Skills and knowledge developed by undergraduate study of the humanities and the application of these skills to business careers are discussed. The humanities are chiefly verbal disciplines and offer vital career preparation wherever communication and human relations are important. The scrutiny of students' writing, which occurs in humanities courses, develops skills in logic, precision of expression, and the ability to persuade. Humanities studies, which include English and history, help students learn about how people act and think. Humanities majors not only develop skills in writing but also in reading. Humanities graduates have skills that are valuable to a range of unspecialized jobs (management, public relations, personnel, communications). Liberal arts colleges should find out about job opportunities and create more ties with diverse employers. Insufficient concern for introductory humanities courses by colleges and narrow teaching of advanced courses are criticized. Specific reference is made to issues concerning the study of English. Reasons that keep business from turning to the humanities to find their employees are largely related to the identification of subject matters in the university, the established relationships between college and business, and routes of access by which students move to business careers. (SW)