Jobs for the Major
How this major affects a job search
If you want to be a creative writing major, you shouldn't have any illusions about post-collegiate life. Although it's immensely rewarding to be a writer, it's a difficult path that not everyone can walk.
After all, it's tough out there for writers—especially authors and poets. No one is going to walk up to you and hand you a job. Instead, you'll need plenty of talent, hustle, and—most importantly—luck to have a shot at success.
Regardless, if you're truly passionate about writing, you'll always feel rewarded creatively, even when the cash doesn't flow quite as easily.
That being said, there's nothing wrong with using this degree to get a nine-to-five job. Like a general English degree, your diploma is versatile enough to land you a position in countless different industries, from non-profits to giant tech corporations. That's the great thing about writing—it's a skill that every industry needs.
Our best advice is to focus on your skills rather than your degree. Majoring in creative writing teaches students how to communicate, to work well with others, and to deliver quality work on tight deadlines. Hey, if nothing else, you should be able to write one phenomenal cover letter. Believe it or not, that's an extremely valuable skill.
Common Career Fields
Advertising. Yes, we know that you promised the dudes in your high school punk band ("The Dirty Weasels," if we remember correctly) that you'd never sell out, but just hear us out. If you take pride in being particularly persuasive, you might actually enjoy the advertising business. You'd be able to flex your creative muscles while still earning a solid paycheck. Total win-win.
Content Writing. Ah, the mysterious and slightly confusing world of online content. Oh, how we love you. Ever since the Internet arrived on the scene, we've witnessed a sea of change in the way that media works, as many long-standing writing jobs get tossed out like yesterday's cold beans. Regardless, this new world of blog content and social media managers means one thing—that somebody, somewhere always needs some words written. For writers like us, the Internet's the closest we've got to a bat signal.
Grant Writing. Ever wonder how charities manage to pull in massive amounts of grant money? Believe it or not, it's because of writers like you. As a grant writer, you'll spend your days convincing people with boatloads of Benjamins to spare a few dollars for deserving non-profits. It's a lot of work (just ask anyone who works for a non-profit organization), but this is one career that is truly rewarding. If only the warm fuzzies were accepted as legal tender...
Journalism. Studying creative writing will teach you how to work with tight deadlines, collaborate with others, and create stellar collections of words. What better place to take those skills than the noble profession of journalism? Whether you dig writing music reviews, investigative exposes, or warm-hearted fluff pieces, you'll put your writing skills to good use in this profession.
Screenwriting. If you want to get into Hollywood, earning a creative writing degree could be the next best thing. After attending film school…or having smoldering Chris Hemsworth looks. Unfortunately. Your fiction workshops will teach you everything you need to know about telling stories, from effective characterization to proper plotting. Those techniques will prove useful, no matter what you're writing. Although you might need to take some film courses before truly understanding screenwriting, you'll be off to a great start by earning a creative writing degree.
Teaching. After so many writing workshops, you'll become a pro at managing a class of unruly students that are all trying to be heard. Why not use that skill as a teacher? Although you'll have to get your Masters or PhD first, you'll find that many of your creative writing skills, from communication to analysis, will be quite useful. Plus, many writers choose to teach because it gives them off-months to focus on their own writing.
Video Games Writing. If your love for writing is only matched by your passion for old school LAN parties, then boy do we have the profession for you. And no, we're not talking about becoming a competitive Smash Bros. player. Although it might be useful to take some coding or game design courses, your writing background is a solid foundation for a future career in video games. In fact, your creative mind could be total asset in an industry ruled by Spock-like nerds. After all, every Spock needs his Kirk.
Current unemployment of the major
7.7% (using "Composition and Speech" statistics)Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college
34%Stats obtained from this source.