At some point in their studies, every English major receives the dreaded question: “What will you do with an English degree?”
Career planning is constantly at the forefront of my mind—especially as I enter my senior year of undergraduate studies. I strategically picked courses to strengthen my writing abilities, I found professional development opportunities on campus, and I spent hours patrolling LinkedIn, Handshake, and Indeed when internship application season began last fall. Like many English majors and minors, I applied to every publishing house and editorial internship program I could find. I knew it was a competitive industry, but it was still disheartening to receive the rejection letters. It felt like an endless scramble to discover the next open application cycle.
Then a leadership mentor’s recommendation led me to expand my search and apply for a Corporate Affairs internship at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), a pharmaceutical company. What surprised me the most about this opportunity was how BMS was specifically looking for a student majoring in “English, Communications, or other related fields.”
A student majoring in English. English.
Aside from the publishing industry, requests for English majors were an oddity throughout my internship search. Pharmaceuticals seemed like the farthest thing from storytelling at the time, but my patient advocacy experience challenged me to think otherwise; I knew how important it was for a patient to share their story. When I submitted my application to BMS, I remember wondering if there was a way to combine my love for writing with my experience in the advocacy world. During my initial interview that November, I was pleasantly surprised to learn about Global Patient Week—an annual event at BMS dedicated to celebrating the lives of patients and their stories. I knew this was the place I needed to be.
Three months and two writing samples later, I got The Call and received an internship offer.
When I joined the Policy, Purpose, and Patient Communications team at BMS, imposter syndrome developed a little too easily. Never had I worked in a corporate setting. To boot, I was the only English major within our team of interns. This experience was far from the world of John Donne’s sonnets and the experimental works of Carmen Machado. I had 10 weeks to adapt to an unfamiliar writing style and mentally translate an endless list of corporate (and scientific) terminology. I know it all sounds discouraging, but this experience was really an impactful learning opportunity and a chance to take my lessons outside of the classroom.
W. W. Norton conducted a survey in 2022 illustrating how undergraduate students felt English courses helped develop their creativity, further honing their communication, writing, and critical thinking skills—all superpowers that helped them stand out in the workforce. This was certainly the case for my summer experience.
The projects I completed as part of my internship allowed me to use my English major “superpowers” to continue refining my analytical skills through research, practicing copywriting for social media, and learning the importance of adaptive storytelling across platforms and mediums. I wasn’t editing the next New York Times bestselling novel, but I was still sharing stories that made an impact. Seeing the reactions to a live patient story at a Global Town Hall event is an indescribable feeling; there is just something special about hearing an audience laugh and cry alongside a patient courageous enough to share their story. It gives your work true meaning and makes all the difference in the eyes of your audience.
My internship experience also provided networking opportunities with BMS employees and their agency partners. Imagine my surprise when I met former English majors in various roles across the company, including my BMS mentor! Hearing about each person’s unique professional journey gave me better insights into what future career opportunities are available for English majors. The biggest piece of advice I received is how writing is universal. Everyone has a story to share and sometimes they need help finding the right words.
If you ask an English major why they chose their degree path, chances are it is because they love a good story. My internship experience taught me a crucial lesson: storytelling opportunities can present themselves anywhere. You just need to have the writing skills, a passion for storytelling, and an open mind to creatively pursue any opportunity that comes your way.
Brooke Foster
Student Representative, Eastern Region, 2025-2026
Nu Phi Chapter
Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Society strives to
- Confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
- Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities;
- Foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing;
- Promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
- Exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
- Serve society by fostering literacy.
With over 900 active chapters located in the United States and abroad, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Advisors, and approximately 9,000 members inducted annually.
Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.
