English Literature, Language and Linguistics - Introduction
Potential careers
Graduates from courses in this Department enter a wide range of jobs across most sectors of the economy. Teaching is a popular career option for graduates who want to make direct use of their subject knowledge and this is evidenced by the numbers proceeding to teacher training or finding employment as Teaching Assistants (often as a means of gaining practical experience before applying for a teaching course). Graduates from the single honours course are more likely to pursue this option than those who studied joint honours.
Outside of teaching the destinations of graduates from these courses are similar and they can be found working in all employment sectors and applying the transferable skills they have acquired in a range of work. Recent job titles include Charity Administrator, Retail Management Trainee, Radio Presenter, Copywriter, Language Assistant, Marketing Officer, TV Researcher, Ski Instructor, Parliamentary Researcher, Press Assistant, Learning Disabilities Key Worker, Informatics Assistant, Recruitment Consultant, Assistant Brand Manager, Audit Associate, HR Assistant, Assistant Export Administrator, Public Relations Account Executive, Pastoral Support Worker. A number of graduates are working in non-graduate roles six months after graduation, mainly in administrative, retail and customer service roles, developing further skills and experience in preparation for their graduate career.
A number of graduates undertake Masters degrees although this is more popular option for single honours graduates. Approximately half of those progressing to Masters degrees are studying aspects of English Literature in greater depth. Other options include journalism, law conversion courses, human resource and other types of management.
What graduates do - short term and longer term career paths
Understanding what recent graduates from your subject have gone on to do can be a valuable source of information to help in career planning, but bear in mind that what you choose to do will be a personal decision based on many other factors such as: what you are good at, what you enjoy and what you want from work.
English Literature, Language and Linguistics - what University of Sheffield graduates do six months after graduation
This data was collected six months after graduation, so although useful, it doesn't provide a reliable indicator of longer term career paths. Some graduates are still in transition and may be in short term jobs, mainly in administrative, retail and customer service roles, developing further skills and experience while at the same time job hunting, travelling or taking time out.
Graduate case studies
Read about the longer term career paths of University of Sheffield English Literature, Language and Linguistics graduates.
What do graduates do? - the national picture
The national Prospects website provides an overview of the graduate jobs market.
Our approach to employability
The University of Sheffield is committed to developing your employability.