Name: Jan Couture
Age: 47
College & Majors/Minors: University of Puget Sound, English Major with Professional Writing Emphasis, Economics Minor
Current Location: Derry, New Hampshire
Current Form of Employment: Self-employed
Where do you work and what is your current position?
I just started my own freelance writing business called Content by Couture. I specialize in writing marketing material for insurance and financial services companies. I've been writing printed and digital content for financial services companies for almost 25 years, so I'm a bit of a specialist in this area. I'm really excited to be on my own!
Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).
My first job was an internship with Weyerhaeuser Company, in their Engineered Wood Products division. I got it through the writing program at the University of Puget Sound. What a great experience it was! I was able to write marketing copy and see how marketing material was put together, working with designers and printers.
I didn't find my current job, I made it myself. I have been writing marketing material in the financial services industry for a long time and have friends at different companies—and I wanted to work for all of them. So, I decided to freelance, so I could do just that!
What was another writing-related job that was important?
All of my jobs have been writing-related, and each have been important to me. I've had some excellent mentors and bosses who were amazing marketers and writers themselves and I learned a lot from each of them.
Melissa Kravitz: Freelance Writer
Andi Satterlund: Self-Employed Writer/Knitting Pattern Designer
Erik Hanberg: Self-Employed/Writer
