DEH Career Talk: “English Major – Friend or Foe?”

DEH Career Talk: “English Major – Friend or Foe?”

Publish Date: 
Monday, January 16, 2023

On January 16, 2023, DEH organized a career talk titled "English Major: Friend or Foe." Ms. Sumaiya Binte Sarwar, Business Consultant and Researcher, was invited as the speaker for the session to share her insights and experience as an English major excelling in the corporate world.

Ms. Sarwar initiated the session by briefly discussing the diverse nature of English as a discipline and how it aids the students to approach a situation from different perspectives. She specifically focused on learning from literature which, according to her, cultivates analytical and critical thinking in an individual, helping them resolve the problems encountered in the professional domain much more effectively.

Contrary to popular belief, she shared that the business world needs individuals who are creative, innovative, as well as empathetic, and hence English graduates get the upper hand as their curriculum instigates them to exercise and adopt these qualities.

Furthermore, she added that English being the international language keeps the graduates a step ahead in their linguistic proficiency acquired from their academics. The capability to communicate with professionals from both home and abroad effectively is a key to striving in the highly competitive fields, and she suggested that the students from English, therefore, can utilize their communication skills in this area.

Being an example of making a successful career as a corporate professional herself, she believes that English graduates should not limit themselves to the career stereotypes, such as a teacher or BCS candidate. She advised that they should explore different fields and step into one that aligns with their passion, allowing them to incorporate their academic learning and acquired skills in the respective sector.

Finally, she shared some of her fond memories as a student of English Literature at the University of Dhaka. Then she proceeded to address the participants' concerns and queries.

The event was coordinated and hosted by Arifa Rahman, Head of the Department of English and Humanities, and ended with a vote of thanks by Professor Shamsad Mortuza, Special Advisor to the ULAB Board of Trustees.

Report by Isra Tahiya Islam (202013007)