You will learn more about the various roles of writers and communicators in the workplace across a number of courses in the major, especially ENG 3836 Professional Lives and Literacy Practices, ENC 4944 Writing Internship, and ENC 4379 Writing and Rhetoric Capstone.
We encourage you to take advantage of resources available through UCF Career Services including help with resumes, cover letters, and interviewing; job search workshops, the Employment Prep Conference, and Career Expos.
As you will discover, a wide range of industries and companies hire writing specialists, who are called various titles, including but not limited to the following: advertising writer, copy writer, columnist, communication coordinator or manager, communication specialist or consultant, copyeditor, documentation writer or specialist, editor, editorial assistant, entertainment writer, freelance writer, grant writer, healthcare communicator, information designer or developer, marketing writer or communicator, publications specialist, medical writer, professional/technical writer, proposal writer, public relations specialist, regulatory writer, report writer, sales writer, staff writer, Web content writer, website manager, writing teacher.
Industry Sectors
Below is a list of industries that regularly hire writers, each with an example of a company that has hired in Central Florida.
- Business (Coldwell Banker Commercial)
- Education (Orange County Public Schools)
- Engineering (QinetiQ North America)
- Entertainment, Tourism, Hospitality (Walt Disney World)
- Government (City of Orlando)
- Healthcare, Medicine, Biotechnology (United Healthcare)
- IT and Software Development (Harris Corporation)
- Legal Services (Holland & Knight)
- Nonprofit and Civic Organizations (Special Olympics Florida)
- Professional Business Services (Pontoon Solutions)
- Professional and Technical Communication (Siemens)
- Public Relations (Curley & Pynn)
- Publishing and Editing (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
Types of Graduate and Professional Programs
- English, Rhetoric & Composition (check out this directory of M.A. programs in this area)
- English, Technical or Professional Communication
- Communication Studies
- Law School
- Communication Management
- TESOL
Prospects for Graduates with Writing and Other Liberal Arts Degrees
- PayScale on Common Jobs for Humanities Majors and for Communication Majors
- AACU Report (2014) about Long-Term Professional Success of Liberal Arts Graduates
- Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac Report (2012) “Pay for Liberal Arts Graduates vs. Professional and Preprofessional Graduates, by Age Group”
- Jim Tankersley’s Boston Globe article (2013) “Starting College? Here’s How to Graduate with a Job”
- Burning Glass Report (2013) “The Art of Employment: How Liberal Arts Graduates Can Improve Their Labor Market Prospects”
- Paul Schmitz’s CNN article (2012) “Look to Nonprofit Sector to Create Jobs”
Surveys of Employers Indicating Importance of Writing and Communication Competencies
- National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook (2012)
- Chronicle of Higher Education Report (2013) “Employers and Public Favor Graduates Who Can Communicate, Survey Finds”
- Chronicle of Higher Education Report (2012) “The Role of Higher Education in Career Development: Employer Perceptions”
- AACU and Hart Research Associates Report (2010) “Raising the Bar: Employers’ Views on College Learning in the Wake of the Economic Downturn”
Job Outlook and Job Database Resources
- National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Job Outlook (2020)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (under Media and Communication, see Writers and Authors, Technical Writers, Editors, Public Relations Specialists, and Reporters)
- FL Dept of Economic Opportunity Employ Florida Marketplace
- FL Dept of Education Job Placement Database
- Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster Job Search Databases