Career Paths forEnglish Grads

November 23, 2020

• EMPOWERMENT• CONNECTION• REFLECTION• EXPRESSION• IMAGINATION• ENGAGEMENT• VOICES TO BE HEARD• CRITIQUE• MEANING

WHY THE STUDY OF ENGLISH IS SO POWERFUL

• Just some of what English grads gain:• Cultural consciousness• Open-mindedness• Skills in:

• Critical thinking• Conducting research• Analysis and interpretation of text• Creative problem solving• Influence and persuasion• Synthesis and communication of ideas• Correct use of grammar, syntax, and vocabulary

Never apologize for studying English…

• Employers value social science and humanities graduates:

• “Major corporations such as banks continue to recruit from social sciences and humanities graduates and some believe the premium on their skills will actually increase as a result of disruptive technologies,” the authors write.

• Programs in these fields impart innovation, adaptability, social and emotional intelligence, intercultural communication and ethical reasoning.” (January, 2020)

Public Policy Forum Report

• They are limited only by your imagination!• In today’s presentation, I will cover just a few:

• Editing• Public Relations• Teaching• Publishing• Journalism• Digital Media Strategist• Freelance Writing• Technical Writing

What are the career possibilities?

Where UofT English grads are working now

*Of 9,845 U of T English grads between 1980 and 2020 (who are on LinkedIn). This represents less than 10% of grads.

• Different types of editing (from Editors Canada; editors.ca):

• Structural editing – Assess and shape material to improve organization and content.

• Stylistic editing – Edit to clarify meaning, ensure coherence and flow, and refine the language.

• Copy editing – Edit to ensure correctness, accuracy, consistency and completeness.

• Proofreading – Examine material after layout or in final format to correct errors in textual and visual elements.

Editing

• To gain further education in editing:• Simon Fraser University, Editing Certificate (10

courses; online)• Check universitystudy.ca or ontariocolleges.ca for

more programs

Editing

Credential Required Exam(s)

Certified Proofreader Proofreading

Certified Copy Editor Copy Editing

Certified Stylistic Editor Stylistic Editing

Certified Structural Editor Structural Editing

Certified Professional Editor (CPE)

Proofreading

Copy Editing

Stylistic Editing

Structural Editing

Editors Canada CertificationEditors Canada (Editors’ Association of Canada) offers certifications as follows:

Editors Canada

• Public Relations professionals work with organizations to cultivate a positive reputation with the public through communications, including traditional media, social media, and in-person engagements.

• They also help clients defend their reputation during a crisis that threatens their credibility.

Public Relations

• To gain further education in public relations:

• Humber College, Public Relations (Graduate Certificate/ 2 terms)

• (Many colleges in Ontario offer certificates in Public Relations/Corporate Communications; check universitystudy.ca or ontariocolleges.ca for more programs)

Public Relations

• Pathways to the Profession (document), Canadian Public Relations Society

• https://www.cprs.ca/getattachment/Certifications/Post-Secondary-Programs/Post-Secondary-Programs_Pathways-to-the-Profession_2018_Eng.pdf.aspx?lang=en-CA

Canadian Public Relations Society

• Multiple settings:

• Public school boards• Private schools• Private tutoring centres• Community (for example, CAMH, YWCA)

• Two-year BEd or MT required on top of a degree to teach in elementary or secondary schools. Teaching positions within the community may not require formal teaching credentials.

Teaching

• Publishers work to get books, magazines, and other texts out to readers. They oversee the operations of publishing companies, from editing to advertising to sales.

• Work is available with book, magazine, and newspaper publishers. Self-publishing is a growing industry.

Publishing

• To gain further education in publishing:

• Humber College, Creative Book Publishing (Ontario Graduate Certificate; 1 term)

• Centennial College, Publishing - Book, Magazine and Electronic (Ontario Graduate Certificate; 2 terms)

• Ryerson University, Certificate in Publishing (8 courses)

• Association of Canadian Publishers

Publishing

• Print journalists write articles for print publications and online news sources. The news they cover might be anything from world news to local politics.

• For more education in journalism:

• Humber College, Journalism (Graduate Certificate, 3 semesters)

• (many journalism programs at other colleges/universities across Ontario)

• Canadian Association of Journalists (has a mentorship program)

Print Journalism

• Digital media specialists write elements for websites, smartphone apps, and video games. They work in many industries, from education to entertainment.

• Digital Media Marketing, George Brown College (graduate certificate program, 3 terms including 1 work term)

• Humber College, Content Strategy (graduate certificate program, 2 terms)

Digital Media Strategist

Digital Media Strategist

• Freelance writers create both literary and factual pieces of writing. That includes books, blogs, plays, poems, ads, articles, manuals, and more.

Freelance Writing

Toronto Small Business Enterprise Centre (Enterprise Toronto) offers guidance, information and tools entrepreneurs require to start and grow their businesses, including:

• one-to-one consultations• business plan review• information on small business funding• business seminars, youth entrepreneurship

programs, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Don’t shy away from entreprenership

• Technical writers create manuals, reports, and online help tools for clients. They are experts at writing complex information so it is easier to understand.

• Many work for computer, engineering, and manufacturing companies, and governments

• Some freelance on a contract basis

• Algonquin College, Technical Writer (Graduate Certificate Program, 3 terms)

Technical Writing

• How can you network AND find out more about occupations/industries of interest all at one time?

• Information interviews!• An information interview is a brief (~20

minutes) meeting between a person who wants to investigate a career and a person working in that career.

Information Interviews

Dear Ms. Legeault,My name is Rebecca, and I’m a new English graduate from UTSC. I’m reaching out because I saw that you also graduated from UTSC and that you made your way into the publishing industry. I’d love to learn more about your career path, and what types of things you would recommend I do (including volunteer work) to build my skills to ultimately break into the publishing industry as well.I’m sure you’re busy, so even 15 minutes would be very much appreciated. If this might work for you, I would be happy to set up a Zoom call for us to speak at a time that’s convenient for you.Thanks so much,Rebecca

Sample Request

• How to get the most out of an informational interview:

• https://hbr.org/2016/02/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-an-informational-interview

Information Interviews

Rebecca BurwellCareer Counsellorr.burwell@utoronto.ca

Academic Advising & Career Centre1265 Military Trail | AC213(416) 287-7561utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc

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