Employability

Studying English Literature at the University of Exeter gives you an excellent all-round education and provides you with skills that are attractive to employers and relevant for a wide range of careers.

Oral and written communication

You will learn to understand other people’s points of view, to communicate your own position clearly and to argue effectively. Oral and written communication is at the heart of our programme: you will learn to present your ideas about literary texts and films, the contexts of their creation and reception, the ideologies and politics that inform them and the theoretical frameworks that can be applied to them in various context-appropriate formats (oral presentations with or without handouts and powerpoint slides, essays, formal reports and informal discussions). Individual modules will also include activities that are relevant to careers in the Arts sector: you will have the opportunity to study creative writing, to compose theatre and film reviews, to contribute to online blogs and to submit work to a variety of student publications.

Important transferable skills

The degree programme is designed with a view to developing not just your communication skills, but also a wide range of important transferable skills. In your individual and group research for essays, you will learn to handle data and will learn to collect, assess and present evidence. On top of these essential research and analytical skills, essay-writing is one of several ways in which the degree course contributes to developing problem solving and decision making skills.

Own learning

You will be encouraged to work on your own and we put a lot of emphasis on the need for you to take responsibility for your own learning. This involves developing the ability to network with your peers and the ability to judge for yourself when to consult your academic tutors in office hours for the extra support that is on offer.

Teamworking

As you progress through your degree, you will build on the teamworking skills you will be taught in the first week of your studies in Exeter. Most of your seminars will involve an element of teamwork and you will regularly work on and discuss texts and ideas within a study group (normally between 3 and 6 students who are set a common task every week). Within your study group, you will have the opportunity to hone your interpersonal skills, to argue, debate, defend your views while showing sensitivity to the viewpoints and needs of others. You will have the opportunity to take a leading role within your study group and to manage group projects.

Time management

Through all these activities, which are often linked to strict deadlines, you will learn to manage your time effectively and demonstrate the ability to work within the context of a larger institutional structure.

'Humanities in the Workplace' module

While the degree programme as a whole thus prepares you very effectively for the workplace, at Level 2 the 'Humanities in the Workplace' module is particularly geared towards helping you bridge the gap between University and the workplace. You will be offered training in CV-writing, devising job applications, interview skills and will learn about corporate and commercial awareness. A work placement co-ordinator will help you secure relevant work experience which can count towards your degree. This is where you will have the chance to demonstrate your adaptability, reflective skills and ability to be enterprising.

Exeter Award

Another way of getting training in CV-writing and general job-hunting skills and of making sure that you are getting all you can out of work placements is to enrol in the Exeter Award. Run by the Career Zone, which offers a broad range of skills training, employer-led sessions, workshops and job hunting materials, the Exeter Award is a way of structuring and recognising the extracurricular activies that enhance students’ employability. The skills workshops, careers talks and progression planning events organised by the Department of English contribute to the Award structure. Personal tutors will regularly prompt their students to participate in the Exeter Award, to work on their CVs, reflect on their skills sets and plan their personal and academic development effectively.

Graduate destinations

Graduates of our department have been very successful in a remarkable range of professions - view some of the conventional and less conventional choices our recent graduates made.

Predictably, a significant number of students choose to progress into careers in teaching. Another very popular destination are careers in the media and careers in the arts. Many of our students also choose to work for accountancy firms and to go on to do law conversion courses: a lot of support and advice is on offer from the Employability and Graduate Development for students who choose these types of career.

Career Zone

Our Career Zone provides information and advice to help you make decisions about your career after university and improve your chances of getting the job you want. Help includes providing opportunities to meet prospective employers, careers advice and practical skills such compiling a CV or preparing for an interview.

After my English degree I am hoping to complete a Graduate Diploma in Law, a one year law conversion that will prepare me for a subsequent career at the Bar. I had considered a career in the Law prior to beginning my degree but I knew very little about the different areas of legal practice and the steps to take after university.

Thanks to the Careers and Employability Service and schemes like the Exeter Award I have been able to get more specific information. I have since been drawn to the Law because I ardently believe in serving people, getting justice, and protecting individuals’ rights. I have a thirst for knowledge and I know that several years of varied voluntary work and extra-curricular activities have prepared me more than amply for the challenges of a legal career. Through my work as a Student Ambassador and thanks to organisations such as Community Action, I am thoroughly involved in all aspects of university life and I regularly communicate with a diverse range of people that I would not necessarily encounter within the student body. I have mentored local primary school children and run Older People’s projects. I currently work at Headway Devon to support those with brain injuries and I have enjoyed working at a local soup kitchen. Writing for Exeposé and presenting for XTV helped me to rule out a career in the media although it was a fantastic way to meet friends. I am also part of the Exeter Crown Court Witness Service Team, which gives me a valuable insight into the side of Law few people see.

For me, the Law is a natural progression from an English BA which is infused with the story of civilization and morality. Three years of rewarding literary study have enhanced the lucidity of my writing, given me keen critical and analytical skills and taught me to argue coherently.

Within my first few weeks at university I visited the Careers and Employability library to collect relevant information. I attended many of the careers fairs and employability events and talked to careers advisors regularly. Everyone I have come into contact with has been extremely helpful and supportive. They all encouraged me to get a wealth of experience in the relevant fields as early as possible.

During term time I researched legal firms online and sent applications for holiday work experience and internships. As a result I have worked at several different legal and advocacy firms to get a good idea of the Law that most appeals to me. My long term ambition is to become Human Rights Barrister, representing the voiceless and impoverished; both locally and internationally. I am particularly keen to work on issues of religious freedoms, representing those who are persecuted for their faith. A careers advisor encouraged me to apply for the Floella Benjamin Career Development Award and as a winner I am looking forward to spending this summer on a human rights internship abroad.

There are extensive opportunities for career development at Exeter. The careers advisors have been an invaluable source of support and friendship during my time here, keeping me motivated, giving me wise advice and they are never too busy to help. Your degree will go so quickly that it is never too early to be thinking about your career.

Annabel Wilkinson, 2010 cohort