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First, some facts. Of the English Literature graduates from University at Buffalo we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:
These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).
The verdict? Significantly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 47%, English Literature graduates from University at Buffalo have a much lower likelihood (-20%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:
And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.
Also, after graduating, 60% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a English Literature graduate.
See the details:
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Relevance score: 92% We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.
DEGREE INFOGraduated in 2012 from University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in English Literature. Also pursued further education since (see below). JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATIONESL Secondary Ed. Teacher Suratpittaya High School Dec 2015 - Oct 2016 Second Grade Teacher STIS Suratthani International School Oct 2016 - Jun 2017 CAE/PET/ILETS Examination Prep Instructor World Fusion English Jul 2017 - Sep 2017 Professor D'Ingles Extreme Learning Center Sep 2017 - Nov 2017 English Second Language Teacher USA Rio English Dec 2017 - May 2018 English Second Language Instructor James Cook Languages s.r.o. Aug 2018 - Sep 2019 English Second Language Instructor DaDa Jan 2017 - Nov 2019 Classroom Teacher  Northern Rivers Family of Services Nov 2019 - Jun 2021 ELA Teacher 7-12 Certified Northern Rivers Family of Services Jul 2021 - Present FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATINGMaster of Arts - MAState University of New York College at Buffalo 2012 - 2015 Master of Science - MS University at Albany, SUNY 2020 - 2021 ABOUTProficient ELA teacher with experience teaching pupils using engaging and interactiveclassroom lessons. Familiar with department needs and leadership strategies. Talented atquickly identifying student issues and comprehension levels to address areas needingimprovement for maximum success. Experience working with ESL learners, behaviorallyinclined students, and students with exceptionalities. |
The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:
From the analysis of LinkedIn profiles of graduates from the University at Buffalo with a degree in English Literature, it's clear that there are a few common career paths. A significant number of these individuals have taken roles in education, particularly as ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers or instructors. These positions directly leverage their understanding of English language and literature, making them highly relevant to their academic background. Additionally, some graduates have entered more creative fields, such as technical writing or staff writing for newspapers, which also align well with the skills they acquired during their studies.
On the flip side, many graduates find themselves in jobs that don't directly relate to English Literature. Roles such as retail management, customer service, and even positions in law enforcement often dominate the list, suggesting that while their degree offers critical thinking and communication skills, it doesn't always translate into a career directly tied to literary studies. Overall, while a good chunk of graduates are employing their English Literature degree effectively in teaching or writing roles, many others are in jobs that only vaguely relate to their field of study.
Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for English Literature graduates (this is across all English Literature graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University at Buffalo):
When taking a peek at the career trajectories of University at Buffalo English Literature graduates, it seems like there's a mixed bag of outcomes. Many of the recent grads have started off in teaching roles, especially in English as a Second Language positions, which makes sense given their background. For instance, a grad from 2012 jumped around various teaching gigs, honing their skills over a few years. However, there’s also a trend of graduates taking on jobs that feel pretty disconnected from their literature studies. Take the 2011 grad who bounced from being a Key Carrier at Payless to a Shift Supervisor at CVS—definitely not what you’d expect from someone with a humanities degree!
Fast forward five to ten years, and you can see some have found a way to stay in the field of education, like a graduate who became a visiting assistant professor. Others have moved into roles that seem a bit more corporate or technical, such as working in integration management or as instructional designers, which still utilizes their skills in communication and writing, but not necessarily their love for literature. Yet, there are still those stagnant career paths, where some years later, they’re still in service positions or switching jobs in retail or plumbing services. Overall, while many grads pursue teaching, the diversity of their paths shows that not everyone finds a direct line to a literature-related career post-graduation; that can be both a warning and an opportunity!"
Honestly, a Bachelor's degree in English Literature can be pretty challenging, but it really depends on your interests and how much you enjoy reading and writing. At University at Buffalo, like many schools, you'll dive into a wide range of texts, from classic novels to contemporary poetry, and you’ll spend a lot of time analyzing themes, characters, and styles. The workload often includes heavy reading lists and writing essays that require strong critical thinking and argumentation skills. If you’re passionate about literature and can handle a fair bit of reading and writing, it might not feel super tough; but if you’re not into those things, it could be a bit of a struggle. Overall, it’s about average in terms of difficulty compared to other majors, but it can definitely have its demanding moments!
Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in English Literature.
Looking at these University at Buffalo grads, it seems like most of them have had a pretty mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. For some, like the 2013 grad who's now a Managing Director at Savills North America, it looks like they've hit a nice financial stride. Others, like the 2011 grad working at CVS, haven't really moved up the ladder much and are probably not raking in the big bucks. The teachers follow a similar trend; while some can earn a stable income, especially with experience, others have bounced around a lot between short-term gigs and might be earning more modestly. Newer grads, like those from 2023, are just starting out and likely in entry-level positions, which usually don’t pay a ton. So, overall, it looks like some are doing well while others might be struggling a bit more financially—definitely a mix!
Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in English Literature (this is across all English Literature graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to University at Buffalo). This may or may not be useful:
Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in English Literature (ordered by the average relevance score of their English Literature graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:
