After you graduate, if not before, when applying to jobs or grad schools, you need letters of recommendation from your professors. Rounding out your resume, these letters attest to what you’ve done and who you are, professionally speaking.

"Networking." The word alone tends to strike fear into the hearts of many English majors. The awkward networking events, the struggle of figuring out where to begin (especially if you are unsure of your precise career path); it can all become overwhelming for even the most outgoing English major. 

For most people I know, there is a great deal of dread and anxiety around creating or updating a resume. What should I include? How long should it be? What should it look like? And really, it’s not an easy answer—there is no clear-cut way to create a resume. In my experience, they’re all a little different.

But in going over hundreds of English majors’ resumes —whether it’s for Dear English Major or my writing business—I’ve noticed a few mistakes that are made over and over again.

Here are the 3 most common mistakes English majors make on resumes:

Applying for a job is a long and time-consuming process, especially if you’ve tailored your resume and crafted an original, beautiful cover letter (both of which you should be doing!).

Wouldn’t it be a shame if all that hard work went to waste?

Few applicants realize this, but if you're submitting your resume via email, your resume isn’t what gives potential employers their first impression of you. Your email will provide a first impression, and when written poorly, it could cost you a well-deserved career opportunity.

The job application process can often feel like a full-time job itself. Between searching online for postings and tailoring your resume and cover letter, it’s downright exhausting! It’s hard to know how long you’ll be searching for that perfect job, too—it could be a week, and it could be months.

Despite the uncertainty, one thing is for sure: you don’t want to look back on those days as lost time. Make the most of your freedom by continuing your education, exploring yourself and working on your professional persona.

Here are some super productive self-improvement activities you’ll wish you’d done once you’re back in the nine-to-five saddle:

Rest assured, English majors: Your skills are indeed practical and sought-after by many employers! But there are a few crucial tactics you need to know in order to make a smooth transition from English class to employment. And chances are, your English profs won’t teach them to you. Read on to find out how I made it over the unemployment hump, and how you can do so quickly and in one piece!