Jess Huckins: Editorial Manager

Name: Jess Huckins

Age: 28

College & Majors/Minors: Emerson College, Master of Arts in Publishing and Writing; Suffolk University, Bachelor of Arts in English (Creative Writing Track) with a Print Journalism minor

Current Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Current Form of Employment: Editorial manager

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I'm an editorial manager at Skyword, a content marketing company and platform. Besides editing, my job involves selecting and training freelance writers, topic ideation, associate editor mentorship, and managing deliverables. I wrote more about content editing in this piece for Boston Content.

I also take on freelance editing, writing, and web development projects I love, but only when my schedule allows.

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

My first job out of college was a temporary proofreader position at an educational-publishing giant. I found it through Craigslist and was ultimately hired a week before graduation. It was supposed to be a three-month assignment, ending when I started graduate school in the fall, but my manager instead offered me a term-of-project contract and promoted me to lead proofreader for a specific content type. I worked there throughout my time as a full-time grad student, staying for nearly two and a half years. (Pro tip: Don't take three graduate-level courses in one semester if you also have a demanding job and value sleep.) As a term-of-project employee, I was eligible for partial tuition reimbursement, and I made good use of that perk—it helped make this busy period worth the stress.

I also found my current job online, though it was more serendipitous: A Skyword editorial director added me on LinkedIn. I didn't know him, but I accepted and checked out his company. I wasn't satisfied with my job at the time, so when I noticed the editorial openings, I applied. I felt an instant connection with the startup atmosphere and the people I interviewed with, and I'm much happier now. For more on my journey from traditional publishing to content editing (because I haven't covered my in-between jobs here), check out this article.

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

The job I mentioned above—the one I wasn't happy with—was instrumental, even though it wasn't right for me in the long term. I was a marketing copyeditor for a flash-sale retailer, and the experience in both editing and blog writing put me in a great position for moving into my current role. I wrote weekly blog columns for nearly two years, which helped me start blogging for the Content Standard when I got to Skyword. I also learned how to build and maintain a brand style guide. I now do this for several brands at a time, so gaining that foundation was more important than I ever suspected!

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

To prepare for life after college, I took every opportunity that came my way, including editing the student-run literary magazine and working three on-campus jobs. I was a work-study in the English department first, and the rapport I build with professors there led to two more positions: tutoring in the Writing Center and interning with Salamander, an elite literary journal my poetry instructor founded and still edits. She even continued to hire me for freelance proofreading after I graduated.

Current students, don't be scared to experiment and really get a feel for what you want to do with your life. I took college courses in everything from Shakespeare to contemporary American fiction, from literary magazines to playwriting; in grad school, I made sure to study Internet writing and web development for electronic publishing. You're in school to learn, so break down that comfort zone and absorb all the knowledge available to you. When you find your focus area, everything starts to fall into place.

In my case, I wanted to be a novelist when I started college; I still do, but I figured out it's tough to make a living that way and decided I'd be better off also learning the business side of publishing. I'm so glad I did—my career path has zigzagged around a bunch, but things are really good right now.

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

Ensure your future marketability by gaining experience in as many writing- and editing-related fields as you can, even if it feels like "selling out." In my experience, marketing and digital jobs generally pay better and offer more skill-development opportunities than straightforward publishing and writing jobs, and they still let you work with words.

Also, and I'm sure you've heard this before, but use your network. I wouldn't have gotten the flash-sale job without having attended grad school with the person who held it before me, and I may not have made the jump over to Skyword without talking to people I knew who already worked there. The world of publishing, editing, writing, and even marketing is a smaller place than you think! Plus, when you're settled in a job and your friends are the ones looking, referring them will most likely earn you a bonus. Staying connected is a win-win-win for you, your network, and your employer.

Most of all, though, be ambitious and confident. It's not easy out there, but you can do it if you hone your skills and work to move yourself forward every single day.

You can learn more about me on jesshuckins.com, by tweeting @editorjess and connecting with me on LinkedIn, or by checking out my writing portfolio. Thank you for reading—I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with your English degree!

Interested in Becoming an English Teacher? Real Teachers Share Their Advice

1. From Dr. Dana Key, Assistant Principal, University Adjunct Professor, and State Department of Education ACCESS teacher:

Take your school career seriously! From the freshman year onward, work hard to become the best reader and writer that you can be. Take advantage of every opportunity to challenge yourself as a learner, take AP classes if available, take online or blended learning classes if available. Use summers to get ahead on your reading and check for the required reading list for all college-bound students. Visit teachers' rooms to see different teaching styles, and remember the great and not so great teachers you have had. You will remember behaviors you want to emulate and those you want to avoid.

In college, grades DO matter. Study and take the challenging courses that will make you a well-rounded content empowered graduate. The practicums are all geared to make sure that teaching is your career choice. Make the most of every moment; try to tutor if your school has a free tutoring lab; it will make you practice your teaching skills. Most of all, teach from your heart and not from the book. Students will not remember what you said or did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

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2. From Tina Bausinger, Professor of English:

Building your network really does matter. Coming out of graduate school, teaching jobs are few and the competition is stiff. The importance of the impression you make as a student cannot be overstated. For every job that opens up there are 100 people applying, and most of them are smart and articulate. What makes you different? Why should they waste their time hiring someone who just graduated? Have an answer ready. DO ADJUNCT WORK. It pays terribly, but it shows you can do it, don't mind putting in your time, and you will usually get placed before people they have never seen before. PAD YOUR CV. Publish anywhere you can--the local paper, the school's journal/paper, wherever you get the opportunity. Jump at any chance to present a paper or teach a workshop. These things separate the women from the girls.

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3. From Martha Cothron, Middle School Language Arts, Reading and Journalism Teacher:

First, you have to know if teaching is right for you. I see so many people enter the teaching field as their back up plan. The students and the school district don't care if it’s your back up plan. Make sure you want it for real.

Second, make sure you have prepared yourself mentally and financially. Teaching doesn't pay the big bucks. You want to retire some day so make sure to budget and save as much as possible. Mentally working with children can be tough. Working daily with teens has taught me to have a thick skin. They think with their emotions and have no concept of logic. Always know you are the boss and they will follow your lead. Be kind and don't be afraid to let them know you care.

Finally, HAVE FUN!!! Life is short so do what you love. Work hard for your dreams and don't ever take no for an answer. If one door closes go knock on another until you get what you need to be happy, healthy and successful.

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4. From Jasara Hines, AP English Literature and Associate Professor, Valencia College: Online Freshman Composition I and II:

Wow! This is a tough one. Honestly, don't do it if you cannot stand kids/young adults. Don't think that a high school class is going to be anything like your LIT 451 class - you know, where all 15 of you sit down with the professor and discuss Frankenstein through a Freudian lens. Don't think that all your kids are going to like reading Jane Eyre because you like it. Know that parents are going to blame you for every horrid grade/missing assignment. Know that when you finally get used to one lesson plan format or standardized test, that the state will change it and you'll have to learn something new. Understand, quickly, that the bad days will probably outweigh the good ones, but that it only takes one student to grow to love reading to make you feel accomplished and appreciated. Understand that students rarely will understand why they have to read classics and why your class is important when they know they want to major in Biology, but that in a few years one of them will send you a letter in the mail thanking you for all you did for them.

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5. From Rachel Nenna, 5th Grade ELA/SS Teacher & Online English Adjunct Professor:

Teaching is not for the money, it’s not for the vacations; it’s for the students.  We are preparing the new generation to go out in the world and be well-rounded citizens.  It is rewarding in a way that is not always recognized. You see the reward in your students, while you go unnoticed and that is okay because it’s not about you, it’s about the students.  Yeats says it best: "Education is Not the Filling of a Pail, but the Lighting of a Fire.” We need to light the fires in our students, because without that what do they have?

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6. From Kate Miner, English/Language Arts Teacher & Department Coordinator:

Do not expect your students to be English majors. Understand that they don't all share the love of reading and writing and all things literary. If you understand that; if you meet them where THEY are (not where you expect or want them to be); if you are flexible with your time and your resources; and if the curriculum is not always the stuff the kids NEED to know, you'll be just fine. Also, keep granola bars in your desk drawer for the kids who didn't get breakfast (or for when you forget your lunch on the kitchen counter), let students stand up and move around a lot - literature is really, really boring for some (I know, weird, right?), and even honors students can try your patience daily.

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7. From Michelle Greco Adjunct Professor and Freelance Copy Editor:

Take an improv class. No, seriously, this is probably one of the best things you can do to prepare yourself to become an English professor. Every day in the classroom is different. Some days your plan will work flawlessly; other days, you won't even like your plan. Be adaptable and willing to adjust. You never know what students will throw your way!

Other than that, try to stay in touch with professors you admire. Look at their syllabi. Ask them questions. What was the most crazy request they got in class? What was their best moment in the classroom? What was a time they problem solved while thinking on their feet? Keep this information on file for use when you start teaching on your own.

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8. From Tiffany MacBain, Associate Professor:

As much as it pains me to write this, my advice is to find a different career. It's not that being a professor is so bad--there are many good things about the job, including a certain amount of flexibility of schedule and the experience of going to work and learning alongside colleagues and students each day--but the job market is just. so. bad. Odds are that you will labor for 6 years to obtain a PhD in English, all the while earning very little money and going into debt, and when you graduate you will be unable to get a tenure-line job--even if you are a gifted teacher, even if you are a talented writer, even if you are a superstar. If you do get a tenure-line job you will find yourself working long hours but earning far less money than do others with advanced degrees, and you will find that the realities of the profession are out of line with what you imagine the profession to be. I once believed that I would have the leisure to think and to write--that's what professors do, right? Not so much. When I was much younger I even imagined that I would spend some time each day sitting under a tree and reading a book. I'm serious! I thought that. My life bears zero resemblance to the fantasy. The ground under the trees is always a little wet, and there's too much of a glare on my laptop to work outside.

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9. From Brett Ashmun, Full Time Graduate Student/Teaching Associate:

In determining whether or not he should become a teacher, I once had a student ask me how much an English teacher makes. I explained to him that I teach for many reasons but money is not one of them. I then recommended that if he was going to decide on becoming a teacher depending on the pay, to find another career. I truly believe that the outcome of obtaining an English degree should be a better life. I don’t mean this from a financial viewpoint. Gaining an English degree is a privilege. It indicates that you appreciate life. You value your fellow human being. You cherish relationships over money. If I was looking to “get ahead,” gain as much wealth as possible, and live a quick-paced life, I would have decided to look into the majority of all other majors available. For me, it is important to slow down. It is important to listen to my breath. It is important to engage in quality conversation. My advice: don’t try to compete with business, engineering, or science majors. That is not you. Don’t try to make as much money as possible. You are the rarity in a fast-paced world. You are the glue that holds society together. Own it.

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10. From Debrah Clark, Director/Teen Parent Educator:

I am not an English teacher, but I wanted to be. I started college with dreams due to my experience with my high school English teacher. In college, a professor yelled at me for the content in a persuasive essay. It was a composition class. He said my composition was exemplary, but my content would elicit a response that was too emotional for a reader. He gave me a C. I left his office and changed my major to Sociology. Although I love teaching the subject I teach, there is a gaping hole where English content should be. I find myself purposely seeking interaction with my English content area colleagues. I love assigning readings and papers so that I get to grade as an English teacher would. My advice? Do not allow others to dissuade you from being an English teacher. Do not become a professor who devastates the ambition of an aspiring English teacher. I love what I do, but if I had it to do over again, I would have become an English teacher. Teaching is a gift to your students, their families and yourself. Never lose sight of the privilege and honor it is to be welcomed into the lives of those you teach.

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11. From Lorraine Hirakawa, Former English Teacher and Current Assistant Principal:

If you only love your content, and not kids, DON'T do it. Frequently English majors love literature, or grammar, or writing, but they aren't passionate about helping kids. Don't let your NEED to cover content outweigh the real work of helping kids. Be prepared to feel tired and under appreciated, but know that one day, the least likely kid will come back and tell you that you are the reason they made it. That is why you teach.

It's also fun. Kids are fun and funny. They are also frustrating, so are their parents, so are your colleagues, so is your admin, but it's the best job in the world.

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12. From Wendy Harriford-Platt, Language Arts Teacher:

You will love and hate it. One year, you will discuss literature with students (maybe five) who cannot get enough of it. The next year you may be bogged down in capitalization rules and the basics of writing. Take small bites. Ramp up to bigger things in logical steps. Think and work smarter, not harder. Embrace reading struggling writers' essays. Enjoy teaching poetry. Love knowing you are laying a foundation for students that they will build upon for the rest of their lives. It makes it worthwhile. My first year of teaching, I was determined to get them to remember and use behoove. 12 years later when students see me, it is the first thing out of their mouths. That's being an English teacher, being as memorable as the language itself.

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13. From Robbin Copeland, Professor:

Not everyone can teach, no matter how knowledgeable he or she is in any subject. I began teaching Grammar, and quickly learned the text the students were made to buy was extremely puzzling...so I made up my own weekly Grammar Packages. Then I started teaching Composition 101 and learned that the most difficult task for students is focus...working on this alone helped many of my students. Later I taught Intro to Literature. This became a passion of mine because I had to allow for many different insights to a poem or story. Keeping in mind that another won't quite reach the same conclusion to Literary Writings made teaching this subject very successful for me.

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14. From Alexia Brooks, Lecturer in First-Year Composition:

Aside from establishing boundaries with your students and yourself (because let's be honest, this job will have you working nonstop if you let it), I would say to allow yourself to be a beginner. I am 27 and have been told I look 21, so my first semester, I was really worried about that. I cut my hair in an attempt to look older, had my students call me Ms. or Professor Brooks, and would avoid answering questions from my students about how long I'd been teaching or how old I was.

When I finally realized that I was new and that no haircut or name change would fix that, I felt liberated. If you try to pressure yourself to be a veteran in the classroom on day 1, it will just add more stress than you need. Now, my students call me Alexia and know I've only been teaching for two years. I feel like it's helped facilitate a stronger bond in the classroom.

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15. Samantha Glassford, Adjunct English Instructor and Professional Writing Tutor

If you're considering graduate school and teaching on the college level, understand that you HAVE to love what you do. You will have to start as an adjunct and work several part time jobs to make ends meet, but if you really love the work, you won't mind doing it. In these beginning years, you have to really work to find that work/life balance. I often have to tell students if I'm going away for the weekend and won't be able to keep to my 24-hour response promise. I do take one or two weekend getaways each semester to keep myself sane :) If you love it, it really won't feel like work!

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If you are an English teacher or professor and would like to contribute your answers to this blog post, fill out this form!

Derek Wing: Associate Director of Media & PR

Name: Derek Wing

Age: 42

College & Majors/Minors: Oberlin College (OH) B.A. English; Syracuse University (NY) M.S. Journalism

Current Location: Kenmore, WA

Current Form of Employment: University Marketing/PR 

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I currently work at Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA as the Associate Director of Media & PR.

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

My first job was in broadcast journalism – I was a TV news anchor/reporter, and I found that job from a website specifically for people looking for on-air jobs (medialine.com). I found my current job via Craigslist.

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

Whether it is in higher education communications or journalism, writing has always been a vital part of my work. Being able to get a complex message across to the masses in a way they will understand is a skill that is difficult to master. However, if you are able to do it, you will have incredible value in both the professional world as well as your personal life. Communication is key.

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

I wrote and read. A lot.

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

Be open to any and all opportunities. When I graduated I mistakenly thought there were only a few careers paths I was ‘allowed’ to pursue. But the reality is, the ability to effectively communicate with words is a skill that will be useful in any industry! 

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Networking for English Majors: It’s Easier (& Less Painful) Than You Think!

For some people, there’s something about hearing the word “networking” that sends them into fight-or-flight mode: “Nope. No way. I can’t network. If I have to network to find a job, I guess I won’t be finding a job. Ever.”

We don’t blame you if you’re not convinced of the awesome powers of networking yet; “networking” definitely has some negative connotations to it. It summons visions of awkward “networking events” where you’re supposed to meet strangers and strike up conversations out of thin air. To some, it refers to insincerity, “using” people to get ahead, and just being plain uncomfortable. To many of us English majors, this is NOT what we signed up for.

But as many seasoned professionals will tell you, networking is incredibly important when it comes to developing and growing a successful, rewarding career. Networking can help you score interviews, provide unique opportunities, get a foot in the door at a company you want to work at, expose you to freelance gigs, meet some awesome people, and sooo much more! (Want to jump straight to job search advice? Check out our ULTIMATE guide!)

• When should I network?

ALL. THE. TIME. While you’re in high school, when you're in college, when you’re unemployed, when you’re happily employed. When you need a job ASAP or are desperately unhappy at a current position and looking for a new job… it’s too late. (Although late is better than never…) Ok, maybe that was a little dramatic. We're just trying to stress that you need to think ahead when it comes to building your network. 

• Networking doesn’t have to be awful!

To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of people and places to network with. Implementing some of these ideas will come more naturally than others, but whether or not you have a job, we encourage ALL English majors to build up their networks of likeminded individuals no matter where they are in their career!

Here’s our 8 ideas for people and places to network with:

1. College

One of the benefits of going to college includes the people you meet there. Your peer group in school can be one of the most valuable networks you build. While other English majors are technically your post-grad competition, they’re also your allies! Let’s say one of your friends gets hired, and they hear the company needs another copywriter. Boom! You not only get a hot job tip, but you have an internal referral, too!

Of course, making friends with people outside of your major is also important. Business students go on to work at and start businesses, and they all need writers and people with top-notch communication skills. Chemistry students go on to work for companies that need writers, or people to write grants for research. See how this works?

And of course, it’s important to pick the brains of your professors and career center staff! If you have a dialogue going with them before it's time to hit the pavement and they're being bombarded by other similar requests, it'll be that much easier for them to be on the lookout for opportunities that might suit you. 

2. Alumni

Another excellent benefit of your college degree includes the alumni network you automatically inherit from your alma mater. Many alumni remember what it was like to have just graduated, and that means many are happy to help when asked! Whether it’s giving some advice, a recommendation, or an actual job referral, connections with alumni can be incredibly valuable.

Your school might have an online networking system for you to connect with alumni, or you can see if your Career Center can connect you with someone who has experience in the type of career you may be interested in. LinkedIn also has an alumni feature where you can see who else went to your college, what jobs they have, and in some cases even what they majored in. Send them a message and start the conversation! Invite them to coffee and ask some questions. Speaking of LinkedIn…

3. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is useful for connecting with alumni, but also others in your city and field or desired field. And by the way… if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile yet, now is the time to make one! There are lots of job postings on LinkedIn, and it’s a good way to see what other professionals in your field are up to. Have a question? Take a chance and send someone a message! Be sincere, don't send out impersonal, form-like messages, and respect everyone's time.

For tips on how to create a stand-out resume and how to clean up your online presence, you’ll want to check out our book From Graduation to Career Ready in 21 Days: A Guide for English Majors. We show you exactly what to do!

4. Professional associations

This is a great way to get your toes wet as a young professional. Becoming a member of a professional organization/association can get you plugged into the scene in your desired field. Many organizations offer advice, feature job listings, connection opportunities and more! Many are free to join, so there’s no reason to not give it a try. Here are just a few that might interest you: Society of Professional Journalists, American Copy Editors Society, Society for Technical Communication, American Marketing Association, Social Media Professional Association, Grant Professionals Association.

5. Groups & clubs

Connecting with like-minded people doesn’t sound so bad, right? Becoming part of a local writing community or book club isn’t just a great networking opportunity—it’s a good motivation boost, too! Try Meetup.com to get started in finding a group—there are TONS! Not only are these types of groups good for meeting new people, but they can also help you hone your writing skills and stay sharp when you’re out of school. 

6. Social media

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads and other social media sites are filled with writers, readers, and other professionals who love learning, connecting and sharing. These all offer excellent ways to share your work, get noticed, and see what others are up too. Many connections and lifelong friends have been made using these sites—you just have to get creative and friendly!

7. Staffing agencies

Staffing agencies are companies that work to connect businesses with professionals, and there are several out there that specialize in working with creatives (including writers!). Staffing agencies come in all shapes and sizes; some are easy to sign up for and you can start browsing jobs right away, and others require in-person interviews. Some are specific to a particular city, and some can be used from anywhere in the world. We recommend meeting people in person whenever you can—making a personal and lasting connection does wonders when you're looking for a job! Agencies will sometimes host networking events or free classes, and this is another way to be the first to hear about new opportunities and meet like-minded professionals. 

8. Professionals in other fields

Like we mentioned in the "College" category, it can be beneficial to network with those outside of your usual sphere of connections. For example, professionals like graphic designers, videographers, photographers, and web designers often work on projects that need—you guessed it—writers and editors! Business owners need people to write press releases, website copy, and marketing materials. Nonprofits need grant writers and communications officers and savvy copywriters. The list goes on and on! While this particular bullet point could kind of say "Everyone With a Job," we only share this to get you thinking in new ways about what "networking" can be.

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Want more job search advice? 

In our book From Graduation to Career Ready in 21 Days: A Guide for English Majors, we show you:

• how to find the right jobs to apply for
• what you need to know about marketing yourself online
• how to make yourself a more appealing candidate
• what to do after you’ve received a job offer

...and everything in between.

This simple, detailed guide is packed with the information and resources English majors need to successfully navigate the job search process in 21 days! CLICK HERE to download your FREE chapter! 

Tiffany Aldrich MacBain: Associate Professor

Name: Tiffany Aldrich MacBain

Age: 46

College & Majors/Minors: English

Current Location: Tacoma, WA

Current Form of Employment/Job Title: Associate Professor/Dept. of English

Where do you work and what is your current position? What are your responsibilities? 

I work as an Associate Professor at the University of Puget Sound. 

My professional responsibilities can be separated into three categories: teaching, scholarly growth, and service. At my private, liberal-arts university, my teaching is considered to be the most important of the three, and so I direct the majority of my time and attention to the three courses I teach each semester. My work in that area includes new course preparation and ongoing course revision; class preparation (reading and figuring out how I want to teach the materials I've assigned); assignment creation; evaluation of student work; and meeting with students. My schedule has me in a classroom for 6 sessions each week. You might imagine that as roughly equivalent to having 6 Big Presentations every week for 3.5 months. It's a lot. By mid-November in the fall and mid-April in the spring, my colleagues and I are toast. 

My growth as a scholar is also very important, but historically, due to the demands of my teaching schedule, I have had to limit my work in that area to summers. That schedule creates a certain amount of anxiety, though—a lot is riding on those few months!—so lately I have tried to carve out a few hours a week for research during the regular school year. This past semester I managed to devote 3 hours each Friday to archival work, and it felt like a victory.  

Of all of a professor's job responsibilities, people may be least familiar with what "service" means. In short, it involves working for, and on behalf of, one's department, university, and community, and can involve committee work, department or university governance (e.g., serving as Department Chair), arranging for and hosting a guest speaker or special event on campus, advising students, writing letters of recommendation for students and former students, leading a discussion for a community reading group, and volunteering with local schools. The list goes on.

How did you find your job?

Every fall, universities post their job openings in The Chronicle of Higher Education and elsewhere. PhDs scour the ads and apply for the positions. The 10-12 applicants selected for interviews tend to meet with a committee of 3-4 faculty members at the annual conference of the Modern Language Association, which takes place in a different city each year. (Happily, more departments are opting to use Skype for these initial interviews; attending the conference is an expensive proposition for someone who's been living on a graduate student's income, and universities, too, are looking for ways to cut back.) If the initial interview is successful, a candidate has a campus visit, which is basically a 2-day job interview on-site.

““I got very lucky. Not only did I get a tenure-line position, but I also live in a wonderful place that is just a short plane ride from my family. I cannot emphasize enough that my experience is not the norm.””

Prospects in the field of English are dismal right now, and they were slightly less so when I was on the job market. My first year "out," I had one campus visit that did not lead to a job offer. My second year, I had three campus visits, one of which I cancelled because I was offered the position I currently have. I got very lucky. Not only did I get a tenure-line position, but I also live in a wonderful place that is just a short plane ride from my family. I cannot emphasize enough that my experience is not the norm.

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

The most important thing I did in college was to major in English. At the time I had absolutely no intention of being a professor; in fact, I was eager to graduate and be done with school. But I believed that the English major was the perfect major regardless of which career I chose because it taught me to write well, to think carefully, and to express myself clearly. What more could you want? Another good move I made in college was to apply for an internship in the film industry. The internship was terrific—I had a summer in L.A.!—but, more importantly, it convinced me that I did not want to work in film. What a terrific experience to have had. 

You can read some of Tiffany's writing over on her blog, A Mere Thread. 

Samantha Lisk: Owner & Freelance Translator, Primavera Language Services

Name: Samantha Lisk

Age: 25

College & Majors/Minors: M.S. in Translation, New York University; B.A. in English with minor in Spanish, Campbell University

Current Location: Cary, North Carolina

Current Form of Employment: Owner and Freelance Translator, Primavera Language Services

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I work as a freelance translator and Spanish and ESL instructor at the business I started, Primavera Language Services.

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

Oddly enough, I found my first job through an ad on Craigslist. The position was an editorial assistant at a small company in Apex, NC, that works with peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals. The job title was somewhat deceptive, however, since 99% of my job involved tasks closer to data entry than to editing.  

Unfortunately the company went through a series of cutbacks because of the economy just as I was approaching a year there, and I was laid off. Unable to find another full-time position, I began working as a tutor in SAT prep, Spanish, and ESL, and since I didn’t have a family of my own or any similar commitments at that time, I decided it was the perfect time to go back to school for my master’s. Deciding to pursue a career that would use my linguistic background, I found and was accepted to New York University’s online Master of Science in Translation program, and I graduated with my degree in May 2014.

Although professional translators in Europe are often hired as full-time employees, in the United States most professional translators work on a freelance basis. I began to do so in September 2013 and formed my own company, Primavera Language Services, offering Spanish-to-English translations of legal and financial documents as well as instruction and tutoring in Spanish and English as a Second Language. I use the skills I gained through my English degree every day to research unknown or ambiguous terms and concepts as well as to write high-quality translations that seem to have been written in English originally.

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

Well, I’m currently writing my first novel, so I consider that to be quite important even though it hasn’t been published yet! It has nothing whatsoever to do with my translation or teaching work; it’s about conscientious objectors during World War II. I’ve been fascinated with the period of the 1930s and 1940s since I was a teenager, and I enjoy immersing myself in a world that’s completely different from that of my “day job.” It refreshes me as I prepare for another day of translating birth certificates.

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

I did several things. One was to join the staff of Campbell’s literary magazine, The Lyricist, and I remained on staff until I graduated. This gave me an insider’s look at the entire publication process from advertising to picking out the type of paper and the size of the typeface. Eventually I became editor, which gave me experience in leading a team and managing several projects at once.

I also completed two internships abroad in London. One was for a non-profit organization and involved mostly data entry, but the other was as an editorial intern (or sub-editor, as they call it) for This Is London, an entertainment magazine directed at visitors to the city. In this position I proofread and edited the proofs of the magazine; quickly learned the basics of Adobe Photoshop and Quark XPress and used them to format photos and copy; contributed story ideas; and wrote an article of my own that was published in the magazine.

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

First, if you want to become a writer, learn as much as you can about subjects outside of English. Writers must have a subject to write about, and there are many jobs out there for technical, medical, and scientific writers in addition to journalists. 

Second, if there’s even a slight possibility that you will one day freelance, take some business courses. You’ll need to know about how to run a business, which entails not only the service or product you’ll provide but also things like marketing, writing contracts, and keeping accurate books (accounting, not literature). There are many free resources available out there for small businesses, such as SCORE and the Small Business Administration (SBA), so be sure to take advantage of them. 

And third, consider learning basic skills in coding (particularly HTML and CSS) and web design, since you will almost certainly need a website.

You can learn more about Samantha's work at Primaveralanguage.com. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. 

Callie Kitchen: Full-time Lecturer and Adjunct Professor

Name: Callie Kitchen

Age: 26

College & Majors/Minors: B.A. in English, M.A. in Rhetoric and Teaching Writing

Current Location: Merced, CA

Current Form of Employment/Job Title: Full-time Lecturer and Adjunct Professor

Where do you work and what is your current position? Please elaborate on your responsibilities, too!

I am a full-time lecturer in the Merritt Writing Program at the University of California, Merced and an adjunct professor at both California State University, Stanislaus and Columbia Junior College.

I prepare curriculum, teach various writing courses, grade essays, then grade more essays, attend committee meetings, and attempt to ignore social media so I can do all of it over again the next day.

Teach. Write. Repeat.

Tell us about how you found your job! How many places did you apply? What was the application process like?

After receiving my Master of Arts from CSU Stanislaus, the job application and interviewing process began. During this time, I began to experience an extreme allergic reaction to some unknown allergen. When I was called into my first interview, my eyes were bloodshot and after introducing myself I nervously made a joke about my red eyes and a certain recreational drug. You can imagine how much I regretted that statement. Apparently the interviewing board did not find my awkward comment to be too inappropriate and we continued the interview.

During the interview process, my interviewers asked several questions that I expected:

• What experiences have prepared you for this job?
• Describe your teaching philosophy.
• How would you handle an unruly student in your classroom?

Once the question and answer portion of the interview was finished, I began my teaching demonstration: a paragraph rearrangement activity. In another teaching demonstration, I used old advertisements to demonstrate how to effectively analyze an argument. In another interview, I was asked to grade and comment on a sample student paper in a short period of time. This particular activity was the most stressful experience I had during my interviewing process. You can prepare and practice for a teaching demonstration, but when called upon to assess an assignment that you are unfamiliar with, you must demonstrate composure and confidence.

““In another interview, I was asked to grade and comment on a sample student paper in a short period of time. This particular activity was the most stressful experience I had during my interviewing process.””

Even though I am semi-secure in my current position, I continue to interview for other teaching positions as a form of self-assessment. The application and interviewing process forces you to constantly think about who you are as an instructor and what you can do to improve.

I was hired at five different college campuses the fall semester after my graduation. I accepted the teaching offers from four of those five. Before interviewing, I had taught three college English courses (each one during a different semester) at my Alma mater. I went from teaching one class a semester to teaching eight. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

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

At the beginning of my first graduate class, my professor asked each of us to explain why we were there and what it was that we were working toward. I remember panicking. Everyone seemed to have well-thought-out answers, while all I could think of was how I probably should have brought a pen to class so I could actually write in my notebook. When my turn came, I was honest and explained that I had no idea what I was doing with my life or what I was working toward exactly. The professor moved onto the next student without comment.

After that class meeting, I felt humbled by my lack of self-direction and decided it was time to remember who I was and what it was that I wanted. Over the course of the next two years, I reconnected with my creativity and love of learning to implement unique and innovative teaching methods into my classrooms. In addition to building my curricula vitae by conferencing and attempting to publish, I made sure to stay true to myself by trying out new ways of teaching when they came to me.

One semester as a teaching associate found me taping fake leaves to the trees around campus. I had had students write fall-themed haikus on these leaves a few days before. We then walked from tree to tree reading one another’s creations. That moment, meandering back and forth on the grass with my students, solidified what exactly it was that I was working toward: more moments like that one.   

Take risks and don’t worry if other people think you are crazy.

What has been the most surprising thing about being a teacher?

The most surprising thing about being a teacher is how many mistakes I make in front of my students. Whether it is tripping in front of my class while lecturing (I am up to twenty-two trips, but only one actual full-on-all-the-way-to-the-floor falls) or forgetting how to spell a word like physics (P-S-Y-H -No, that’s not right. Erase. Begin again. P-S-Y- No. Erase. Puts pen away. Pretends it never happened.) while writing on the board in my classroom, I have accepted the fact that I am human and that I am not always going to be the “professional” I once thought I was going to be. I should have learned this lesson on my very first day of teaching as a teaching associate when I wore two completely different shoes to my class and didn’t realize it until a student pointed it out at the end of the class. I have learned that being able to laugh at these mistakes is the difference between having an awesome teaching day and crawling up into a ball because you never want to face your students again. Don’t take yourself too seriously and definitely write down the unexpected things that seem to happen when you teach.

Visit Callie Kitchen online at CallieKitchen.com and follow her on Twitter at @calkit89!

The Story of My First Job Search

Hey, it's Alyssa here (the English major behind Dear English Major)! Three years ago, I graduated from college (holy cow, those three years have flown by...), and since then, I've learned A LOT about the job-search process. With a new season of graduations in full swing, it has me reflecting quite a bit on my post-grad journey.

After starting DearEnglishMajor.com and hearing from several of my fellow English majors, I came to realize that there was a great demand out there for some post-grad guidance. Hearing the same questions time and time again inspired me to want to share everything that I knew about the job search as an English major, and of course, that's why I wrote From Graduation to Career Ready in 21 Days: A Guide for English Majors.

Being able to commiserate with my fellow English majors and has always been a big help. "They asked you WHAT in the interview?" "Hey, can you read my cover letter? I have no idea what I'm doing." I thought it might be useful (and kinda fun) to share what finding my first full-time job was like. 

My Post-Grad Stress Fest

When I graduated from college in 2012, I had a general idea of the job search process. I knew that I needed to have a resume, and I knew that I would need to write cover letters. I knew that eventually I would need to go to interviews with people who asked daunting questions.

For those of you who are seasoned professionals or are already in the job-search routine, you know it can get A LOT more complicated than that! “Needing a resume” translates to writing multiple versions of a resume, taking the time to edit it, and giving it a visually appealing design. “Writing cover letters” translates to dozens of drafts and hours of trying to sound confident instead of cocky. And if you actually do get an interview, it can be a long process of phone interviews and in-person interviews with multiple people (sometimes all at the same time). And that’s just the tip of the exhausting iceberg. (Already panicking? This book covers everything you need to know.) 

Luckily, I had some awesome mentors and friends who had experience with all of this and were willing to share tips and information with me. But even then, I had to learn some things for myself. 

Rejected From an Indie Bookstore = :'(

The summer after I graduated from college was spent at an internship, going on small vacations with my family, and babysitting while I looked for full-time employment. It was a confusing time—lots of people had all kinds of encouragement to offer (“Oh, don't worry—you’ll find something!”) but I rarely heard back from job applications that I submitted. I was pretty open, and applied for a variety of positions: library assistant, copywriter, social media strategist, blogger, etc.

““There were 50 applicants?! This was a part-time job paying minimum wage, and there was already so much competition?!””

I finally scored an interview at an indie bookstore for a part-time position. Deep down, I really wanted a full-time position, but I figured it would be great experience, especially if I wanted to go into publishing (which, maybe I wanted to do?). They said that out of 50 applicants, I was in the top six they were actually interviewing. I was excited—working in a bookstore as an English major is kind of a no-brainer—but also incredibly depressed. There were 50 applicants?! This was a part-time job paying minimum wage, and there was already so much competition?! Oh dear.

I was interviewed at a huge table by four people all at once. They asked me to tell them about myself, what my favorite books and authors were, and general customer service-type questions. At the end of the interview, I felt that things had gone fairly well.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the job. In a way, I felt relieved—it freed me up to continue looking for full-time employment, instead of combining a part-time job with babysitting for who knows how long. I was ready to have a “real” full-time job already! 

My parents assured me that I didn’t get the job because the people interviewing me knew that I would take a full-time job if one was offered to me instead (since I was just out of college, after all), and probably wanted someone who was seriously only looking for a part-time job. But it was also a slight blow to my ego—I had a college degree and couldn't get a part-time job that paid minimum wage?! What did that mean for the rest of my job prospects?

OMG, I Just Found My Dream (First) Job... Now What?

Sometimes when you’re searching for a job, you’ll finding a listing that puts a fire into your job search. It sounds PERFECT; you know you’re just right for the position, and it’s almost too good to be true. This is how I felt when I came across a job position as a full-time copywriter for a new e-commerce company that sold children’s products. It sounded fun to write about toys and cute kids’ clothing, and I felt comfortable with the topic because of my babysitting experience. (It might sound funny that I felt so excited about this; during college, this was NOT what I had in mind for a career. But hey, being fresh out of school really puts things in perspective!)

““I submitted my resume and cover letter, and waited. And waited. There was no one to email or check in with once I hit the “submit” button on my resume, and that was so frustrating to me!””

I submitted my resume and cover letter, and waited. And waited. There was no one to email or check in with once I hit the “submit” button on my resume, and that was so frustrating to me! I knew I needed to follow up. So I headed to LinkedIn and found someone who was a recruiter for the company. I considered messaging him, asking if there was anything I could do to follow up on my job application… and hemmed and hawed. Should I just wait a little longer? (Wait… while MY job was given to someone else?!) Would reaching out to the recruiter show initiative, or would messaging him be totally annoying and ruin any chance I might have had?

I decided I didn’t have much to lose. It was September already and I felt that I needed to get more aggressive. I messaged the recruiter, and didn’t receive a response.

However, about a week later... I got an email response to my application! They wanted to send me a copywriting test! Basically, they sent me a brief style guide I needed to stick to, and eight different products I needed to write about within a certain time frame. I spent time exploring their website and reading the writing that was already there, trying to nail down the company’s voice. Even though I did the test in private and no one was timing me, I was still nervous while I did it. (Would my writing be good enough? Could I think and write fast enough? What if I got the job, and completely froze when I was given an assignment? Etc.)

I submitted it the test, and it was reviewed by the copy team. About a week later, the Human Resources department scheduled a phone interview with me. The awesome thing about a phone interview is that you can have any notes you want in front of you. The not-so-awesome thing is that you can’t see the facial expressions or body language of the person you’re talking to, and it can be hard to gauge how the interview is going. It was nerve-wracking to say the least, but then I also don’t care much for talking on the phone in general.

After the phone interview, I was asked to schedule an in-person interview. To prepare for the interview, I looked up “commonly asked interview questions” online and actually typed out my answers. This process ended up being SO valuable. First of all, it helped me figure out what my answers actually were, as well as articulate specific ideas. Then I practiced answering the same questions out loud—yes. I sat alone and talked to a wall, no joke. And it helped!

I was given a little tour of the office that day, and was interviewed by three people (not at the same time), AND took another copywriting test where I was asked to write about a product on the spot (I’m sure it wasn’t my best writing, but I completed it, and that felt like a victory at the time). I found it really easy to talk to the three people who interviewed me, and I was sure to mention how my babysitting experience gave me insight into what moms think when they’re shopping for their children.

It turns out that my interview prep was extremely useful, even though a lot of the same questions were not asked. Because I had thought through some broad questions, I was prepared with material to talk about in general.

Money Can Be Awkward, But I Asked For More Anyway

I headed home and felt like things had went well, but I had also felt like this after the interview at the bookstore—so I figured, who knew what would happen. A few days later, I got a call back… with a job offer that included a salary, 401k, health benefits and stock options. Holy cow. I wanted to say “YES” before they could change their minds. But luckily I had some awesome mentors who convinced me not to accept their first offer... so, against everything my excited-to-have-been-offered-a-job brain said, I asked for more money. Yep.

Money can be an awkward thing, and asking for more of it—for a job you’d take in a heartbeat anyway—felt so confusing and counterintuitive. But the recruiter said that the team was anxious to hire me, so he would check with them and see what he could do. He called back later and had met me in the middle.

My First Full-Time, Big-Girl Job as a Copywriter = :-]

Not only had I secured the job I really, really wanted, but I had scored more money, too. Whoohoooo! The whole process—from the date of applying to my first day on the job—took two entire months. It’s a long time and definitely an investment that might not have worked out, but of course, I felt that it was worth it once I was hired.

To this day, I still don’t know if that LinkedIn message worked or not. The recruiter never responded to it, although he did add me as a LinkedIn connection after I was hired. Maybe it caught his attention after all! I’m glad I took a chance and went out on a limb.

Lessons Learned

Through my first couple of full-time jobs, and now my full-time freelance career, I realized that I have learned A LOT about the job-search process. I also realized that English majors had TONS of questions about the whole job search in general, from “Where do I look for jobs?” to “How do writers network?” From Graduation to Career Ready in 21 Days: A Guide for English Majors answers all of those questions and more. Check out what other English majors had to say about the book on Amazon. 

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Do YOU have a job search story you'd like to share? It can be funny, frustrating, insightful—as long as it's 200 words or less, we want it! Submit your story below for a chance to be included in an upcoming article.