Advertising, Public Relations, and Media

An alumna doing marketing and public relations for Marcelli Construction Company says her writing skills have been "essential" since she is responsible for much of the communication between her office, architecture firms, subcontractors, and the various owners of each project.  She says that she "graduated a much better writer" and adds this about her education: "It not only taught me facts but it challenged the way I thought.  I learned to be critical in thinking and yet maintain and explore the creative.  The instructors I had in the English department were amazing."

A technical editor at Lanier Environmental Consultants, Inc., says her English major "prepared [her] well" for her current position.  She finds the writing and reading skills she received from her English major essential in her job, since her duties include reviewing all reports that leave her office for grammar and consistency and reading geological and environmental assessments.

A writer and editor for the United States Tennis Association also finds the writing skills gained from his English major important to doing his job.  He is currently producing a USTA yearbook.

An account executive for Inmart Group Ltd, an incentive, ad specialty, and premium marketing company, feels that her English major has "been helpful (and profitable)" in all her jobs since Albion.  She says that writing skills are "very" important to her current job, since "many of [her] first introductions are made through letters.  It's important to make a good first impression through concise, professional, and intelligent communication."  She adds that critical "reading" goes on in her dealings with clients: "You need to understand what is important to them—to get to the heart of what they are saying (or not saying).  The English courses at Albion taught me to think critically and examine not only the words but the meaning behind them."

An account supervisor for Golin/Harris Communications whose job is managing Asia Pacific media relations for Chrysler Corporation says that both writing and critical reading skills are important to her current job: "Clear, concise writing is essential on a daily basis for memos, reports, press releases, and correspondence with Chrysler's overseas offices. . . . I evaluate media coverage for its impact on Chrysler and analyze proposals for opportunities for the company.  I'm also asked to review and give feedback on my colleagues' work."

A member of the Campus Crusade for Christ staff uses her writing skills in preparing newsletters, brochures, and studies for the students, in writing talks and evaluations, and in presenting programs.  Since her job requires her to keep up with changing college culture and thought, she also finds her critical reading skills important.  She says that her English major prepared her "very well" for her current job, and that as she looks back, she realizes that "the skills of analysis, critical thinking, and constant practice in writing have allowed me the flexibility now of quick and creative thinking."

An alumnus who has worked at Channel 3 as a broadcasting traffic facilities coordinator found critical reading skills "very important" to this position and says that "having a Liberal Arts/English background prepares you to learn anything objectively and rather quickly."  He goes on to say, "If you can read and learn literature, I believe you can learn business."

Law

An attorney specializing in real estate law for a title company finds both writing and critical reading skills to be "extremely" important to his job.  He feels his English major helped prepare him for his current position "very well," and adds, "my job involves the drafting of documents which require clarity and precision. Also, I must frequently draft correspondence to others."

A police officer in Clinton township says his English major prepared him "very well" for his current job, and adds that he was surprised by how well his English/political science major prepared him for a career in law enforcement.  He says that the writing ability he gained in his English classes is important to his career, as clarity is especially essential when what you write will be "scrutinized by attorneys": "I never realized the importance of being able to put in writing the thoughts and observations of a few seconds."  Critical reading skills are also important in his work: "Trying to determine a judge's ruling, an attorney brief, or, for that matter, a lawsuit demands attention to detail."

Management

A troubleshooter for a Japanese import/export company says that her English major helped prepare her for her current position, especially since she is "confident in [her] abilities as a writer and a speaker."  She says that writing skills are very important in her job because much of it involves written communication with Customs, and adds, "During these last four years I have been especially pleased to be consulted for advice on written English."

A marketing trainer at Blue Shield/Blue Cross of Michigan says that both writing and critical reading skills play a large role in his current career.  His position requires him to develop manuals, presentation materials, and brochures; reading and proofreading are also "of utmost importance."  He remarks that his English major specifically helped get him his job: "My English major played a major role in the hiring decision process.  My manager told me I was hired because of my English major, my analytical abilities, and my writing quality.  My classroom experiences while at Albion greatly enhanced my ability to take a subject and review it with my audience."

A trainer/marketing strategist for IBM in Baltimore says: "My four years as an English major taught me to analyze what I read and to be precise in what I write. These skills are critical to my current position."

Sales

A salesperson and manager in at First Winthrop Properties, a Chicago real estate management company, finds both writing and critical reading skills to be important in her career.  She feels that her Albion English major has been helpful in work and in life, and that her "general knowledge in reading and writing has been beneficial in the business world."

A customer service representative at a manufacturing company in Michigan says that writing is important to her job, and that she has been asked to write parts of handbooks and letters because of her background in English.  She feels that her English major has made her "a well-educated and well-spoken person" and adds, "Being able to express myself well is crucial to my job."

Social Work and Counseling

A medical social worker for Michigan Home Health care who has also worked as a youth counselor and runaway program coordinator feels that writing skills are very important since she communicates with doctors, nurses, and other agency personnel through reports and letters.  She says, "Good writing skills enhance my ability to interact on a highly professional level."  She finds that her English major was especially helpful to her career in that it required her to "develop individual ideas and support . . . them with logical reasons, evidence, etc."

A therapist with emotionally-disturbed adolescents in Chicago says that writing skills are "essential" in her job, since "daily progress notes that document therapy sessions must be clear and concise," and "clinical summaries and reports must accurately describe treatment interventions and assessments of the students."  She finds that her critical reading skills are "tested when gathering information from the student files. . . . Critical reading skills help to extract pertinent material in a time-efficient way."  She feels that her English major has helped her express her clinical thinking "in an accurate and detailed manner" and adds: "I feel very confident with my oral communication skills.  Having an enriched curriculum that includes building vocabulary and comprehension skills helped to develop my written as well as oral
expression."

Teaching

A sixth-grade teacher in Detroit says both writing and critical reading are important in her job: "I learn and teach these skills every day!"  She says her Albion English major was "extremely important in my preparation for the field of education."  She adds, "I feel Albion gave a great foundation for the appreciation of the many literature genres."

A high school teacher in Grand Rapids also finds writing and critical reading skills essential to his job.  He says his English major did prepare him for his job, and that "the reading and writing and the class discussions on literature were the most beneficial."

A substitute teacher working for her masters in Library Science calls both critical reading and writing skills "extremely" important in her job.  She says that she writes both for work and for class and adds: "I believe I was prepared quite well for my current position."

A fifth grade teacher in Illinois says that writing is "extremely" important in his job, both in communication with parents and in his class work.  Critical reading skills are "very important" also.  He says of his Albion English major: "My major as well as the overall high writing expectations of my professors contributed significantly to my current skills as a writer."

A high school Spanish teacher says writing is "absolutely" important to her job and feels that, although she is not now teaching English, her English background "prepared [her] well for the many administrative aspects of [her] job."  She adds, "My studies of and discussions about a wide array of literature topics were invaluable in broadening my perspective and improving my mental flexibility."

A teacher's assistant in the construction trades finds, once again, that writing and critical reading skills are important in her job.  She says: "I am able to make myself understood in writing and by the spoken word. . . . I can also understand written and spoken communications form other people—another worthwhile skill."

A second-grade teacher in Michigan finds that writing skills are important to writing comments on report cards, letters to parents and the School Board, and grant-writing—all elements of her current position.

A substitute teacher currently looking for a full-time teaching position says that in teaching, "writing skills are of the utmost importance" and that "without critical reading skills much information and time is lost, and no one can afford that."  She says that the Albion English department "always led me to believe any job was open to an English major because a person who could read, understand, and write well was always needed in any business or profession.  The Department was right."

A former sixth-grade teacher, now a full-time mother, says both writing and critical reading skills were essential to her teaching job "for obvious reasons" and says: "My English major helped me immensely."  She adds: "I don't think a good English background can ever do you wrong!"

Graduate School

An alumna now pursuing a master's degree in Counseling at Northern Arizona University says that both writing and critical reading are important in her current studies.  She feels that her English major prepared her well for her current position both because "critical reading and writing skills are an important part of graduate work—no matter the major" and because some of her classes "taught me how to rack my brain and really push myself."

A teacher who's also working towards her master's degree in Education says also that both writing and critical reading are important in her master's program and that "my English major helped me prepare to continue with my education."

An alumnus getting his master's degree in English Literature and History from the University of Montana says his English major "obviously" helped prepare him for his graduate studies.

A Ph.D. candidate in Politics at Princeton University notes that "strong writing skills are essential to a successful career in academia" and feels that her English major has helped her in her current work.  She says that many of her professors have remarked on her papers' being "tightly-written and well-argued."

A law student at the University of Detroit says that in her field, critical reading is essential ("semantics are everything").  She feels her English major prepared her for her career "very well," noting that "by graduation, I was very comfortable and confident in communicating in writing as I did so regularly as an English (and Political Science) student."  She also remarks that "Employers have commented that they like having English majors around because we have spicier writing."