Hannah C. Coffman: Grant Writer & Writing Specialist

Name: Hannah C. Coffman

Age: 22

College & Majors/Minors: Lindenwood University, BA English Creative Writing

Current Location: St. Louis

Current Form of Employment: Grant Writer & Writing Specialist

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I work part time at Lindenwood University as a Writing Specialist and part time at Faith Ascent, a small nonprofit, as a Grant Writer. My job at Lindenwood involves working closely with students in order to strengthen their writing and editing skills, assisting with English assessments of undergrads, and being a teacher’s assistant for an entry level English course. I spend a lot of time walking through papers with students and proofreading, proofreading, proofreading!

At Faith Ascent, I am currently developing a proposal to a local foundation with the intent of funding a new project. I’ve been working on program development with the organization’s director so that the project will more effectively compel funding. This involves a lot of research of best practices and a healthy amount of brainstorming. I also handle most of the actual writing and editing of the proposal, which is my favorite piece of grant writing. At this job I’m able to benefit a nonprofit whose mission resonates with me by using the skills I obtained through my Bachelor’s degree, and it’s extremely rewarding work.

My goal is to move towards a full-time career as a grant consultant by providing consulting for as many different organizations as possible during the next several years. I’ve found that consulting is a great way to gain experience and learn the ropes from more experienced professionals. I am really passionate about using my English skills in the nonprofit sector, and I also love the freedom and flexibility of working independently.

““Working as a Writing Tutor was a truly valuable experience, and that position led to my current employment as a Writing Specialist in the Lindenwood Writing Center.””

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

I worked as a Writing Tutor for four years during my undergraduate career, a job I landed as a freshman because I had completed English classes for college credit in high school (sometimes being a nerd can pay off). Working as a Writing Tutor was a truly valuable experience, and that position led to my current employment as a Writing Specialist in the Lindenwood Writing Center. The work we do in the Writing Center is critical to student success and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

I also took part in a very important internship during the summer of 2014 at The Sparrow’s Nest Maternity Home, a wonderful nonprofit that houses pregnant, homeless teens. During this internship I had the chance to network in the nonprofit community and learn the nuts and bolts of grant writing. It was because of this internship that I decided to reach out to other area nonprofits for grant writing opportunities and found my current position at Faith Ascent Ministries.

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

As a teenager I was part of the AMP program of the St. Peters Suburban Journals, a program that began as a way for teens to volunteer their time in order to experience writing for a successful publication. During my time as an AMP writer, the newspaper transitioned the teenage writers into paid staff members. Although journalism has never been my favorite area of writing, getting to be a part of a wholly different writing world was a great opportunity for me and forced me to step outside of my comfort zone. I still keep newspaper clippings of each article I wrote while working for the journal.

““In the same way, freelancing requires a heavy commitment to creative scheduling and self-discipline, not to mention all of the deadlines that grant writers are required to juggle on a daily basis. I think being dedicated to my college career helped me smoothly transition into the English workforce.””

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

Because I picked a major I loved, I (almost) always enjoyed school. Excellent grades were a priority during my undergraduate years and I made sure to set aside time to study and sleep. I believe being devoted to my studies helped prepare me to freelance in grant writing. In college, I found that I needed to motivate myself, find time to study in between part time jobs and a social life, resist the urge to procrastinate, and really dive into difficult subjects. In the same way, freelancing requires a heavy commitment to creative scheduling and self-discipline, not to mention all of the deadlines that grant writers are required to juggle on a daily basis. I think being dedicated to my college career helped me smoothly transition into the English workforce.

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

It seems that English majors are sailing through their coursework in one of two boats: they either know exactly what career path they want to take and how the degree relates to their goals, or they spend their undergraduate years furiously trying to discover what they might do with the degree. I was in the second boat. When I came to college I knew for certain that I wanted to study English, but I didn't know exactly how I wanted to use the degree. I researched many different avenues that the degree could provide, and for a while I considered becoming an ESL tutor before settling on grant writing.

Also: know that as an English major it is unlikely that you will find job opportunities through Google or a job search engine. In this field, it is extremely important to network and find your niche. You are always your own best advocate for success, and success requires an almost maddening level of persistence. If you are willing to ask professors to alert you to career opportunities, attend relevant conferences in order to network with professionals in the field, frequent career fairs, and personally contact organizations you would love to work for even if they do not have current job openings, you will find a position in a field you love.

““In this field, it is extremely important to network and find your niche. You are always your own best advocate for success, and success requires an almost maddening level of persistence. If you are willing to ask professors to alert you to career opportunities, attend relevant conferences in order to network with professionals in the field, frequent career fairs, and personally contact organizations you would love to work for even if they do not have current job openings, you will find a position in a field you love.””

Connect with Hannah on LinkedIn. 

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Alyssa W. Christensen and tagged Grant Writing.

Tara M. Clapper: Technical Editor, Freelance Fiction Editor, & Creator of The Geek Initiative

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Name: Tara M. Clapper

Age: 34

College & Majors/Minors: I have a BA in English with a minor in music from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD.

Current Location: Mt. Holly, NJ (Greater Philadelphia Area), USA

Current Form of Employment: I'm employed full time as a technical editor (blog editor) at SEMrush. I freelance as a fiction editor and also manage my own website about women in geek culture.

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I'm a technical editor at SEMrush. In this role, I oversee the editorial direction of an industry recognized digital marketing blog. My background is in content management and digital publishing. Publishing isn't the most stable field, and I transitioned into the more robust tech industry by doing exactly what I love – managing a blog!

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

My very first job out of college (2003) involved copyediting job references and applications. It wasn't a very satisfying job; the company was huge and it was too much structure for me. I immediately switched to a submissions representative position at Xlibris, a self-publisher. I was able to help writers achieve publication before this was done on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). The staff soon discovered that I could copyedit manuscripts with a fast turnaround (the rest of it was outsourced to an overseas location), and I then offered input on the company's product and services catalog.

My position was outsourced; I was rehired and promoted to work on a pilot project, but that fell through. After that, I went through a few rough years of serving coffee at Starbucks (which doesn't pay a lot, though they treat their partners very well) and started freelancing on Associated Content, which later became the now-defunct Yahoo! Contributor Network. I explored academic publishing, marketing, and web copy writing in freelance and full-time positions, but my passion has always remained focused on geeky stuff like tech an entertainment.

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

Freelancing. Even when I was serving coffee, I was moonlighting as a content writer. This allowed me to develop my craft, always state that I was a paid writer, and learn to take criticism from editors (which, in turn, made me a much better editor as well). Freelancing is appealing because you can be your own boss, but when you have editors or clients, you're working for them. Instead of one problematic boss, you could have many. That can really make you appreciate decent bosses when other people complain.

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

I was always interested in being 'in publishing,' but my school didn't offer editing classes. I took independent studies, worked on the college paper, and invested my time in the arts. Performing on stage made me a much more confident public speaker – like most writers, I was (and am) much more comfortable with written communication. Verbal communication is something I still work on and I'm currently active in a local theater group and a live action role playing game. I write plays and portray characters who face challenges; these extracurriculars are constants in my life and help me develop my leadership skills.

There's this big perception that the arts (including creative writing) provide no stability. When corporations failed and Google Panda destroyed most of my freelance clients, the arts were my constants and marketing was my day-to-day survival. Now I'm in a role that combines both; it feels stable and engaging since SEMrush is an agile company.

The most important thing I did during college was know myself and my beliefs. Running two blogs, I have to make editorial decisions that affect corporate and personal branding. The posts I approve are seen by household names and brands. Especially on The Geek Initiative, my own site, I need to determine the voice of the publication. I often consult with others whenever I come across a grey area. A good editor knows when to reference a style guide, dictionary, or policy. It's a strength to check yourself.

I wish I had taken the time to learn some practical things early: how to change a tire, how to balance a checkbook, how to sew, and how to manage finances for a small business. I should have picked up a minor in business as well.

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

If you're not satisfied with your current job, keep looking. Stability is important, but most employers will outsource you, shut their doors, and offer little regard for your future. It's great to care about your product and your employer, but if your employer doesn't take an interest in your personal brand or consider your strong social media presence an asset, start looking elsewhere. Find an employer who values you for who you really are. I'm willing to give 150% for SEMrush and network for the company on the weekends because they support the development of my personal brand. Some of my previous employers were threatened by my creative pursuits and enthusiastic social media presence.

Practical advice: Become acquainted with a trusted lawyer, doctor, and accountant/financial expert, especially if you're like me and you're better at managing words and projects than numbers.

People will tell you that an English degree is too generic or useless. If you haven't found your esoteric specialty, do everything you can to find it. Cling to it. Know that it will evolve. Integrate it into your life. It will differentiate you from everyone else.

Always freelance and – especially for women – know your value (as "Agent Carter" says).

You can find Tara online at GeekInitiative.com, TaraWrites.com, tmc.pressfolios.com. You can also connect with Tara on LinkedIn.

READ MORE:

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Shin Yu Pai: Associate Partner @ Nonprofit

Shin Yu Pai: Associate Partner @ Nonprofit

Tiffany Aldrich MacBain: Associate Professor

Tiffany Aldrich MacBain: Associate Professor

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Technical Writing and tagged Editing Technical Writing.

Back to School Necessities for English Majors

Set yourself up for success this year! We've rounded up a few of the most useful, functional, and stylish products around. 

STUDY HELPERS

DORM SWAG

CAFFEINATION STATION

Mark Twain Literary Mug
$13.95
The Unemployed Philosophers Guild
Buy on Amazon
Jane Austen Literary Mug
$15.95
The Unemployed Philosophers Guild
Buy on Amazon
Banned Book Mug
$14.95
The Unemployed Philosophers Guild
Buy on Amazon

KEEP YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT

CLOSE READING

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles.

What English Majors Need to Know About Interning in a Technical Field

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My name is Sabrina Hardy, and I graduated with a BA and an MA in English from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Whatever I do, wherever I go, I’m always looking for new opportunities to hone my writing skills. This summer, one such opportunity presented itself in a very unexpected manner: a technical internship.

When you graduate with a Master’s degree in English, you generally don’t think about interning or working in a technical field, unless you took some specific courses on technical writing. I never took those classes, so when I interviewed for a writing internship with e-360 Technologies, an electronics reuse company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I was excited but also understandably nervous when I was actually offered the position. I knew it would be a lot of work and research, but I don’t think I was quite prepared for how much I would have to learn for a field I knew little-to-nothing about.

As it turns out, the research, writing, and editing skills I gained through five years of English classes gave me an excellent foundation for the writing I was assigned in this internship! It was three months of challenging and rewarding work, and I’d like to share my experience with you, along with some application for those of you who are looking into technical internships or are wary about doing so!

Interning in a Technical Field Will Definitely Require Research

As English majors, we’re used to research-intensive projects. Most of us thrive on those late night library and database research sessions, and we wield our newfound knowledge as if we were born knowing all of it. It certainly came in handy for me this time, as the research was the most difficult part of my work.

e360 Technologies works with local businesses and individual clients, taking their used and out-of-date electronics, like computers and cellphones, and refurbishing them for re-release into the market or, if the piece of tech is past the point of no return, they recycle the various electrical components in an environmentally-conscious way. I didn’t know anything about any of that at the time, so when I started work, I had a lot to learn.

My research involved learning the technical terms for the business’s areas of expertise, figuring out the negative environmental impacts of merely throwing away electronics instead of reusing and recycling, the process of building a computer, what minerals and elements go into all the various components of a PC, which sites are going to give me government facts, which sources are best for local news, and pretty much everything you can think of when it comes to this kind of business. Each new project every week meant starting from scratch on my research, so I now have a veritable library of sources on the subject.

  • My takeaway advice? Build your knowledge base right away. Find out exactly what the company you’ll be interning for does. Go through the website, do some research into that kind of business, and compile a list of basic terms and concepts you need to know. Research all of the above, take notes, and save the file before you even start working. It’ll help you feel less lost and will also give you a great starting point for each assignment. Every day that I didn’t have an assignment to work on, I was researching possible terminology, government websites, pollution data, and everything else that could possibly relate to my work. (Anyone want to know how many minerals go into the making of a computer? Anyone?)

Your Writing Skills Are Absolutely Necessary

We few, we happy few, we band of English majors are no strangers to the art of writing. Most of us join English programs either because we’re already really good at writing or we want to become stellar at it. And really, any job that lets us keep writing is one we tend to jump at. Writing in a technical field, at least in this case, is actually right up my alley. Once I had the terminology and statistical know-how from my research, the actual writing didn’t take long at all.

I’ve written a press release for the company, blog posts about pollution and depreciation, emails to clients, and several other written assignments for the company. I start each one with an outline, write multiple drafts, use the vast array of witty words and intelligent phrases at my disposal, and demonstrate my generally impeccable grammar. Writing the kind of articles expected from me in this field uses all the same talents I already have; it just exercises some slightly different creative muscles within those groups.

  • My takeaway advice? You can apply the same skills you learned from writing essays to “real world” writing assignments. Follow the same process you would for writing a paper on the Marxist ramifications of class distinctions in The Iliad, or whatever it was you wrote last term. Keep a clear outline in your head, have a strong thesis statement (even if it’s not one you need to write down), define your terms, and support every claim you make. You’ll have to simplify and perhaps cut down on your natural verbosity, but your well-honed writing talents will help you excel in these assignments.

So, What’s Next?

If you’re interested in an internship of this kind, what do you need to do? Well, the primary focus is the writing, so make sure you have a diversity of skills. I’ve written two theses and who knows how many academic papers, but I also write creatively, publish with some online contemporary issues magazines, and regularly contribute to a blog. The more variety you have in your writing, the better your resume will be and the easier time you’ll have of adapting to the requirements of the job.

Also, familiarize yourself in advance with the company you want to intern for and do some pre-interview research. Is it the kind of work you’d need an actual class for? Or is it something you can research and learn on the job?

But above all, be confident. You’re an English major: you can write, you can research, you’ve got this.

About the Author

Sabrina Hardy is a swing-dancing, book-loving nerd of a teacher from Tucson, Arizona. She taught writing at the collegiate level for two years at Liberty University and is currently preparing to move to Poznań, Poland, to take up a position as an English language instructor. Beyond her academic publications, she’s written for Christianity Today’s Her.meneutics and Today’s Christian Woman in addition to working on a novel and regularly blogging for The Art of Writing and her personal travel blog, My Kingdom for a TARDIS.

Posted on August 30, 2015 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Featured Articles, Internship Resources.

The Quest for the Holy Doctorate: One English Student’s Reality Check

It starts out as an innocent attempt at small talk. I’ll be leaning out the drive-thru window of my workplace; reading Hemingway or Chaucer for my next assignment; talking to a new friend I met at the ice cream social. Here comes the classic American icebreaker: what do you do? 

“Oh, I’m a college student,” I reply.

“That’s nice. What’s your major?” 

“English,” I quip happily, proud.

This is about the time I notice an expression of confusion mixed with pity on the other person’s face. “Oh, you poor thing” is what I imagine they’re thinking. The next question (and I think almost all English students have encountered this) never comes as a surprise, “Are you going to teach?” At first, I dreamed of becoming an English professor with high hopes of research, writing and prestige. Now if that question rears its hideous head, I emphatically answer “No.” 

As I progressed through my undergraduate career, I began to wonder why so many people asked that of me and my classmates. Were we doomed to only a life in academia? Was academia so bad of a career choice? Did our society see us as only useful for teaching? I had to know if I was making a mistake in my career path. 

I had seen other warning signs that life as a doctoral candidate was going to be more than I bargained for. I knew that earning a Ph.D. was going to be a tremendous amount of work, but I knew I was more than capable. I have always been an honor student. I love learning almost more than life itself. Books are my friends, and the written word has always been my venue for creativity. However, as time went on—and I befriended some doctoral candidates who could give me the lowdown on the process—I developed an increasing anxiety about debt, and more importantly job prospects. I decided to do some research. The results were startling, disturbing, and frankly not what I wanted to hear. 

““I decided to do some research. The results were startling, disturbing, and frankly not what I wanted to hear.””

No more than one-third of all professors in the nation have tenure or are on tenure-track (www.nea.org). Adjuncts—who are largely abused by the system and get few, if any, benefits—compose the remainder. Tenure does not make the professor immune to termination, but instead offers much needed and sought-after security. The requirements vary from university to university, but it often involves publishing several scholarly articles and writing at least one book. 

This process itself is fine, and those who earn tenure deserve it, but it can be difficult to complete the process if one wants to have children during this time. I understood why tenure was so difficult to obtain, but I worried if I could hold out long enough to see the end. It takes two years for a master’s, then an additional two-three years (and longer sometimes) just to pass the exams and write a dissertation. Once the dissertation was successfully defended, I would be awarded my holy grail of scholarship. Sadly, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth, and my husband and I had future mouths to feed. I wasn’t sure if I could be patient enough. I wasn’t sure I could afford to be patient enough. The doubt kept compounding, and I needed to make a decision: continue the road to Ph.D. or find an alternative. 

I asked for the advice of my Honors professor, Dr. J. I asked her if I was on the right career path, if becoming a professor was the right thing for me to do, and what advice could she give me if I decided to proceed with becoming a professor. Firstly, she believed that I could do it and that I could be an excellent professor. My faith was restored, but it was short-lived. Just when I thought I was right all along, Dr. J. warned me of the hierarchical snobbery involved in academia. She received her master’s and doctorate from Yale; she’s one of the leading experts on WWI literature. She worked diligently, tirelessly, to get that prestige. She then told me of a former student of hers that had begun a doctoral program at our university. That student got a job in publishing. The verdict: she dropped the program and now she makes more money than Dr. J. 

There was more. More? I thought the worst was over, and I dreaded hearing what came next. She told me that for a Ph.D. to really shine and get a great job was to attend an elite college. The old adage rang true again: it’s who you know rather than what you know, and getting into Yale or any other prestigious university was the ticket to professor stardom. Here I was a first generation college student who had to pay for college myself at a state university. Could I get into Yale? Probably. I’m graduating summa cum laude with honors in English. I’ve been an accomplished student, so I didn’t doubt my abilities. But there were plenty of other stories about Ivy League schools that wrinkled my brow, making me squirm when I thought about attending one of those schools. To further deepen the wound, she informed me that a Ph.D. from a lower-tiered school (such as the one in which we were employed) was “doomed” to teach at a community college or a lower-tiered school. It didn’t matter if I was just as well-qualified, or even more qualified, than someone from Harvard or Columbia; if I didn’t have the watermark of an Ivy League school on my doctorate, I was sunk. 

““To further deepen the wound, she informed me that a Ph.D. from a lower-tiered school (such as the one in which we were employed) was “doomed” to teach at a community college or a lower-tiered school. It didn’t matter if I was just as well-qualified, or even more qualified, than someone from Harvard or Columbia; if I didn’t have the watermark of an Ivy League school on my doctorate, I was sunk.””

Her final words of advice were, “If you can only see yourself being a professor, then go for it. If you can see yourself doing something else, I advise you to do that instead. It’s a long, arduous road. You have to know if it’s right for you or you’re going to waste your time and money. It’s a highly rewarding career, if you’re in it for the right reasons, but you have to know if it’s for you.” 

I was in it for the right reasons, right? I wanted to help students achieve their highest potentials, but as I interviewed other professors, I found that it wasn’t the golden road that I imagined. I have a love for writing also, but getting a MFA seemed just as pointless (if not more so). I would be corralling myself into academia, unqualified for anything other than teaching, tutoring, and writing on my own time if things didn’t pan out.

I care about money more than I thought I did. I still care about helping people, but this is my chance to ascend my socioeconomic status. Law seems like a good path.  

Ever since I was a small child, I had been involved with politics. My childhood crush was Al Gore, and I wanted to be the first woman president. In high school, I was told by teachers that I would be a really good lawyer because of my argumentative nature and ability to be forceful in debates. I never thought that I would end up as a lawyer because of all the bad reps they got, but then I realized these were dishonest lawyers who betrayed their character and oath of decency. My top choice for law school is the University of Colorado-Boulder, but I won’t be too torn up if I stay at the University of Kentucky. I want to be an environmental lawyer because I can’t stand how much corporations and our species have destroyed our planet. There has to be boundaries. There has to be a push for new research and regulations. I may work for a firm, or for the EPA, or even on my own one day. I may even miss academia and decide to teach law after a long run as an attorney. 

““Being an English major does not mean a narrow path into academia. Teaching is certainly noble, and necessary, but it is not the English major’s destiny. I started out with one dream and ended with another. I must weather the winds of change, and the winds say this change is good.””

With a law degree, I can help society and still make a decent living. I will still have prestige, important connections, and the chance to publish only with a better chance of getting ahead in life. Don’t get me wrong, I fear the future; I fear the uncertainty of law school and forging a career. I fear how I will change. I fear the moral ambiguities and challenges I will face as a lawyer. I know I can do it. I know now, after much introspection, that this is the right choice. I want my children to have a better life than I did. This is my chance to do it, and I will. Being an English major does not mean a narrow path into academia. Teaching is certainly noble, and necessary, but it is not the English major’s destiny. I started out with one dream and ended with another. I must weather the winds of change, and the winds say this change is good.

About the Author

Shelby Bevins-Sullivan is a senior at the University of Kentucky, graduating in December. She loves poetry, prose, cupcakes, pretending she's a mad scientist, comic books, and collecting strange hats. She lives in Lexington with her husband, Joseph, along with her two fur babies: Amuset (kitten), and Molly (puppy).  

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Featured Articles, English Major Stories.

Amanda M. Karby: eBook Developer

Name: Amanda M. Karby

Age: 25

College & Majors/Minors: Hope College, BA English & Creative Writing; Emerson College, MA Publishing & Writing

Current Location: Boston, MA

Current Form of Employment: eBook Developer

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I currently work at The MIT Press as a digital production coordinator, a detailed title for what I consider my core role: eBook developer. My job focuses on the digital production of the Press's frontlist titles as well as management and distribution of all our of digital book assets. When I graduated from Hope in 2010 and moved home to Metro Detroit, the prospect of getting a job locally in my desired field - publishing - was, as you can imagine, not so great. After taking a gap year, I moved to Boston in 2012 to get my master's and hopefully transition directly into publishing; I'm happy to say that's exactly what happened.

It's my ultimate goal to return home to Michigan to settle permanently (when the right career opportunity arises), but for now, Boston is an incredible city to be in if you're interested in pursuing book publishing.

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

I like to think I've had a fairly natural progression of an English major's intended career path: while an undergrad I was the editor of my college's literary magazine as well as a copyeditor for the newspaper. After school I took on a number of freelance clients that have stayed with me into graduate school, and while in graduate school I had a handful of editorially focused internships. One of these internships was a full academic year in the Digital Initiatives Group at MITP, where I now work. That's how I "found" this role.

You could probably say that my current job is my "first" job in that it's my first permanent, full-time, typical 9-5 gig. Before I was full-time at MITP, I was working as a temporary clearance editor in rights and permissions at Pearson - another typical 9-5, but not long-term. And of course beyond these roles, I've had my fair share of non-publishing-related jobs: supervisor at Edible Arrangements, college mail room clerk, and hair salon receptionist, to name a few.

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

Actually, when I think of anything writing-related that was important in my career, the jobs I've held don't come to mind first - my writing instructors from undergrad do. My professors and mentors at Hope were instrumental in my decision to move away from my home state, dive headfirst into publishing, and really go after what I wanted. Rhoda Janzen advised me to "be a shark" when applying to graduate schools; Dr. William Pannapacker supported my projects with Hope's literary magazine and interest in the digital humanities; Heather Sellers completely changed my views about writing, poetry, and living well; the list goes on.

Without these remarkable professors guiding me through my program, I doubt I would be in my current career - in fact, I probably would have changed majors. I'm indebted to them and Hope's English department as a whole.

Additionally - this may sound trite - rejection has been very important to my career. I was rejected from my top choice grad school, the university I'd been dreaming of attending my entire life. Without that rejection, I would have never come to Emerson, where my life and career changed in the biggest way imaginable. I've also been rejected from so many "dream jobs" I've lost count. Do not lose hope when rejection comes your way. It's all part of the process.

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

Like I mentioned in the previous question, seeking to learn as much as possible from my professors was high on my list. I think we as English majors (especially those in my graduating class, who finished school in arguably the worst part of the recession) are often fearful of our futures and what we can do with our degrees. While in college, I wanted to try to get as close to publishing as I could, considering my degree was much more writing-focused: editing the lit mag, copyediting for the paper, attending as many readings as I could. And, of course, researching graduate schools! If you think grad school might be the best route for you, do your research and make sure to cast your net wide.

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

If you're an English student and are interested in the world of book publishing, stay positive: the industry is changing in huge ways, most of them exciting. From a digital publishing perspective, specifically, there is a lot of opportunity for growth and learning.

As much as it's annoying to hear these things, internships and networking are invaluable. Get as much real world experience as you can, and make sure to keep your network strong; LinkedIn is a really great tool that I think too many students (and professionals) underutilize. The world of publishing and writing is pretty small! Get to those networking events. Stay in touch with your professors and peers from school. Above all else, take Rhoda's advice and be a shark - English majors have a wealth of marketable, desirable skills. Show 'em what you're made of. Last bit of advice: ALWAYS send thank you notes. For interviews, for speakers, for events, even for job rejections. Learn the art of saying thank you - it means so much.

You can find more about me, my writing, and my editorial portfolio online at www.amandamkarby.com. I'm also on Twitter @editorialism and LinkedIn.

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Alyssa W. Christensen and tagged Publishing.

What's YOUR advice for college freshmen who are hoping to become English majors?

We all remember what it was like to be a freshman in college. Maybe you knew exactly what you wanted to major in... or maybe it was an agonizing decision and you changed majors multiple times. Maybe you wish you did things differently. 

We want to help college freshman (and sophomores... and maybe college juniors, too...) by providing some advice from real English majors who have already been through it all. So tell us:

Submit your answers below for a chance to be included in an upcoming article on Dear English Major:

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles.

The 9 Most Common Misconceptions About English Majors (And Why They’re Not Always True)

We're laughing soooooo hard...

We're laughing soooooo hard...

It was recently pointed out to us on Twitter by a not-so-subtle tweeter that “if you need a website to defend the degree it probably isn't worth it.” Of course, this person was *probably* referring to DearEnglishMajor.com, and they also shared some other blunt insight that we won’t go into here. By now, you might wonder why we even gave these things the time of day, but we believe that there’s a reason why we should respond in our own way.

Of course, he has a point. Shouldn’t a truly useful degree be more obvious? Why does there need to be an entire website dedicated to proving that an English degree is useful if it inherently is?

The English major has a PR problem.

Too many English majors are doubting their choice of degree, and too many would-be English majors are choosing other degrees because “you can’t make any money with an English degree,” “there aren’t any jobs,” “I don’t want to teach,” etc. The misconceptions and negative stereotypes that surround the degree itself and what an English degree can do for your future go on and on, but they can be changed!

We asked YOU, our Dear English Major audience of thousands, the following question:

“In your experience, what is the most common misconception or stereotype about English majors?”

This is how you responded, and we’ve elaborated on each misconception and why it most likely isn’t true.

  • Misconception #1: You want to be a teacher.

First of all, most of us are probably English majors because at some point, we had an incredible, inspiring teacher who made us fall in love with reading and writing and changed us for the better. So we can all probably agree that teachers are AWESOME and make the world go round! Many English majors DO want to become teachers, and they should go for it. We never, ever want to give the impression that we don’t support our teachers.

But not every English major wants to become a teacher, and as teachers know, an English major is not the same as having an education degree. Being a well-versed English major does not automatically qualify one to teach. There’s a lot of work that goes into becoming a teacher, especially becoming an English teacher.

(If you DO want to become a teacher, check out this article where real English teachers share their advice on becoming a teacher or professor.)

  • Misconception #2: You won’t make any money if you major in English.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, in 2014, English majors had an average starting salary of $33,574. As of May 2014 national mean annual salary is $47,230 for all occupations regardless of level, according to the United States Department of Labor. So, just take a moment to think about that!

Just like any degree—sciences included—there are some English majors who will never go on to directly use their major in their career. But there are plenty who do, and they more than manage to take home a respectable salary from it every year.

  • Misconception #3: The skills you learn in English class don’t translate to the “real world.”

This stereotype could refer to several majors, but basically what people mean is: “How do the skills you gain in college directly translate to the real world and a full-time job?” More specifically though, people are saying something like: “I took an English class in college once, and we read The Great Gatsby, talked about it, and then I had to write an essay on symbolism. There aren’t any jobs in the real world where any of that is useful!”

True… kinda. At a job interview, you probably are not going to be reading a novel and then writing an essay to prove yourself. But in many careers, you will be expected to be able to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively with your peers. You will be expected to present ideas and information in a digestible, appealing way, as well as defend your ideas, the same way you did in that Great Gatsby essay. And you will need to do that again, and again, and again.

Fortunately, English majors are well-practiced when it comes to the aforementioned. Good communication is key in a world that relies on it, now more so than ever. Have you ever visited a website? Been advertised to? Yes and yes? Then you’ve seen the work of someone who is a great communicator. And that means there are jobs for folks who can communicate, and communicate well.

  • Misconception #4: There are no jobs for English majors.

Have you SEEN the Dear English Major homepage? Have you perused LinkedIn (and stalked the job positions that professionals with English majors have)? Have you checked out our resource pages for careers in copywriting, editing, freelancing, grant writing, library science, marketing, publishing, social media, teaching, and writing? These areas are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the various fields you can enter as an English major. The next time someone makes fun of our beloved English major… be ready to tell them what careers are out there!

  • Misconception #5: English majors always use perfect grammar and spelling, AND know the meaning of every single word.

Yes, while it’s true that we’re known for using impeccable grammar, knowing where to put a comma, and knowing how to spell words like “antidisestablishmentarianism,” we still don’t know everything. In fact, we can all use an editor from time to time. Editing is a profession unto itself and requires a unique skillset.

  • Misconception #6: We’ve read ALL the “classics.”

When your great uncle finds out you’ve never read Great Expectations or Treasure Island, he might be horrified. “WHAT? But you’re an English major! What are they teaching kids these days?!” While the classics are classics for a reason, a lot has happened in literature since 1883. You’re probably reading new and relevant authors that he has never heard of, and learning just as much—if not more—about literature, life, etc. Ya know. The important things. 

  • Misconception #7: An English major is easy. You just read books and write essays that are basically book reports.

Um. Ok. Anyone who says this has never, ever taken a REAL, college-level English course. English majors are often required to read multiple novels PER WEEK, do extensive research, and write essays that require you to reach far, far beyond a general summary of a book. Anyone who spends time doing this for weeks on end is either going to burn out or gain some serious brain muscles!

  • Misconception #8: We love editing and proofreading your writing and will do so for free!

“Can you proofread this?” “Does this make sense?” Ok, it’s true—sometimes helping our friends out is a true joy. We want to read what you’re writing (because it’s fun and interesting) and we can really lend a hand too—hey, writing isn’t everyone’s cup o’ tea. But no, we’re not your personal fact-checker, and we don't want to rework entire paragraphs for you (unless you're really really really nice). And when you get a real job, you’ll need to HIRE us, because editing and proofreading are real skills that we have spent years and years practicing.

  • Misconception #9: We’re always judging you when you speak or write something to us.

No, no, no! English majors are people, too! (Promise.) We use slang, we end sentences with prepositions from time to time, and we are just generally grammar badasses! ;) Sometimes we text lyk dis and sometimes we insist on using full, proper sentences. Speaking to your friends versus speaking to your boss are two different things; so are texting and writing research papers. Don't assume we're always picking apart your grammar like evil grammar police. We get it. You're human.

Check out our gift guides for English majors:

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Alyssa W. Christensen and filed under Articles, Featured Articles.