Amanda Fitzsimmons

How did your time as an English major prepare you for your current role or your career? You can point to a specific skill, a course you took, or and/or something else entirely.

My English degree prepared me for my career in ways I didn't anticipate when I was in college. Looking back, it taught me how to take in a large amount of information, identify what matters, think critically, and communicate clearly. It also taught me to consider different perspectives and recognize that people can experience or interpret the same situation very differently. That skill is extremely valuable in HR, because there often isn't one simple version of a situation.

What advice would you give to someone considering an English major?

Don't assume that an English degree limits you to a particular career path. I chose English because I loved reading and writing. At the time, I didn't know exactly what I wanted my career to look like and thought I might end up in copy writing or journalism. The skills you develop as an English major translate into far more careers than you might expect so be open to where those skills can take you.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I still have a love of reading – my Kindle library has 978 books in it. I mostly read for fun, so you’ll find a lot of psychological thrillers, but there are several leadership and self-development titles mixed in as well.