Literary Studies

All tasks in public relations are focused on creating and maintaining a positive identity for an organization and its work. These may be companies, cultural institutions, public authorities, parties, or non-profit organizations.
Those working in public relations develop communication strategies and concepts to represent the institution. In larger organizations, internal communication is important as well.

Today, digital channels are the most important venues for communication, which led to the creation of fields of work such as social media management or community management. Like traditional communication jobs, those jobs also require a high level of text, language, and media competency.

Job titles:

• Media spokesperson
• Public relations manager
• Public relations advisor
• Communication manager
• Content manager
• Social media manager
• Community manager
• Campaign manager
• Web editor
• Cross media manager

Example for the field of work: Public relations manager
Public relations managers are responsible for maintaining the image of organizations, companies, and public authorities. They develop communication concepts and strategies. They are also a first point of contact for those working in media and communications. If you are interested, you can apply in agencies or communications departments.

Graduates in Literary Studies have wide-ranging career perspectives in cultural management and education. These include tasks in cultural exchange, cultural management, artistic concepts, public relations, sponsoring or event management. Employers in this area are theaters, museums, festival organizations, galleries, orchestras, foundations or institutions in the public sector such as ministries of culture and municipal cultural centers.

Job titles:

• Cultural manager
• Expert in cultural marketing
• Curator
• Dramatic advisor
• Cultural expert
• Cultural project manager
• Artist advisor
• Festival manager
• Fundraiser
• Art teacher
• Museum educator
• Academic staff member
• Artistic director
• Director of an orchestra, theater, festival

Example for the field of work: Cultural manager
Culture managers develop target group-oriented services and programs for cultural institutions and work on tasks such as fundraising, artist support, budget management or curatorial activities. In cultural marketing, marketing and public relation campaigns are developed in order to make the institution and the program well know, win audiences, and create a distinguished profile.
Theaters, museums, festival organizations, foundations, or institutions from the public sector such as ministries of culture and municipal cultural centers are employers in this field of work.

Perfecting the content and language of a book, developing concepts for a cover and layout, helping new publications to resonate—publishers offer a wide range of tasks in the field of editing, proofreading, product management or distribution.

Job titles:

• Editor
• Publishing manager
• Product manager
• Licensing manager
• Author
• Translator
• Proofreader

Example for the field of work: Editor

Editors search for suitable authors, make proposals for adding adequate manuscripts to their program and support authors in the creation of a book, from reading the first draft of a submitted text until the release for print.
Linguistic style, proficiency in German spelling and grammar, and a feeling for the target group are important requirements for the work. Dealing with data base systems and layout software is also part of an editor’s daily work.

A journalist’s task is to provide the public with factual information. This includes not only writing but also researching, evaluating, and compiling the information collected. Then journalists edit the contents for their audience and share them with the public. They may publish texts, images, video, and audio contributions. Careers in journalism often start with a traineeship (Volontariat). Journalists-to-be can complete these one- or two-year traineeships at publishers, broadcasting corporations, companies, and other institutions. For starting a career in journalism, it is indispensable to start gaining practical experiences in journalism or editorial departments early on.

Job titles:

• Journalist
• Editor
• Author
• Reporter
• International correspondent
• Web editor
• Online editor
• Video editor
• Blogger
• Social media manager
• Cross media manager

Example for the field of work: Social media manager
Social media editors develop interactive contents for various platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Instagram. They develop social media strategies, create profiles, share content and interact with users. They work in agencies, editorial or communications departments of companies or institutions.

In the field of education, graduates in Language and Literary Studies are suitable for activities which relate to the education or development of people. Activities which relate to the administrative or scientific work in education institutions are also possible fields of work.

Job titles:

• Education expert
• Adult education manager
• E-learning consultant
• Education manager
• Instructor
• Teacher
• Human resources developer
• Communication trainer

Example for the field of work: Education expert
Education experts organize and design education events. They are responsible for the education offers in institutes, educational institutions, associations, foundations or big companies. They create the program, develop measures and sometimes also hold courses.

The work in libraries and archives focuses on preparing, evaluating, managing and making media accessible. Graduates in Literary or Language Studies have valuable skills such as media and research skills and a well-structured way of working.
Archives, libraries, museums, churches, public authorities, media or industrial companies offer jobs in this field. The tasks include categorizing and archiving collections. As part of digitalization, IT applications are becoming increasingly important in libraries and archives and dealing with IT systems is part of the basic know-how. Employees take care of the collection, offer advice and train users.

Job titles:

• Archivist
• Librarian
• Information manager
• Documentalist

Example for the field of work: Archivist
Archivists collect, conserve and maintain media worthy of preservation. This includes documentation material, text, audio and visual documents, minutes, contracts and other physical and non-physical documents. They make the archived material accessible for use by researchers and the public by using specific ordering principles and provide sufficient protection to preserve the documents. They organize presentations, curate exhibitions in archives or host tours for the interested public or for researchers.