• complete one or more internships
• consider building a portfolio of your published writing. There are a number of places to publish your work both on and off campus. See the l ist of undergraduate literary journals that accept critical and/or creative writing.
• talk to your adviser and/or schedule an individual appointment with a career counselor in Career Services.
  
• learn more about career options for English majors.
• check out the employment and graduate school results from recent Career Services surveys: Employers, Job Titles, Graduate or Professional

Learn what SNC students are doing or have done on their internship assignments.    

Learn about the career paths of SNC grads after leaving St. Norbert.

Jason Sanders, ’04

"Without studying English at St. Norbert College, I wouldn't have the job I love (I teach at a tribal college). Without studying English, I wouldn't have had the adviser I had—and without him I wouldn't have made it through to graduation. I wouldn't have known some of the words I used on my first résumé, or when I proposed to my fiancé. Without studying English, I wouldn't know where to put all of those accents. 
Q: Why should you care?
A:  You shouldn't. You shouldn't study English because I studied English, no matter how happy I am with where it led my life.

You should choose to study English because your future friend is enrolling in a class on creative writing, or poetry, or your favorite kind of novel. You should study English because somewhere in Boyle Hall is a professor who lives for something you love. You should study English because that professor is waiting—patiently—to be your friend, adviser and confidant.

You should choose English because you know words will be essential for the rest of your life -- from writing your résumé and acing the interview to telling your beloved what your love really means and how deep it flows. You should choose English because your ability with words might be the difference between getting or not getting your ideal job, the difference between winning or losing a key debate, the difference between a confused look and an "Oh, I love you, too!"

You should choose English because words enliven you. You should choose English because you find the swirling, simmering mass that is the human soul untamingly intriguing. You should choose English because you find yourself irresistibly drawn towards describing the indescribable.

(If you just asked yourself if "untamingly" is a word, then choose English.)

Ultimately, you should choose English if, deep down somewhere, you already knew everything you just read. You should choose English because, somehow, you already have."

Jon Sergott, ’05

"I think there are three ways in particular that my St. Norbert College degree in English helped me pursue a Law degree. First, I learned how to read texts critically. So much of what happens in law is approached like a story or a text —we apply principles to a given case in order to understand the story and place innocence or guilt properly.

Second, I learned how to write. There were classes that were geared specifically toward writing, and these were tremendously helpful, but quality writing was an aspect of every literature class. I came in with zeal, and my professors let me take each project as far as I could, and they helped me every step of the way. I am a confident writer because of my English studies at St. Norbert College.

Finally, studying literature is a way to study some of the most important ideas in history. Stories have a way of bringing out important truths in a way that even a philosophical treatise cannot. The human mind and heart is hardwired for stories, and we understand our entire world in terms of a story. Studying literature has helped me understand the human person, the human drive and psyche, and the human experience, in a way that no other major could have. Studying literature is like studying what it means to be human, and how to do it better. 

I am grateful for my English degree from St. Norbert College."

 Jackie Kleist '06

"Living and working in Hangzhou, China for two years has been an invaluable opportunity for me to venture beyond the world of academia and utilize the critical thinking skills, creativity, and curiosity fostered throughout my four years in the English program a St. Norbert College. 

Teaching composition and oral English classes to nearly four hundred students each week has truly tested and refined my teaching methods, challenging me to create and tailor a curriculum that meets student needs.  Several of my students come from rural backgrounds and have minimal English skills; I am the first foreigner they have ever seen.  Others, blessed with more privileged childhoods, have traveled extensively in English-speaking countries.  Explaining concepts and exploring classic texts with these diverse students has helped me to develop a more complete and comprehensive grasp of the intricacies of my native language.  Designing the curriculum, evaluating student performance, and collaborating with colleagues at the university level has given me a glimpse of a professor’s life.  I am now confident in my decision to pursue a PhD in English in order to continue teaching at the university level."

Andrew Caldie '07

"My experience as an English major at St. Norbert provided me with many skills that transfer easily to a wide variety of professional paths.   Many of my courses featured group discussions in which my classmates and I shared our responses to literary works.  Each of us benefited from contemplating a diverse array of perspectives.   We gained insight into what it means to be human, both from the literature itself and by learning how other people applied texts to their own lives.   Our discussions provided many lessons in interpersonal communication, persuasion strategies, and on rare occasions, even conflict resolution—all skills that many jobs require.  

On an individual level, studying literature enhanced my critical thinking skills, which helped me to articulate my ideas more effectively.   With experience, as well as patient, personalized input from my professors, I became a more focused and versatile writer.   I learned to love the challenge of creating a thesis that was meaningful to me, gathering references from the text to illustrate it, drawing support from the work of other scholars, and intertwining the pieces in a cohesive essay.  These steps gradually became a thought process that I applied to my other studies, and that I continue to find useful in my current profession.

I work as a prospect researcher in the St. Norbert Advancement office.  My responsibility is to identify individuals, corporations, and foundations that may contribute to the College’s fundraising efforts.   Whenever I do research, I follow the same process I use as a writer: I define what I’m looking for, gather facts and verify their accuracy, and create a report that effectively conveys relevant information to our fundraisers.   I also write occasionally for the St. Norbert e-newsletter, which challenges me to appeal to a different audience in a concise, media-friendly style.   Every time I write an article or prepare a report, I am grateful for the skills I learned as an English major.

The skills that English majors learn are more important than ever in many workplaces, especially as technology continues to make communication easier and faster.   Many employers look for candidates who know how to write clearly and reach audiences effectively.   These are skills that will never diminish in value or become obsolete.   Every English major has probably heard the dreaded question more than once: “What are you going to do with that?”   Perhaps a fitting response is “What can’t you do with that?”   Students should never have to justify majoring in English—as I learned from my experience at St. Norbert, the study of English ultimately justifies itself."

Erin Gannon, ‘07
   
"Since graduating from St. Norbert College with a degree in English, I have had the challenging and exciting opportunity to work as a freelance writer and editor for numerous publications and companies in the Milwaukee area. I am also a member of the account team at a prominent public relations firm in the city. I work with a wide variety of clients from nonprofits to law firms and entertainment venues helping them gain positive publicity in their communities through event planning, advertising, and media pitches, to name a few. My English degree has been an invaluable asset that I use every day in my professional and personal life.

The faculty’s rigorous expectations and course workload has molded me into the kind of hard worker employers look for, and someone with high expectations for myself. The strong focus on analyzing texts and group discussions has sharpened my critical thinking skills and ability to articulate and support my opinion with confidence. Frequent writing assignments have enhanced my vocabulary and developed a keen eye for details such as grammar, editing, and creativity. Although I have only scratched the surface, I think its clear this degree opens doors."

 Rebecca Krus '07

  "I am currently serving a year-long term of service with AmeriCorps though an an amazing non-profit organization that aids motivated and promising low-income high school students in the college admissions process.  My experience at St. Norbert College was incredibly formative, fostering my interest in social justice and encouraging me to engage with my community. The English degree I earned at St. Norbert was central to my immersion in issues of social justice, developing my critical thinking skills and providing a space in which to explore and discuss difficult topics.  It truly is a discipline of the Humanities, challenging students to tackle the gamut of human situations through literature.  Furthermore, the English classes I took taught met he writing skills necessary to communicate complex ideas.

I am certain that the training I gained from the English Department was largely responsible for my placement and success with my current organization. I am truly indebted to the St. Norbert College English faculty and thankful for such a wonderful and influential experience." 

Assistant Residency Program Coordinator Department of Surgery
University of Wisconsin-Madison

"My primary responsibility as Assistant Residency Program Coordinator is to ensure that all of my residents are in compliance with rules mandated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Essentially, I serve as a liason between the residents and the administration. I also provide council and support. Daily activities include monitoring work hours, distributing meal cards, creating call schedules, recruiting, and organizing educational conferences and programs. My English degree has been invaluable transitioning to the work force. It has given me the tools to communicate effectively, think critically and problem solve."