English PhD Careers

For many English Ph.D. students, the dream job is a tenure-track professorship in their specific field, complete with a window office. However, fewer graduates are seeing this dream become a reality. According to the Modern Language Association, an abundance of doctoral graduates combined with budget cuts has left new graduates with less than a 50 percent chance of securing a full-time academic job. Numerous other career tracks, such as publishing and nonprofit work, can offer fulfilling jobs in nonacademic fields.
  1. Writing Centers

    • Being a professor isn't the only way to help English students. According to the Columbia University Center for Career Education, writing centers are a growing field of opportunity for graduates who enjoy teaching and working one-on-one with a variety of people. Columbia also adds that writing centers don't simply help undergraduate students write papers; they also cater to the needs of graduate students and often serve as professional development centers for faculty who need assistance with their teaching. Previous teaching experience and knowledge of language are both skills doctoral graduates can bring to writing centers.

    Educational Consulting

    • An educational consultant works with universities, secondary schools and educational service providers to study enrollment rates, alumni relations, student recruiting and other issues or concerns. The consultant works with a team to perform research and deliver recommendations to the institution. According to Hadass Sheffer of the Chronicle of Higher Education, an English doctorate reveals an applicant's ability to conduct large-scale research, solve problems and form conclusions. Current consultants also have shared that they enjoy contributing their work to something that will help universities become more effective.

    Academic Publishing

    • English doctoral students also are highly valued at university presses and textbook companies. Audra Wolfe, science editor of Rutgers University Press, states that academic publishing provides a variety of responsibilities, including acquiring manuscripts for publication, aiding in the peer-review process and conducting research on current educational trends. One drawback, however, is that while a doctorate in English looks good on an application, these jobs often attract applicants with more extensive experience. Holding an internship in publishing first can provide practical experience.

    Nonprofit Work

    • A nonprofit organization works to promote a specific cause, using donations and funds to further that goal rather than using extra money for themselves. According to Gwendolyn Bradley of the Chronicle of Higher Education, a number of English doctorate skills transfer into this field, such as the ability to conduct research, grant and proposal writing and strong communication skills. While a high salary can't be expected, a nonprofit job does offer chances to create awareness of issues and the opportunity to meet like-minded people.

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