Blogging and 4 Other Careers for English Majors Who Don’t Want to Be Teachers from We Blog Better

Blogging and 4 Other Careers for English Majors Who Don’t Want to Be Teachers

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 09:00 PM PST

It's sometimes taken for granted that English majors will go on to become teachers. However, many people who go to school for English do so because they simply love writing – not because they want to teach. For anyone who can't really see him or herself heading a classroom, it will be refreshing to know that there are a number of alternative options out there for the English major who doesn’t feel called to teach.

Blogging

Blogging has become an important part of the marketing strategy of companies of all kinds. Online marketing campaigns often make use of freelance or full-time bloggers for link-building purposes, or simply to keep customers informed.

The focus will always be on creating well-written and interesting content, but everything you do will be in service of promoting a product, brand, or website. As a result, blogging can be a great stepping stone for anybody interested in getting into the marketing or advertising industries.

Freelance Journalism

There's something highly appealing about the mercenary lifestyle associated with freelance writing. Even so, it can be a challenge to break into this industry and maintain regular work.

As a freelance journalist, you'll need to come up with great ideas for content and know where to pitch them. In other words, it's all about building a strong professional network. Many journalists turn to freelancing at some point in their career. It can be a great way to gain experience in the field before embarking on something a little steadier.

Medical Transcription

The demand for freelance transcriptionists is projected to rise as the population increases and continues to age. Medical transcription is an important behind-the-scenes process for doctors and other medical professionals. Medical transcriptionists are tasked with listening to dictated (voice) recordings made by doctors throughout their day and transcribing them into the written word. The end result could be part of a medical report or doctor-to-doctor correspondence. Working as an at-home transcriptionist for a company like Athreon medical transcription company could have a number of benefits.

Freelance Textbook Editing

Like medical transcription, freelance editing of any kind requires a keen eye for grammatical and typographical errors. Editing textbooks in particular can be rewarding and challenging. The material might be tough to get through, but if you find yourself editing health-related or medical textbooks, there's a good chance you could learn a thing or two along the way.

The usual caveats for freelance work still apply: the pay will be modest, typically falling somewhere between $18-30 per hour for the entry-level editor. You'll also be on your own for health insurance and you'll have to pay a self-employment tax quarterly.

Technical Writing

If you're interested in the way things work, you might consider pursuing employment as a technical writer. This type of writer is responsible for creating user manuals for consumer-level products. Like most of the careers here, it's a contract-based job.

It should be noted that the technical writing industry can be difficult to break into. It's generally maintained that about five years of technical writing experience is needed.

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