5 Things You Can Do in College to Stand Out in the Job Market as a Writer

If you’re still in college, then you’re in luck—you have the power to significantly impact your post-grad life, and a world of opportunity is at your feet! Whether you're a freshman this fall or a soon-to-be graduating senior, use this precious time to your advantage. When you graduate, there will be millions of your peers at your side, vying for the very same job positions that you so desperately desire. Often, there are hundreds of qualified, experienced people applying for the same position.

We promise we’re not trying to scare you... we just know how important it is to stay practical and plan ahead. There are things you can do NOW to stand out later.

Consider the following five things that you can do in college to increase your chances of standing out in the job market as a writer:

1. Take part in writing-related extracurricular activities and internships.

Many colleges offer a range of writing opportunities outside of the classroom, such as a school newspaper (print and online), alumni magazine, literary magazine, etc. If you can, try out a variety of roles in a couple of publications. Sign up to be a reporter, and the next semester, try out an editor position if you can. Not only are these excellent things to have on your resume, but this is also a great way to determine what kinds of positions you would like to pursue after graduation, and what topics you’re truly passionate about. Do you get bored editing the work of others? Do you enjoy in-person interviews with people? These are the kinds of questions that will help you narrow your search once you start looking for a job.

Participating in an internship program is another important component of your undergrad experience. (It may be the case that internship employers will want to see that you’re active on campus, in which case those previously mentioned activities will come in handy.) An internship will provide you with a different type of work experience that will be even more useful when it’s time to buckle down and search for a post-grad job, and it may be as close to the ‘real world’ you will get during college. It’s an excellent thing to have on your resume—it shows potential employers that you’re serious about pursuing a career in a given field.

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2. Don’t just stick to writing—participate in a wide variety of extracurriculars.

Whether it’s Greek life, Amnesty International, fencing club, Habitat for Humanity, the sailing team or belly dancing club, it’s a good idea to involve yourself in something that’s not necessarily related to writing. As you probably remember from back when you were applying to college, it’s important to be well-rounded (on your resume, but also just in, ya know, life!), and the various experiences you have as a result of being involved will absolutely help you as a writer. After all… what the heck are you going to write about if all you do is… write?

Keeping an open mind about new adventures and opportunities will also allow you to meet new people and expand your network beyond the English department. Win, win! Speaking of networking...

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3. Take the time to network.

Some people won’t touch the word “network” with a ten-foot pole—the word as we know it in the job search world conjures images of awkward small-talk and exchanges of business cards. When we refer to “network” here, we’re really just encouraging you to meet new people and make some friends. Doesn’t sound so bad, right?

Talk to that person in your geology class who is outside your normal social group, ask your professors questions during office hours, make friends with the receptionist at your internship, etc. In many cases, jobs, internships and other work opportunities happen via word-of-mouth and through personal connections and recommendations. We’re not encouraging you to be fake or to use people, but by expanding your social group, you will naturally expand your “network” and scope of opportunities.

One of the best things about going to college is meeting like-minded folks who share the same interests you do, as well as meeting new people who will help you expand your view of the world and life in general. Take advantage and make some lifelong friends!

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4. Graduate with a portfolio.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a writer, one of the worst things you can do as an English major is to graduate from college with NOTHING (or close to nothing) in your portfolio. Most employers who are searching to fill writing-related positions will ask for examples of your work, and may even ask to be directed to your work online. (Check out ‘Building Your Professional Website & Online Portfolio: 13 Things You Need to Know’ for tips!)

Those clips you wrote for the school newspaper, that press release you wrote for your internship, and the newsletters you made for your fraternity house will definitely come in handy! 

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5. Further your education OUTSIDE of the classroom.

Most college courses aren’t going to go over things like grammar, punctuation, and the AP Stylebook, but it’s important to review these things on your own to keep your writing fresh and professional.

But when it comes to staying up-to-date on an ever-evolving industry, your education outside of the classroom doesn’t stop there. When you start the job search, employers will mostly likely want to see that you can do more than just write. Learning about things like web design, coding, WordPress, HTML, graphic design, etc. are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to skills outside of your English major. For more ideas on how to bulk up your skill set, check out '10 Ways to Stay Productive While You’re an Unemployed Writer.'

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Alyssa W. Christensen lives in Seattle and is the founder of Dear English Major. Her full-time freelance career consists of providing writing, editing, and marketing services to small businesses. When Alyssa isn't helping businesses improve their online presence, she enjoys exploring Seattle's culinary delights with her husband, catching up on her favorite blogs, and working on her latest craft project. 

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Top 3 Reasons for English Majors to 'Go Corporate'

One common trait most writers share is freedom of expression. Your thoughts, your words, your construction, your result—the liberal arts version of a never-before-seen chemistry experiment. Some (not all) writers manifest that philosophy into a defiance of Corporate America:

• “Why would I make someone else rich when I can work for myself?”

• “This is the exact reason I wanted to be a writer… I’m not into the 9-5 thing.”

• “I don’t need some MBA grad judging my work.”

Granted, these are legitimate reasons for being, at the very least, wary of swapping out your t-shirt and home office space for a collared shirt and cubicle. However, there are plenty of perks to working at a large company, and for those unfamiliar (and I certainly was at the start of my career), I hope to steer you toward your own decisions on whether a more corporate setting is your best fit.

Benefits: For What It's Worth

Chief among those benefits of going corporate are, well, the benefits. Many corporations will offer employees not only comprehensive health care plans, but 401(k) and other retirement account plans as well. Side note: younger savers may want to investigate the Roth IRA, which deducts slightly more money from your paycheck now, but at the advantage of paying no tax on your withdrawal later in life.

A smaller, more start-up type company could certainly pay more in cash—especially to Millennials, who baby boomers seem to hold in contempt—but for me, there’s nothing like the peace of mind of having strong health insurance, which is more likely to exist at a larger, more corporate entity. Breaking down deductibles, co-pays and HMOs is typically a job left to HR, which means less for you to try and discern. Knowing your options is still very important (as is having options in the first place), but if your corporate employer has a robust plan, you’ll appreciate the coverage.

Paid vacation and holidays are now considered part of an employee’s hygiene factor—in other words, a liberal vacation policy isn’t a perk; it’s an expectation. Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs, flexible spending plans and potential bonuses are great if they can be had, but their exclusion shouldn’t be dealbreakers.

Corporate Camaraderie 

Telecommuting and remote working arrangements are gaining steam over the last half-decade, but you’ll still likely spend the majority of your work week in a cubicle. Here’s why that’s not necessarily such a bad thing: people. When you’re having difficulty making coherent words appear on your screen, as we all have, collaborating with a manager or grabbing a coffee with a colleague can help take a sledgehammer to that wall of writer’s block.

You’re an Investment, Not a Number

Despite the United States’ recent plague of job loss and unemployment, or perhaps because of it all, corporations don’t take their hires lightly. In other words, if you find yourself at a solid company, don’t assume that you’re simply a number without a face, and the next market dip could leave your job vulnerable. In fact, a corporate job may provide you with some stability that may not be afforded to you at a smaller company. It can cost up to 150% of an employee’s salary to find a replacement, a statistic with which Human Resources people are undoubtedly familiar (and are being measured on), so they want to keep you.

These days, corporations far and wide acknowledge writers as soundly contributing team members, and not simply dismissed as people who don’t want to get a real job. Whether it’s copywriting, technical writing (not as creative, but still vital for industries like financial services and engineering), or the ever-expanding content marketing, versatile writers do have a role in the “real world.”

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About the Author

English major Mo Hall is currently a marketing writer and content coordinator at Michael C. Fina, a company located just outside of New York City. Read our interview with Mo here to learn more about his experience, career, and advice to English majors. 

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Building Your Professional Website & Online Portfolio: 13 Things You Need to Know

If you’re pursuing a career as a professional writer, having an online portfolio is an absolute must. When we say “online portfolio,” what we mean is a website that showcases your work, the same way you would in a binder of newspaper clippings (does anyone do that anymore?!).

Having an online portfolio allows you to direct potential employers to a single, permanent space where your work will always be accessible. It won’t get ruined in the rain and it will never go out of date (if you update it regularly, that is!). Even more importantly, it improves your professional online presence and creates a platform on which to market yourself, which is really what finding a job is all about. Plus, it shows how tech-savvy you are—a huge selling point alone!

There are so many online tools available, many of which are even free. But regardless of which one you choose, consult our expert checklist below to ensure your online portfolio is polished, professional and effective!

Relevant domain:

• Having your own domain name doesn’t cost much and it shows that you are serious about being a professional! Use your own name, a business name, or a short phrase that reflects your goals. Remember, it’s all about marketing yourself and creating something memorable.

Aesthetically pleasing design:

• Treat the design of your website as part of the portfolio itself. You want to show potential employers and clients that you have some web skills, but don’t worry—this doesn’t mean you have to become a web developer or a coding expert. Many designs are already built for you, and you have the option to customize them if you want. Also keep in mind that what is ‘hip’ in design is constantly changing. You don’t want a site that looks like it was built in 2005—things have come a long way since then.

Professional headshot:

• Making a good first impression with a professional headshot is crucial. Think of it this way: you’re the product you’re trying to market! This doesn’t mean you have to be a model, but getting your photo taken by a professional photographer—or even a friend with a great camera—is an investment you won’t regret! You can use this headshot in countless places, and it might be the first impression someone has of you and your brand. Lots of writers skimp on this, but it is absolutely crucial to your online image and the way you will be perceived. If you don’t care about representing yourself well, then how well will you be able to represent someone else?

Your resume:

• Whether listed directly on the site or provided as a PDF, including your resume offers an excellent way for potential employers to get a quick picture of your experience. Even a link to your LinkedIn profile is a good option.

Portfolio:

• This one is obvious at this point, but if you are going to bother making a website, then it needs to showcase your work! (You’d be surprised at how many professional websites lack this…) Include photos of completed projects, samples, screenshots, links, videos—whatever you have! It’s best to include a caption with each piece that at least details when it was created and what your contribution was.

Contact info:

• You don’t have to give away your soul here—a simple e-mail address that you regularly check will suffice! We definitely recommend against sharing your address online unless it’s an actual office and you want people to find you.

Optional:

Description of services:

• If you’re looking for freelance gigs, then you’ll want to include a list of your services and a brief description of each. Some freelance professionals choose to list their rates and fees directly on the site, while others prefer to keep that information confidential until they speak with a potential client directly. Either way, it should be clear from visiting your site what you do!

Testimonials:

• If you work with freelance clients, then this is a wonderful way to show off your street cred! Of course, some people take these with a grain of salt (who would post a bad review of themselves on their own website?) but it does show that you’ve worked with real people.

Dead pages:

• Oops! How did that happen? Test every link on your page—it doesn’t look very professional if you send someone to your portfolio and an important page is broken.

Unfinished design:

• Don’t send anyone to your site unless it’s completely finished! Once you start a page, finish it.

Out of date information:

• Did you get a new e-mail address? A new job? Have your work responsibilities changed? Is 2008 the last time you made an update? It’s a good idea to give your portfolio a glance every few months. Consider adding a website updating schedule to your calendar.

Faulty links:

• Unfortunately, links to other websites do become inactive, and when they do, there isn’t anything you can do about it. But don’t let that deter you from including them on your site. Just be sure to test the published links periodically.

Spelling or grammatical errors:

• You may be a writer or an editor, but you’re still not perfect. Call in a favor from a co-worker or ask a friend to proofread the text on your site—the last thing you want is for a potential client or employer to catch an error when you’re the one claiming to be the grammatical expert!

No matter where you’re at in your career, an online portfolio is not only a huge professional asset, but it’s also a super convenient way to get your name out there! Creating one may feel like busywork, but trust us, the investment will pay off.

Need some inspiration? Check out the links below for some of our favorite online portfolios (all from Dear English Major contributors!):

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What Does a Copywriter Actually Do?

When I first told a friend that I was a copywriter, she half-jokingly asked me if I was the one who drew the little circles around the tiny “R”s after company names.

Now, obviously, she was confusing copywriting with copyrighting—two homonyms with very different meanings—but there was some truth behind her question. Most people have no idea what copywriters do.

In the broadest definition, copywriters write advertising and marketing pieces. The words they write (their “copy”) sell things to people; whether that be literal selling of products, convincing people to take an action, or persuading them to think of a product, company, or person in a certain light.

When I use words like “selling” and “persuading,” a red light goes on for a lot of people and they assume that copywriters are “evil advertisers,” tricking people into buying things that they don’t need. That actually couldn’t be further from the truth.

A copywriter’s job, in essence, is to connect people who have a problem, a need, with the solution to that problem. That’s really the only way that anything is ever sold. A copywriter uses words that a particular audience will relate to and will understand to convey a solution (be it a product or a service) to a problem.

Sure, some problems are certainly more critical than others. The copywriter who writes the subway ad for a battered women’s shelter that helps a woman find a place to stay is doing a different kind of service to the world than the copywriter who writes a subway ad for a minivan that has the kind of seating and safety features that someone has been looking for—but that copywriter is still providing a service to the person seeking those features in a minivan.

My point is that copywriting is really about using writing to connect people with the solutions they need.

Copywriting, just like any other career, requires training; there are specific skills and techniques that someone must learn in order to become a successful copywriter. One of the most common mistakes I see people make is assuming that because they know how to write, they’ll be able to find jobs as copywriters. That’s just not how it works.

Creative Directors and clients want to hire copywriters who how to write copy—who know all the tools and techniques of writing effective messages. Which makes sense, right? I mean, I’m good at driving, but that doesn’t mean I can get work as a big rig trucker. I don’t know how to do that, so no one’s going to hire me to do it. I would need to get training.

And, in my opinion, it’s well worth getting that training because, not only is copywriting a great paying career, but it’s also fulfilling and fun. Copywriters get to do interesting, challenging, creative work and work with talented, dynamic people. A copywriter can work on-staff or as a contractor or a freelancer, and he/she can work for ad agencies, in-house agencies or individual clients.

No career is perfect, of course, but it’s thrilling to actually see your words in print or online; to know that thousands, if not millions, of people are reading words that you wrote. And I also suspect that it’s one of the few jobs in which you’re regularly really proud of what you do. Several times a day, a copywriter looks at the copy on his her or screen and thinks, “Hey! This is really good!”

So, I’m sure that there are plenty of people in the copyrighting business who enjoy what they do (even if they don’t get to draw the little circles—what a pity). But people who love writing, who want to collaborate to create great work, and who want to make a good living for their efforts, would do well to see if copywriting might be a good path for them.

Thoughts? Questions? Let us know in the comments below.

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Nicki Krawczyk is a copywriter, copy coach and the founder of FilthyRichWriter.com, an online resource with tips, tools and training for new and aspiring copywriters.

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Behind the Scenes: Quail Bell Press & Productions

Dedicated to exploring "the imaginary, the nostalgic and the otherworldly," Quail Bell Magazine is both an online and print venture published and produced under the Quail Bell Press & Productions umbrella. Articles, stories, essays, poetry, illustrations and photography from a wide range of creative souls comprise the ever-growing collection as the Quail Bell community continues to grow. We had a chance to talk to Christine Stoddard (check out our feature on her career), the Co-owner and Creative Director behind it all.

Pictured: Christine Stoddard.

Thank you for taking the time to give us a behind-the-scenes look at Quail Bell Press & Productions, Christine! Tell us a bit about how Quail Bell was started. 

I have loved books my whole life and 'zines and blogs since middle school. Quail Bell Magazine evolved from my urge to unify my blogging and zine-ing ideas, habits, and ambitions. So I registered the domain name while a student at VCUarts, and tinkered with the website for a while, pulling in classmates and strangers from the Internet alike. In 2011, I finally got serious and wrangled a real team, including Julie DiNisio and, a little later, Jade Miller, plus several others. Soon we had submissions coming in from all over the world.

Unfortunately, despite speedy progress that summer and early fall, Quail Bell's managing editor, Josephine Stone, was hit and killed by a valet driver right after we released our first print issue in October 2011. It took a while to recover from that shock, but I was lucky enough to meet Kristen Rebelo in May 2012. By fall 2012, it was really just Kristen and me running Quail Bell, since our friends Jade and Julie had decided to pursue careers in teaching. Kristen and I shut down the website and gave it what it really needed: a professional design overhaul. In June 2013, I made Kristen my business partner as co-owner of Quail Bell Press & Productions. Now we update QuailBellMagazine.com everyday, while also working on other original Quail Bell projects. We do art, media, and communications work for clients, too.

Pictured: Christine Stoddard & Kristen Rebelo.

It sounds like there are several components of Quail Bell— please elaborate a bit on each project for us!

There’s no mistaking a quail—not with its distinctive topknot and rhythmic bob. Likewise, there’s no mistaking Quail Bell. Co-owned by Kristen Rebelo and me, Quail Bell Press & Productions is the umbrella company to various and memorable creative projects and endeavors. These efforts have inspired not only thought but conversation and action.

The company’s most widely recognized project is Quail Bell Magazine—a multimedia publication that receives thousands of pageviews every month. Since going full-force with its redesign from a college hobby to a professional publication in June 2013, Quail Bell Magazine receives submissions from all over the world. For the uninitiated, here is the magazine’s official mission statement:

“Quail Bell Magazine is a social and artistic experiment in the imaginary, the nostalgic, and the otherworldly. Our readers are curious, creative, and compassionate fairy punks who are citizens of the world. All members of The Quail Bell Crew respect and embrace all cultures, excluding only the sexist, racist, homophobic, and otherwise unkind and uncompromising. It is because of this open-mindedness and positivity that Quail Bell Magazine is fortunate enough to publish content by contributors from across the globe. Quail Bell Magazine encourages original thought, open dialogue and community-building through content that explores the relationship between "The Real" and "The Unreal." We value the arts, history, folklore, and other oddities often not mentioned in mainstream magazines. As a woman-run publication, we strive to publish only the highest-quality content that not only challenges readers, but lets them have a little fun and maybe enjoy a little cuteness, too. We are not attempting to produce a magazine that is purely literary or purely journalistic, but, rather, somewhere in between for results that are inspiring and informative. In all that we write, draw, photograph, and otherwise make, The Quail Bell Crew will honor this editorial mission statement.”

Quail Bell Magazine first received a nod from Richmond, Virginia's creative scene in October 2011 when Style Weekly recognized me as one of the city’s “Top 40 Under 40.” Only two weeks prior to bagging that accolade, The Quail Bell Crew released its first print ‘zine—a stapled, black and white rag with color covers—at the Richmond ‘Zine Festival. Fast forward to Issue 5—full-color, perfect-bound, and printed by Richmond’s own Carter Printing Company, to be unveiled at the Brooklyn ‘Zine Festival, this April. That same fateful month, October 2011, marked Quail Bell’s first fashion show, “Once Upon a Dream,” sponsored by the VCU Barnes & Noble. Last year, the magazine’s third annual fashion show, “Timeless Zeitgeist,” took place at the sleek Selba Lounge.

Pictured: Christine Stoddard & Kristen Rebelo.

What had otherwise been a month marked by happiness and accomplishments, October 2011 also brought the untimely death of Quail Bell Magazine’s managing editor, Josephine Stone. But The Quail Bell Crew has emerged from that much publicized tragedy with renewed passion and vigor for its mission. I earned a national emerging artist grant from The Puffin Foundation to conceive Mixteco/RVA shortly before graduating from VCUarts, where I studied under novelist Susann Cokal, playwright Laura Browder, and filmmaker Mary Beth Reed. Just as I was preparing for the VCUarts Cinema Summer Intensive, I met Kristen Rebelo, then only a sophomore in the Communication Arts program. Impressed by her talent and drive, my then-associate editors, Jade Miller and Julie DiNisio, and I made Kristen Quail Bell Magazine’s art director.

Once Jade and Julie began their careers as school teachers, Kristen and I decided to lead Quail Bell Press & Productions on our own. So we commenced work on Quail Bell Magazine and other projects. One such project was the aforementioned Mixteco/RVA, a photo and essay book art project on linguistic injustice in Virginia. Another was The Persistence of Poe, a 24-minute documentary film about Edgar Allan Poe’s life in Richmond and his influence upon the city’s creative community today.

Most recently, Quail Bell Magazine has had two books published by Belle Isle Books, an imprint of Brandylane Publishers. These books are The Nest: An Anthology of The Unreal and Airborne: An Anthology of The Real, and both are available on BarnesAndNoble.com, Amazon.com, and in brick and mortar retailers.

A few of Quail Bell’s current clients include Z Idea Factory in Arlington, Virginia, environmental activist Brock Evans in Washington, D.C., and Foxhall Design Company in Port Republic, Maryland. Quail Bell Magazine also boasts several partners, such as Luna Luna Magazine, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, and VIDA, a national organization for women in the literary arts.

The Quail Bell story continues everyday on QuailBellMagazine.com and QuailBell.com.

What are some of the logistics involved in running Quail Bell Press & Productions?

Quail Bell Press & Productions is now my full-time gig. It has not always been, however. Since graduating, I have juggled Quail Bell with full-time jobs as an associate producer at a major television station and, more recently, as an assistant editor at a respected regional magazine. In between working at the TV station and the regional magazine, I worked on Quail Bell full-time, but I found that I was still lacking in some key skills—skills the regional magazine especially helped me develop. These jobs mainly helped me build up my business know-how and become more detail-oriented (in regards to marketing and data management in particular), which I needed to better attract Quail Bell clients and manage dealings with them. As my partner Kristen is just graduating from college this May, we have discussed how important it is for her to have a full-time job for at least a year or two, as well. So she will be juggling her job and Quail Bell for some time, too.

Quail Bell does not have a brick and mortar presence. Kristen and I operate out of our home offices and usually meet clients at coffee shops or their own offices. Of course, much of our business can be conduced online and over the phone. That being said, we do host or participate in regular events to promote Quail Bell's original products, such as the magazine and the anthologies. In March, for instance, we tabled at the Virginia Festival of the Book and the Virginia Production Alliance State of the Industry Expo. This month, I screened a Quail Bell original film, A Train Runs Through It, at the New York Transit Museum. (You can now find our anthologies in their gift shop.) At the end of the month, we're tabling at the Brooklyn 'Zine Festival. We enjoy introducing our work to new audiences in person.

We manage each Quail Bell project differently, meaning there's a unique process and budget. A project may be backed by Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, a grant, and/or a percentage of funds we set aside after completing a client project. Kristen and I entered a cooperative publishing agreement with Brandylane Publishing for our anthologies, for instance. Meanwhile, we sell advertising on QuailBellMagazine.com for individual artists, small businesses, non-profits, etc. The magazine website also has a shop. Then, of course, there are client projects, which vary according to what the client wants, their timeline, their budget, etc.

In a typical day, I might update QuailBellMagazine.com, answer client emails, write and send press releases, plan a Quail Bell event, work on a client project, and work on an original Quail Bell project.

Quail Bell Magazine, Issue 5.

What does the future look like for Quail Bell?

Bright! Over the next month or so, we will be promoting our latest print 'zine, Quail Bell: Issue 5, getting our anthologies into more bookstores, securing more advertisers for the magazine, prepping for the New York Poetry Festival, and wrapping up our documentary, Richmond's Dead and Buried. That is all I will reveal for more, but there is certainly a lot in the works now and in the near future.

If someone wanted to be published on the website or in the magazine, what should they do?

Kristen and I review submissions for QuailBellMagazine.com everyday and review submissions for the print 'zine on a quarterly basis. A piece must first be accepted to the website to be considered for the print 'zine. Please check out our submission guidelines here.

To order Quail Bell Magazine, art prints and apparel, visit the Quail Bell shop.