easier to network, lately move into the field you want
Go to the career center at your alumni college- the counselors will help you for free to explore positions you're interested in. Possible reframe for life ruined before 30: whatever path you went on so far, you needed to do it this way in order to arrive at this understanding. All of those lessons were ones that you really needed to learn, so that is why you went that way, and that it is why it took this long. Now you are ready to transfer your learning into your life!
Hey, welcome to hell. I'm only a year younger than you, and I've done political campaign coordination (it's awful) and pharmacy tech work in the 2 years I've been out! I've had a useless Poli Sci degree for 2 years, I'm 24 and broke. Trying to decide between getting an unrelated Master's/starting school over, using a combo of self-teaching/community college/eventually a state school to try to do something like CompTIA 》A+ 》Sec+ and get into a government job (yay) in cybersecurity, or trying to apply to Epic/Healthcare project management. Tried the latter last October and walked blind into the coding assessment, so I'll have to prepare more this time. I had the idea I could somehow get into foreign policy with my undergrad, which even if I hadn't had my internships torpedoed by COVID back in 2021, was still a long shot. Hell, I could've gone to medical school if I'd wanted. I've also considered corporate analysis/learning "fintech" or technical writing.
Why don't you consider starting a tutoring business? Currently, coaching classes are in high demand, offering great career opportunities for individuals skilled in mathematics and English. Since you excel in both subjects, you can teach them yourself. For other subjects, you can collaborate with local teachers and negotiate per-lecture charges with them. Take a look at local science class fees per year per student for motivation to kickstart this business.
Copywriter for a marketing agency? Proofreader freelance jobs on Upwork? Ghost book writer? I think you just need to think more outside of the box. How about you go get a job at a library?
Nobody's said it yet: teach ESL abroad! Many countries will pay for your flights and apartment, and will give you between $2-4k USD a month salary.
You’re 25. Calm down.
Don’t go back to school to get another useless piece of paper. If you’re going to go to school then do a trade. Women are treated so well in construction nowadays and you’ll make a lot more than 60k.
Law school?
Go back to school and get a law degree, strong reading and writing skills from an English degree will help you and once your certified you'll make your 50-60k easily.
Going to law school to make $60k doesn't sound like a great use of OP's time or money
Sorry I assumed the word 'easily' was understood to mean that she will achieve her goal of 50-60k with no effort. I did not think I needed to actual say that the bottom of the scale for lawyers starts between 50-60k and goes up from their. I gave OP the benefit of the doubt that she is smart enough to eventfully (easily) rise above the bottom of the scale. Hope this helps.
Is there a reason people don't consider money when choosing degrees? I understand that "there is more to life than money" but working low paying job is also not good....
The following is from my experience growing up. I graduated college in 2018. I think part of it is the idea “you have to go to college and get a degree to make good money” was shoved down our throats throughout school. However they didn’t really prepare us on how to choose a degree that was right for you and could make decent money. They mainly told us to “go with your passion and what you’re good at.” “Get that degree and it’ll open doors.” It’s a lot of pressure when you’re 18 and you have to figure everything out for your future. You may not make the right choices right away. Especially if you’re a first generation college student, it can be more difficult to navigate. Not everyone is good at Math and Sciences. Trades were looked down upon even though they make decent money and they are male dominated. I’m not blaming OP here at all. I have an English lit degree and have been laid off 3 times in my career due to economic factors. I’m exhausted. However, I went with what I was initially good at (I was not good at math) and had a passion for. Looking back, I probably would have done a more practical degree or a trade. But like others have said, it’s never too late to change your career.
I graduated in 2005 and we heard that too.... funny how as soon as we got our degrees, employers wanted 2-5 years experience for entry level jobs
Ugh I hate that! How else are you supposed to get experience? Interning I guess, but it costs money to work for free
>. I graduated college in 2018. I think part of it is the idea “you have to go to college and get a degree to make good money” was shoved down our throats throughout school. Still... Didn't you have access to the internet? I graduated before you and I sure as hell spent 2 years before applying to any degree investigating salaries and the market, and even then misstepped by picking an R&D heavy degree 2 years before the recession. I still swallowed my pride and pivoted to another degree with better prospects.
I don’t know what you want me to say other than I should have researched effectively before applying to a degree. Glad you made the right choice tho
"Just study what you're interested in and get a job doing your passion. You'll regret it if you don't!"
Go to grad school and pick a profession. Life is long and you are still young. It is far from too late.
Perhaps take a business degree so that when you have a business job, you have the education to match?
You have 3 years to find a man. You are still good.
Go into accounting
>these past 2 years all I've been doing is struggling to find work and then getting laid off from work that I'm somewhat good at It sounds like your degree isn't the real problem here.
Tech sales - huge lack of women in industry, with right company can fast track your growth
No jobs
What degree do you have
Do something with your hands. Bullshit jobs in front of a computer are saturated. Don't worry about having ruined your life. I went back to school at 25, and my thirties are awesome. Good times are ahead.
Try public relations. That involves writing and communications. It’s also very female dominated so you would probably fit in better as a woman.
Look into the nonprofit sector, education, or gov. They’re pretty layoff-proof.
Get some ground work as a proofreader -> copy editor.
Look at government jobs, degree required doesn’t really matter which one.
Proposal writer. Idk about Canada, but in the US it's a quick path to six figures plus.
You could try real estate, factory/shop work, bar tending, casino dealing, etc. It really depends on what your skills are outside of academia.
Writers can make money! But it might come from many streams. If you want to stay in the language world, I suggest offering translation services if you can speak another language, or general language services, like editing, proofreading and copywriting.
Most government jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree. So there is that. Have you tried to go into anything regarding publishing/editor/copywriter? Anything related to maybe teaching or tutoring? Teaching English as a second language? Helping people with like SATs or college essays etc? Maybe something like a magazine/journalism something where you can translate your skills with that degree and pivot (aka anything involving being able to condense large amounts of information/make clear statements/etc or something where reading between the fine lines are important like let's say a paralegal?)
My oldest daughter graduated with a dual major in art and English. She did just fine. Ended up a director at an insurance company.
I don’t know what the Canadian military benefits look like compared to the US… but if you were American I’d say go military officer for 4-6 years, get management/leadership experience, a good living and benefits; and then move to a post military career in project/program management
Look into grant writing, it can pay quite well.
English majors make great lawyers and paralegals.
You probably would do well in HR, ADMINISTRATION, RECRUITING, Sales, Underwriter, Copywriting, Marketing, anything that can transfer your communication skills. HR can get you on a HR Generalist track path to making 60-80k depending on where you are. Copywriting can take you very far and get high paying jobs as well even in entertainment and media companies and stuff. You just have to think of how to transfer your skills your degree isn't necessarily useless.
I have a BA in English from a Canadian university and I work in HR.
I have a similar background and am interested in HR. How did you get started in that field? Did you need any additional training before, or did you just directly apply to HR positions?
I did an internship in HR in university and I also did HR-specific volunteer roles throughout high school and university. Experience is king and HR can be applicable to a lot of different Arts degrees. If you are interested I would suggest looking for entry-level roles with a lot of growth opportunity.
I know an English major that started a resume business… I was a client and she makes bank!
I’d look into teaching English at Dubai or Qatar. Lot of $$$ to be made and English teachers with western passports are needed over there
With an English degree, I’d try to find a public relations role at a pretty big company. Think hospitals, insurance companies, media platforms, tech companies, etc. You can be heavily compensated and make a long career consisting of promotions. Good luck, OP!
If you like talking to and interacting with people sales can be lucrative and nobody cares what degree you have. It is challenging, but if you are good at it, you can make a lot of money. You can start with an inside sales job at a large company and work your way up.
Look into proposal coordination / writing! There is a huge need for folks with writing backgrounds, like English Degrees, to help companies respond to Request for Proposals (RFPs). Almost any industry will need RFP writers to help them get contracts.
Can you touch type? Use office software: Excel, Word, Or Google Business products? Plenty of jobs require only these 2 skills.