EIU Department of English

Career Paths for English Majors:

Community Service / Nonprofit Management

 

Community service managers coordinate programs that provide services to the public, often working in the nonprofit sector. They manage communications with the public, conduct research on community needs or program effectiveness, seek funding and manage budgets. The kinds of responsibilities vary, depending on the size of the organization.

Students planning a career in this area might find it useful to have coursework in statistics, a minor in Business Administration, or a minor in a people-oriented field like Women’s Studies, Africana Studies, Sociology.

The employment outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2014 there were 138,500 people employed as managers in social and community service organizations. The field is projected to grow faster than average for other job fields, increasing by about 10% by 2024. *

Does this sound like you? Managers in community service organizations are usually committed to the particular area of service their organizations provide. They are interested in having careers that improve the quality of life in their communities. They need strong analytic, communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.

*All data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics cited on this page come from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which is available and searchable online.