BA in English deals with the study of linguistics and specific areas of literature that includes Shakespearean plays, European Literature, and more. The programme offers an in-depth knowledge of English grammar and usage, British Literature, critical thinking, diversity, written and communication skills, and more.
Okay, that’s great, by what can you really do after graduating in English?
This was the question we had in our mind when writing this article.
We talked to different stakeholders; and put together the most comprehensive list regarding career options that one could pursue in India:
Teacher
Another option that you may not have thought of, being a BA English Literature graduate, is becoming a Teacher. Okay, sarcasm aside, becoming a teacher is actually a really good idea. There is a reason that people automatically assume that if you graduated in BA English. you are going to become a Teacher. This career is safe, with steady demand and steady salaries.
If you have been living under a rock, here is what a Teacher does – Teachers in schools and colleges are responsible for teaching the future generation of our children. For the post of an English teacher, most schools prefer to hire BA English Literature graduates. No surprises there.
I know it’s tempting, but don’t be fooled by the simplicity of that job description, the work is still work. Timings are the good ol’ 9-5.
Salaries are good in this profession, with a decent amount of money being offered to freshers. Monetary growth is slow, but quite steady. There is not a lot of travel involved in this job, but you may be subjected to a few transfers here and there. Excited? Great, start applying to teacher jobs. Not your cup of tea? Read on, we got a few more options to help you along.
Journalist
Want to do something that helps people in a tangible way? Want to bring real, positive change into the world? As a BA English Literature graduate, your best bet to achieve these dreams is to become a Journalist.
So how does a journalist do all this? Journalists are hired to chase the latest news and produce quality articles for newspapers. As you can see, if you really love helping people and want to dedicate your life to such a cause, you can definitely go down this route.
Work-life balance, expectedly, is a bit hectic in this profession because your work life and your personal life overlaps quite a bit. What happened during ‘job hours’ may affect your mood during your off-hours.
The best part about his job is the rewarding nature of it. You can go to sleep everyday knowing that you have helped someone in their lives, and they are thankful to you for it. Growth prospects are also good, and leadership opportunities are available from a very early stage. A lot of soft skills are needed to excel in this role.
Salaries differ from organization to organization, but on average, you would be earning roughly INR 3,00,000-4,00,000 rupees per annum when you begin your career. Monetary growth is slow, but steady.
Content Writer
Another fantastic choice for you if you recently graduated with a BA English degree is to work as a Journalist. Decent pay, plenty of room for advancement, the chance to put all of your skills that you learnt during graduation to good use, and some travel thrown in for good measure. What more could a BA English Literature graduate possibly require?
If you’re not sure, this is what a Content Writer does – Content writers are responsible for doing write-ups on blogs, company websites, advertisements, product descriptions and more. The job profile varies depending on the medium and your place in the organizational chain, but this will be your primary responsibility.
Work-life balance can be ridiculous at times, but it’s not impossible to achieve if you have good relations with your superiors.
Let’s get to the good stuff. Starting salaries are in the INR 3,00,000-4,00,000 range, but there is a lot of room for development. Also, bear in mind that this is an estimate; if you live in a major city or tier-1 city, your salary would be much higher.
Script Writer
Another amazing option for you if you have just graduated after completing Bachelor of Arts in English , is to become a Script Writer. Good salary, great growth opportunities, opportunity to apply all that literature knowledge, and some travel sprinkled here and there. What more can a BA English graduate need?
If you don’t know, Scriptwriters are hired by media companies to write up scripts for television shows, movies and other forms of production. Leadership and management opportunities are difficult to find in this career, if that is an important factor for you in choosing a career.
You can expect your starting salary to be around INR 4,50,000-5,00,000 rupees per annum, but this is not a hard and fast rule. If you are applying to a bigger company and are able to adequately display your skills, you can get a much higher package. And as for growth prospects, the same rule applies. If you are good at what you do, you can expect to make a name for yourself in the industry.
Work-life balance varies, but in general, your weekends are going to be holidays and working overtime is going to be a rarity.
Proofreader
If you’re a BA English graduate, pursuing the road to becoming a Proofreader is a fantastic choice for you. The job description is exciting, and you’ll be challenged to solve new problems every day in a creative manner. Is there anything more satisfying? No, I doubt it.
Proofreaders are hired at publishing houses to read and correct grammar and language of write-ups produced by other writers. Some aspects of the job description, as well as work-life balance, can vary from company to company. Some businesses ensure that their workers have a good work-life balance, while others do not.
With time, leadership opportunities become open, and the opportunity for career advancement is enormous. However, bear in mind that this is a desk job, so travel will be a rare aspect of your workday. So, if travel is a top priority or a make-or-break factor for you, this career path may not be the right fit for you.
The pay in this field is good, with freshers being given a good starting salary (approximately INR 2,50,000). The money in this sector is growing slowly but steadily. What are you waiting for? Start applying for Proofreader positions now!
So these were some of the highest-paying professions that you can go for after completing a B.A. in English. Did you like the article and found it informative? Then please share it with fellow literature students so that they can make well-informed decisions about their professional life. Subscribe to our newsletter to get a weekly update about the different career options added on the website.