Welcome to our final post on Alternate Careers. If you have
not had the chance, check out our previous post on the panelists from the
session. Here we offer a summary of the advice that the panelists offered us
about preparing for alternate career options. We also include a list of
potential careers and resources for exploring your career options as an academic.
All of our speakers offered great advice towards the end of
the session which addressed some of the rising concerns about leaving the
academy. They all encouraged us to actively combat the stigma of leaving, and
the guilt of not pursuing a career in academia if that is not something we
want. They also suggested to take a moment, and really consider your options.
Do you like teaching? Embrace teaching at a community college if that is what
it takes to do what you love. In other words, do not limit yourself with
narrow-minded goals or attitudes. They also suggested that even if you are
currently planning on a career in academia, to prepare yourself for other
options now. You can only help yourself out by taking some of this advice:
Build relationships shamelessly via events and list serves (we cannot emphasize
enough how important networking is!). Finally, take advantage of your available
resources. The GW Career Center offers one-on-one advice for CVs and other
professional documents as well as job finding databases. Attend your EGSA
professional development workshops! We cover a wide variety of areas that are
designed to help you succeed whether you choose an academic career or an
alternate career.
There are many professional opportunities for English
graduate students, but here are just a few examples we have collected from
research and personal connections:
Technical Writer
Journalist
Museum Coordinator
Law (lawyer, paralegal, judge)
Librarian
Elementary/Secondary Teacher
Education Administration
Film/TV/Productions
Creative Writing
Communication Career
Counselor
Public Relations
Analyst
Researcher
Marketing/Advertising
Copywriting
Publishing
Non-Profit Work
Non-Government Organization
Government Work
Resources
Twitter - #Alt-ac
Books
So
What are you Going to Do with That? by
Maggie Debelius and Susan Basalla
Do
What You Are by Paul Tiegler and
Barbara Barron-Tiegler
Outside
the Ivory Tower by Margaret Newhouse
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