Name: Katie Moss
Age: 26
College & Majors/Minors: AA Communications, BA English/Minor French, MA English Lit.
Current Location: Boston, MA
Current Form of Employment: Full-time Marketing Copywriter/Coordinator, Part-time Freelance Writer
Where do you work and what is your current position?
Recently, I secured a job as a marketing coordinator/copywriter for a retail IT consultancy firm. I am the first official member of the marketing team, so I have a broad range of duties, ranging from coordinating company events, to handling social media initiatives, to writing content for the company’s focus reports and organizing/contributing to our website.
Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).
My first “real” job after graduate school took six months to secure, but it was a great first job. I worked at a technology company that built websites for automotive dealers. My position was that of a copywriter in an SEO department. I had to take a writing test to secure this job, as well as go through three interviews. The entire process from application took about four months.
What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?
My freelance writing has been an important part of growing my career. I take writing gigs across a variety of different industries and create many different types of content. This looks great on my resume and shows that I am a go-getter!
What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?
I WISH I had gotten an internship. It’s one of my biggest regrets. I expected to obtain a job more easily after college than I did because I had always done so well in school. Turns out, it’s really difficult to get your first job. I did do part-time work during grad school as a professional notetaker, so it was nice to have some work experience.
What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?
Take an applicable internship, if possible. It’s a great way to show you have related work experience. Write. Write a lot. You’ll need a variety of samples for your applications. You should also market yourself online with a blog or portfolio. An online presence is super important in today’s job market.
