Kat Clark: Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications

Name: Kat Clark

Age: 24

College & Majors/Minors: B.A. from Swarthmore College, English Literature & Studio Art.

Current Location: Philadelphia, PA

Current Form of Employment: Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I work at Moorestown Friends School, which is a Quaker school for students in preschool through 12th grade. As the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications, my primary responsibility is storytelling: writing articles, managing social media, designing communications, and editing our magazine. I am also the school’s photographer, which is where my double major really comes into play. For projects such as our Summer Programs brochure or Great Kids video, I’m able to start with a blank slate in InDesign or Final Cut and build the piece from start to finish — I like that I don’t need to choose between writing and visual art. I teach a middle school video production class once a week, and I love doing that.

Last year, I worked at North Shore Country Day School outside of Chicago, where I was their Communications Associate. The responsibilities for that position were similar to what I’m doing now, and I also advised the high school newspaper several times each week and planned events with the library staff. I’m passionate about teaching and community building, so connecting with the students means a lot to me and helps me feel like my work in marketing is meaningful. I believe that all offices of an educational institution should be student-centered, not only classroom spaces; if a student listened in on one of my meetings, I would want her to feel that I’m her advocate.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job.

My first job out of Swarthmore was a paid summer internship in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Museum Education Department. I’m not sure if I can share exactly what the application process was like, but I can say that the interview round was difficult. Working in museum education requires public speaking skills, and my experience at AIC made me more confident. I’m used to being behind the scenes, so presenting American Gothic to a large group of people was important to my growth as a person. It also helped me realize my strengths and weaknesses: I was fired up when talking to local kids about artwork, but I was hopelessly bored when waiting to see a rare print.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

I was Co-Executive Editor of Swarthmore’s daily online newspaper, and that experience kind of reprogrammed my brain. Not only was I obsessed with the big picture (the paper succeeding), but I was also thrilled to spend my free time copyediting, editing images, and dealing with the minutiae of Wordpress. It got me more interested in the details of journalism and new media, both of which are integral to my current position. On top of that, the other students on the editorial staff were insanely talented (Hanna Kozlowska, Jon Emont, Sahiba Gill, Max Nesterak, Monika Zaleska), and I learned so much from them. As John Wooden once said, “Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who'll argue with you.”

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life? 

In addition to the newspaper, I worked for the College’s Communications Office for several years. That experience familiarized me with how communications work at a school, and I also managed the student Media Center at Swarthmore for two years. I think the technology skills gained from hours and hours in the computer lab helped me more than anything else. A generous grant from the Kohlberg Foundation allowed me to have summer experiences as well, and I could not be more grateful for that. I don’t think anyone should be forced to take an unpaid, uncompensated internship after graduating, and many people can’t afford them during school vacations either.

During the winter of my senior year, I also began volunteering remotely for the Chicago Taskforce on Violence Against Girls & Young Women. Our media toolkit was later featured on the radio and in Al Jazeera, and it was a great introduction to the nonprofit world.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree? 

I highly recommend using Indeed and Idealist to find a job the moment it’s posted. Zero in on one job at a time. Look for a connection to the organization, do some thorough research, and submit a customized cover letter and résumé as quickly as possible... then repeat the process. Sending 100 generic cover letters is a waste of your time. You are only looking for one job, so focus on quality over quantity and be a standout applicant.

I also think it's helpful to have fluency in various computer programs (Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office) and be able to specify your skill level on a résumé. Employers will be able to see your writing skills in a cover letter, but it's much harder for them to rate your competency in design or social media, so spell it out for them as much as possible.

Most importantly, don't be a misanthrope. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Always stand up for the little guy. Share the credit with someone else. 

Visit Kat on her professional website katclark.org and connect with her on Facebook and twitter.

Robert S. Gerleman: Freelance Author & Editor

Name: Robert S. Gerleman

Age: 27

College & Majors/Minors: Humboldt State University; English/French 

Current Location: San Francisco, CA

Current Form of Employment: Freelance author/editor

Where do you work and what is your current position?

After several years working full-time as a managing editor for both print and digital publications, I decided to pursue a career in freelancing. The decision to move away from a consistent and reliable income was as difficult as one might expect, but the independence and self-reliant nature of freelancing has given me immense creative freedom and a surprising rejuvenation of enthusiasm.

During the past two years as a freelance writer I have published a novel, a collection of short stories, and 30 or so pieces of short fiction, creative non-fiction, poems, articles, etc. My debut novel Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don’t published in 2012 and was #1 on Amazon.com’s top sellers in satirical fiction, and my anthology Nothing Really Happens was released this past February. As an editor I regularly take contracts to design book covers and also convert and implement layout for existing titles into eBooks. Currently, I am working on an eBook conversion for Lunchbox Envy (a followup to Locally Delicious) which is a "how-to" guide as well as a cookbook that provides tools for balancing nutrition, finding and affording healthy food, and meal planning for children's packed lunches.

Outside of the literary world, I co-founded the tech startup Nearby (formerly WNM Live). Nearby is a location-based social networking service that allows users to connect with people living within relative proximity to one another. Since its initial release in 2012, Nearby has grown to over 1.3 million users, participated in Stanford University's StartX accelerator, and become available on all major mobile and web-based platforms.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different).

Initially, my scant, post-grad resume garnered about the same amount of interest as my short story submissions: a big pile of rejection letters. Frustrated, I decided to change my approach by following a principal I discovered in a mantra designed by the tech industry: Instead of searching for a perfect job, create one. So, I started this ridiculous blog called “recreationalbachelor” comprised of a variety of immature and insane writing from a variety of immature and insane writers. One of my favorites was a recurring column from a writer in Oregon titled “Moustache Monthly” (though it was published weekly) in which he would seek out individuals in public who possess interesting facial hair configurations, photograph them, and conduct an interview about their feelings regarding facial hair. Good fun.

Made no money, had a blast, made some of the best connections in my entire career. And the experience, though seemingly ephemeral, was a cheap and dirty way to thoroughly pad my young resume.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

Not a job exactly, but… Early in my career I wrote an article for HugStronger.com that really expanded my capabilities as a writer. The piece was called “Forgetting my Boundaries” and in it I basically propose that the “four-year plan” we are taught to expect and adhere to robs us of the collegiate experience and that it’s okay to slow down and stay a while. Before that article I had never written anything outside of short fiction. I was scared to. But I took a chance on this little blog and its mission to inspire struggling university students and was pleasantly surprised when they accepted the piece. Sometimes you have to take a chance before a door will open.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

My first real editing job was working for the school’s literary journal (The Toyon) at Humboldt State University. I applied to be the division editor for fiction as I thought that reading an abundance of short stories would help develop my own writing. After a basic editing test and brief interview I got the job. It was a shot in the dark, really, and I lucked out. 6 months later I took over as managing editor and produced the first color-cover print run of The Toyon in 40 years. After graduation, my work at the journal proved to be a great resume builder and the introductory experience gave me just the slightest edge over those relying solely on their degrees to compete. I guess what I’m saying here is that it doesn’t hurt to get involved in your school’s publishing ventures. Almost every university has a lit journal, or at least a newspaper. Give it a shot, if nothing else it may solidify your belief that you are in fact a talented writer or editor. Or maybe you’ll hate it. Either way, best to find out early.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree? 

Forget every piece of advice you have ever received from a fellow writer. I think someone else might have said that one before, oh well. But seriously, own it, be it, or forget it. You don’t need advice, you’ve already got it all figured out. Right?

Recommended reading: Your First Novel  by Ann Rittenberg. Great resource with a wonderful understanding of the form and function of the dreaded “Query Letter”.  And of course Nothing Really Happens and Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don't by yours truly ;)

Visit Rob on his website, RobsWriting.com.

Emily Williamson: Marketing Coordinator

Name: Emily Williamson

Age: 31

College & Majors/Minors: University of Central Arkansas, BA in Writing with a minor in Linguistics. Northwest University, Masters in International Community Development.

Current Location: Seattle, WA

Current Form of Employment: Marketing Coordinator for Rainier Health & Fitness

Where do you work and what is your current position?

Currently, I work for Rainier Health & Fitness, a gym in South Seattle’s diverse community that’s dedicated to providing high-quality fitness services at affordable prices. The gym is a program of Urban Impact, a non-profit focused on community development. In this role, I get to write everything from e-mail content to blog posts to brochures. I manage all of our social media channels (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Google Plus), created a new website that I update regularly, attend networking events, establish relevant partnerships and manage the front desk two mornings each week.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different). 

My first full-time job as a writer was for zulily. I actually started working there as a temp in the studio because I had severely injured my back and didn’t think I was capable of a desk job. My second day there, I heard the company was hiring copywriters so I inquired about it and saw that they accommodated people who had injured backs with stand-up desks. I connected with the recruiter, emailed him my resume and completed a writing test. After that, I was called in for a three-segment interview that included an on-the-spot writing test. At zulily, they were looking for creativity and speed. I learned a lot about time management and cranking out massive amounts of copy while working there (the craziest was 500 product descriptions in 10 hours for a sale that went live the following day).

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

During my final semester of grad school, I began working for Lusso Bags as the Social Media Manager and Communications Director. Lusso Bags was a social business that sold travel bags made by women at Freeset who are able to leave the sex trade of Kolkota to work as seamstresses. I toured Freeset while in Kolkata doing fieldwork for Sari Bari (see below) and connected the Lusso Bags founder Nicole to their operation. Nicole then asked me to come on as their communications persona and manage the social media channels. I got a lot of hands-on experience with Twitter, Facebook, blogging, e-mail marketing and SEO from that experience. I learned that twitter could be a powerful networking tool and that websites can drive a lot of traffic to them through relevant blogging.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life? 

In grad school, I was in a very idealistic program (“international care and community development” was the full title— come on now!). Our program director encouraged us to do thesis projects that could be immediately useful to an organization. He steered me in the direction of social media, so I wrote my thesis as a handbook for non-profits and social enterprises on the topic. The handbook was built around research I did on the topic and a case study of Sari Bari where I had done my fieldwork. Sari Bari is a social enterprise located in Kolkata that enables trafficked women to leave the sex trade to work as seamstresses. They make beautiful blankets and bags from discarded saris and sell them through their website.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

Figure out where you’d ideally like to work and what topics you’re interested, then volunteer to write them for free. Charlie Hoehn talks about this approach in “The New Way to Work” TEDTalk. Either you’ll prove your value to the company and they’ll choose to hire you, or you’ll round out your writing portfolio a bit more and have something to show the next relevant potential hire.

Leverage LinkedIn. One of our guest speakers in grad school who works in HR told us that many employers will disregard your resume if you’re not on LinkedIn. I’ve been active on LinkedIn ever since. It’s also where Alyssa and I first connected.

Start a blog and post consistently on it. Share it across social media platforms.

Check out Emily's blog A Community Entrepreneur to check out her weekly posts on social enterprise, community development and international development. You can also connect with Emily on LinkedIn. 

Katie Moss: Marketing Copywriter & Coordinator

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.

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn! 

Kasey Lee Carter: Internal Communications Specialist

Name: Kasey Lee Carter

Age: 24

College & Majors/Minors: BA in Journalism, Minor in Writing

Current Location: Wilsonville, Oregon

Current Form of Employment: Internal Communications at Xerox Corporation

Where do you work and what is your current position? 

I currently work as the Internal Communications Specialist for the Channel Partners Organization at Xerox Corporation. My main responsibilities include coordinating, editing and writing a bi-monthly newsletter, managing internal social media as well as external social media marketing to end-user and through partner. I also write ad hoc communications sent to internal employees (about 1,400 employees). And I have to do all of this in the VERY SPECIFIC Xerox brand.

In the past, I’ve worked freelance for Sirius Digital Advertising, writing and editing website content and advising on website organization. I also did a little search engine optimization (SEO) work.

My last semester at George Fox University, I held an internship with The City of Newberg, Oregon as Public Information Officer. In this role, I researched, interviewed for and wrote a comprehensive, online and interactive document describing everything The City of Newberg does for the people of Newberg.

How did you find your first job?

I count my Xerox job as my first “big girl” job, and I found it completely by accident. I had been job-searching for about 7 months, and one morning before I went to work, at my in-between job at a spa, I got a call from a recruiter for a position I had applied for that same morning.

She said my resume jumped out at her and that I seemed just right for this internal communications job at Xerox. She did say that I needed to “beef up my resume a bit,” and by that she meant, add loads of text to it to display my writing ability. She said that employers looking to fill writing positions want to see resumes that display writing abilities.

This was so different from what I’d learned about resumes being only one page. So I rewrote my resume, was interviewed once over the phone and then in-person by three people. About two weeks after that initial call, I was putting in my two weeks with the spa and moving to Wilsonville, Oregon, to work for Xerox.

What was another writing-related job that was important in your career?

My senior year (2011-2012), I was the Editor-In-Chief for the student-run newspaper, The Crescent. This position not only required writing and editing, but also leadership and management skills, which I valued learning as much as the writing and editing stuff.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

In college, I sought out as many writing opportunities as I could.

I was asked randomly, at the beginning of my sophomore year, if I would be willing to write an article for the student newspaper. Flattered, I accepted and started writing about one article per issue.

The next year I took on a Section Editor position with the student newspaper, and the year after that (my senior year) I was the Editor-In-Chief. My senior year, I also had an internship doing public relations for the City of Newberg, Oregon.

In addition to my work with the student newspaper and my internship with the city, I also became the resident editor wherever I lived in the dorms. Constantly, I offered my editing services to floor-mates and roommates and other students in class. They would always look at me funny, kind of like they didn’t believe me, and then be pleasantly surprised when I returned with thoughtful edits.

All of this extra writing and editing experience I chased after taught me the importance of versatility. It seems like employers and people in general want you to be able to do five things instead of one.

I also learned how to be hungry for more experience and knowledge, which is still a huge part of my life both professionally and personally.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree?

Make sure your resume reflects the job you’re applying for. I had no idea a resume for a writing job needed to include so much text, I thought that’s what the cover letter was for. So research the resume type best suited to the job you’re applying for. Don’t forget to write and rewrite that sucker until you’ve crafted it just right, and for each position you apply for.

When it comes to quality over quantity, that’s true too. I applied for over 50 positions in 6 months, some of which were quality, but for some, I was just throwing my resume at a job listing. Oddly enough, my big-girl job came from one of the listings I just threw my resume at, which is, supposedly, not usually what happens. I received more responses from employers of positions I put more effort into the application.

Another piece of advice is to broaden and enhance your skill set. Before I got my big-girl job I was doing some freelance content writing with a new digital marketing business, and I asked to learn more about websites and search engine optimization.

When I started at Xerox, I was armed with writing, editing, communication and social media-type skills. Since I started, I’ve taught myself HTML, and learned to use new software programs (on my own). To learn more about marketing, I’ve been chasing down some of the more tenured employees.

I think it’s important to keep your options open and make yourself more versatile. Employers want to see that you’re willing to go above and beyond what’s asked. Nobody likes someone who just sticks to the status quo, or worse, a slacker.

Connect with Kasey on LinkedIn, and check out BloomsFlowerStudio.com, a website she created content for!

Abi Humber: Non-Profit Communications Coordinator

Name: Abi Humber

Age: 22

College & Majors: Communication Arts (placed my own emphasis on writing)

Current Location: Chicago, IL

Current Form of Employment: Communications Coordinator at 826CHI (a creative writing non-profit)

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I work as the Communications Coordinator for 826CHI, a non-profit that brings totally-free creative writing programs to Chicago Public School students. I create content for the organization's web site, write our monthly e-newsletter, manage our Facebook and Twitter, and act as the Creative Director for the promotion of each of our signature events and fundraisers.

What did you do in college to prepare for your post-grad life?

Well, for a really long time (like 7 years) I was a bi-weekly columnist for my hometown newspaper. I wrote about hiding in lockers from seniors, refusing to try cottage cheese, moving away from home, and Canadians. In college, I took a ton of expository writing classes, honing my ability to synthesize giant amounts of super-dense information and turn it into something readable. I thought I wanted to enter the world of journalism and felt really stuck when none of the news-related internship opportunities seemed interesting or inspiring to me. I stumbled upon 826CHI's web site one random afternoon and applied for an internship during the Fall of my senior year. I immediately fell in love with the organization and its mission—it was the perfect marriage of my love for written expression and inspiring/affirming the voice of young people. Thankfully, the love was mutual and I was hired into my current position about 2 months into my internship. I also spent a lot of time cat-and-plant sitting for my professors and trying to impress boys during dumb intramural sports tournaments. That last sentence very adeptly sums up my collegiate experience.

Tell us about how you found your first job, and how you found your current job (if different). 

This is the part where I talk about how lucky I got. I was a Programming Intern at 826CHI in the Fall of 2012, working directly with our amazing students on a variety of writing projects. My supervisor sometimes had me work on copywriting or social media projects for the organization, because I understood its goofy, irreverent voice and worked quickly. At this point, I considered being on staff at 826CHI my "dream job." I planned on extending my internship into the spring semester, and was starting to look into entering the Americorpos VISTA program as a way to stick around even longer.

Then, out of nowhere, a staff member informed me that the organization's Communications Coordinator position was open and encouraged me to apply. Euphoric and frenzied (my quintessential self), I pulled together my resume, stumbled through a cover letter, and borrowed a blazer from my roommate. My interview was held in a busy coffee shop, where I sat surrounded by the organization's five other staffers who, just 10 minutes before, were my internship supervisors. They were mostly interested in my ability to work in a wildly collaborative environment, and the degree to which I understood and could convey the organization's culture and voice. The writing component of the interview involved writing a fake event listing and a few social media posts for a super quirky event...the rest is history, I guess, and now they let me make jokes on the internet all day.

What is your advice for students and graduates with an English degree? 

You need real-world experience. I would suggest starting an internship—not matter how informal or infrequent—as early as your sophomore year. Some advice I got from a mentor: There is no such thing as a wasted internship. Even if your experience is miserable...well, now you know that's not something you want to pursue! Also, try not to be so focused on what you think you're looking for that you fail to recognize other opportunities as they arise. I found out about 826CHI via the "Chicago Artists Resource" blog when I was scouring the internet for journalism internships. I am so glad I clicked the link even though it initially seemed unrelated. Also! Find a mentor. Or two. Or three. Everyone who is currently a "real adult" or a "contributing member of society" was once just like us—wandering, unsure, scared. They didn't become their successful selves overnight, and it is really important to hear from people who have been where you are, but found ways to move forward.

Connect with Abi on LinkedIn.