John Essex: Owner, Editor at Peak Medical Editing, LLC

Name: John Essex

Age: 35

College & Majors/Minors: Wabash College, Major: Biology, Minor: English (plus 2 years of medical school)

Current Location: Indianapolis, IN

Current Form of Employment: Owner, Editor at Peak Medical Editing, LLC

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I work at Peak Medical Editing, the company I started and own. I’m happy to report that my boss is a super great guy—very lax with the dress code policy. I’m a medical editor, which means I help scientific authors improve the clarity of their writing for peer-reviewed journals. I also edit various other medically focused projects, including textbooks, which are more fun than you might think. 

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

Back in college, when people would hear I had a biology major with an English minor, they would ask, “What the heck are you going to do with that combination?” I would say, “I don’t know, something.” I doubled-down on the science and went to medical school. After completing the basic medical science courses (not without a lot of prayer and struggle), I left. I knew I wanted to find something that would combine my love of writing and English (thanks to my mom, a retired English teacher) with my medical background. That’s when I became very familiar with job search websites. The programmers at those search companies must have thought it hilarious that when a user input “science” and “writer,” the output would be “TV EXTRAS WANTED!” 

Most of the jobs I was looking for required 3 to 5 years of experience. Yahoo! let me apply a search filter based on years of experience. I had 0 years of experience, so I checked the experience filter marked “0-1,” and all jobs but one fell away: a report writer for a contract research facility in Ohio. That’s not actually true—all science writing jobs fell away but the report writing job, followed by several pages of TV acting work (which, to my surprise, was in mysteriously high demand in the Midwest). 

I interviewed and got the job, moved to another state and worked there for 5 years. The job involved taking research findings and writing toxicology reports that would eventually go into FDA files for new drugs. I gained plenty from that first professional job: humility, discipline, and how to work in a corporate environment. I also met my wife there, a stunning chemist who introduced me to Harry Potter. 

Fast forward through a job as a medical writer (the details of which I’m saving for the next question), and I became the Editor in Chief of two scientific publications: American Pharmaceutical Review and Pharmaceutical Outsourcing. It was there where I realized many scientific researchers sometimes need help conveying their ideas in English. My favorite part of my job as Editor in Chief was helping authors revise and sharpen their work, getting the best out of their manuscripts. I was not as enthused about the part of the job where I had to fend off influence from sponsors and do extensive traveling. My wife and I had just had a baby boy and I wasn’t keen on being away from them as often as the job was asking. 

I started looking at working for some of the editing companies out there, but I realized I had enough clout and experience under my belt to work for myself, so I started my own company and finally figured out what I could do with that strange combination of a major in biology with a minor in English.  

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

Before my Editor in Chief days, I was a medical writer back in my hometown of Indianapolis. There I learned how to take complex medical information and tell a compelling story for an audience of physicians and scientific leaders. Using published scientific literature, clinical trial data, and advice from researchers, I wrote PowerPoint slide decks that would be presented at medical meetings, scripts for videos, and several journal manuscripts. 

I met some of the smartest people I’ve ever known at that job. For 3 years, I worked closely with the senior medical editor, learning all the nuances of the American Medical Association style. As luck would have it, my cubicle was next to hers, so asking questions was super convenient. She graciously answered hundreds of my questions, knowing that the more informed I was as a writer, the easier her job would be editing my work. (Pro Tip: When you get into the professional world, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t know something.) I edit my current clients’ work like she edited mine: constructively and instructively. She provided examples that helped me grasp certain rules, knowing that I could apply that knowledge in my next project. I do that now for my clients: I want to help them become better writers and impart little tips to improve writing beyond what is currently on the page. The world will always benefit from knowledgeable people who can clearly communicate. As an editor, it’s my job to help experts share their knowledge with the world.   

““Combine your degree with another field like business, marketing, science, or any other professional area that may interest you and you’ve got rock star potential anywhere.””

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

In college, I split my time between science and English courses. I loved the assignments and discussions in my English classes. I had fun with my essays in my junior and senior years, letting some humor slip in where I felt brave enough. There was not as much room for personality in the science classes, although I enjoyed them for other reasons. 

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

Here’s the dirty little secret about an English degree: it’s applicable everywhere. The ability to communicate clearly is the missing ingredient in many professional avenues. Combine your degree with another field like business, marketing, science, or any other professional area that may interest you and you’ve got rock star potential anywhere. 

While you’re in school, immersed in your world of literature, grammar, and writing, you can lose sight of the fact that many people are unfamiliar with that world, so you might assume everyone has your abilities. That’s not true. Other people might be experts in math, science, and business, but their knowledge and expertise is useless if they can’t string a useful sentence together to get their messages out. Enter the English Majors: rugged navigators for a world in need of clean writing and proper grammar, come to save the world through clarity of thought. 

You can see John’s website at www.PeakMedicalEditing.com. Drop him a line there or on Twitter @JohnEssex3. 

Mollie Turbeville: Content Editor & Freelance Book Editor

Name: Mollie Turbeville

Age: 26

College & Majors/Minors: I graduated from North Carolina State University with a major in English Literature and a minor in Creative Writing.

Current Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Current Form of Employment: Full-Time Editor

Where do you work and what is your current position? 

By day, I'm a content editor for a digital marketing agency in downtown Raleigh. By night, I'm a freelance book editor. Through my editing business, Mohr Editing, I work with indie authors, small pubs, and editorial agencies. I also freelance with Kirkus Editorial and INDIE Books Gone Wild. I mostly edit middle grade and young adult novels, but I've worked on many different kinds of books for kids and adults. You can't keep me away from a good story.

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

My first job was as a customer service intern in college for a nonprofit organization, where I interviewed people and contributed to a local newsletter and helped develop a youth curriculum. I began working with the nonprofit through my internship class, and what started out as class credit turned into a paid summer gig. I loved to capture inspiring stories and share someone else's voice through my words! I became a copywriter for a literary consultancy and learned more about content marketing.

Over the years, I discovered a new passion: helping others refine their own words to tell the stories they've always wanted to tell. I pursued editing classes and a network of professionals through a few wonderful editorial associations. I became an editor because I loved watching a better product emerge. There's nothing more satisfying than helping someone's story come to life. After a few years of book editing, I decided to edit for content and digital marketing agencies for a change of pace. As a content editor for a digital marketing agency, I get to help businesses develop their brand identities and tell their own unique stories. My two editing worlds overlap in more ways than one. 

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

A copywriter position at a content marketing company taught me that I don't have to go looking for writing inspiration in spurts; I don't have to wait for creativity to "strike." With enough practice, I can harness creativity in an everyday routine. Demystifying the creative process has helped me overcome writer's block and fear. It is possible to commit to creative deadlines and longer projects. Perfection is overrated, and being a mature writer (or editor) is all about accepting the fact that you will always be growing; you will always be learning. 

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

My experience as editor-in-chief of N.C. State's literary arts publication helped me learn how to work in a creative team and meet deadlines while balancing a CRAZY schedule. Promoting the magazine and thinking outside of the box was also helpful in my approach to becoming a freelancer. 

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

Specialize. Become interested in one or two areas and go for it. If you want to set yourself apart, look where your passion lies and make yourself an expert. That, and always devote time to learning. I probably learned more about editing in my continued education courses through other programs and associations than I did throughout my whole college career. If you go after what you really want to learn, you may surprise yourself!

Check out Mollie's website mohrediting.com and follow her on Twitter! 

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READ MORE

Jack Neary: Head of Community @ Litographs

Amanda M. Karby: eBook Developer

Nicole Wayland: Freelance Copyeditor & Proofreader

5 Amazing English Major Skills You Can Use in the Workplace

It’s no secret that most English majors really like reading and writing. Many of us go on to use our degrees in unsurprising careers: publishing, editing, writing, teaching, etc. But although these career choices are certainly prevalent amongst our peers, they don’t provide the whole scope of options available to those with an English degree. 

““I was attracted to my current job, which was my first job out of college, because I would get to use my communication skills and creativity on a daily basis to help people grow their businesses.””

For example, I work in marketing and advertising. In fact, I sell television commercials and various forms of online advertising for a local TV station. Towards the end of college, I developed an interest in working in media thanks to an advertising and public relations course I took at my school, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an internship I did in the promotions department at a radio station in my hometown. I was attracted to my current job, which was my first job out of college, because I would get to use my communication skills and creativity on a daily basis to help people grow their businesses. 

A typical day in my job includes meeting with local business owners and marketing directors to discuss their marketing goals and how I can use the power of TV and/or the Internet to help them achieve those goals. I also work with advertising agencies as they place TV commercials for their clients. Sometimes people I meet are surprised to learn that I was an English major. They wonder how my major could possibly relate to what I do for a living. 

There are lots of memes and jokes out there on the Internet about how the only thing an English major teaches you is how to say “Would you like fries with that?” or “Would you like whipped cream on your frozen coffee drink?” I’d like to make the case that in fact the English major, like many of its liberal arts degree brethren, actually teaches several transferable skills that are essential whether you work in marketing, sales, teaching, publishing, writing, law, or yes, the local coffee shop. 

Here are my top five handy transferable English major skills:

1. Storytelling

This skill becomes useful immediately when you interview for jobs and continues in almost any job. The moment you sit down at a job interview, you are telling the hiring manager a story about yourself. Whether or not you tell a favorable story will determine the interviewer’s impression of you and oftentimes whether or not you get the job offer.

““The best marketing messages show consumers how a given product or service fits into their personal story.””

In my current sales role, storytelling is a way of selling to potential clients, and the more you pay attention, the more you will see that storytelling is a key component of nearly any job function. If you’re a teacher, you have to help your students connect with the works of literature they’re reading. They need to know why To Kill A Mockingbird matters to them and their own lives. This is storytelling. The best marketing messages show consumers how a given product or service fits into their personal story. Those of us who are loyal iPhone users probably can’t imagine life without our devices; we’ve bought into the intersection between our stories and the stories Apple is telling us. 

2. Close Reading

In English classes, we're taught to look for the subtext in the works we read. Every conversation in the workplace, whether it's with coworkers or clients/customers, has subtext built into it. English majors can more easily pick up on tonal shifts and shift conversational gears accordingly. If you happen to work in sales like I do, this skill makes a huge difference when it comes to connecting with prospective customers. People buy from people they like and trust, and close reading/active listening is the first step in earning someone’s trust. 

3. Justifying Your Ideas

When analyzing a text in an English class, students have to be able to defend their positions, especially when they go against the typical reading of that text. In the working world, we are often called upon to explain why we think an idea will work, or why it won't. I was taught that for every line of direct quotation in a research paper, there should be at least three lines of explanation/interpretation. Being able to justify my ideas (ideally without being a know-it-all, of course) gives me credibility in meetings at work, and managers love to see that they’ve hired a smart, capable employee.

4. Tactful Communication

As English majors, we studied tone and subtext so much that we are perfectly suited to writing that challenging email to an unhappy client. I've had to do this several times in my work, whether it's to apologize for a mistake I or someone on my team made, deliver hard news, or explain why something can't be done. Knowing how to strike the proper tone is the difference between appeasing your client or creating an enemy for your company. 

5. Spelling & Grammar

No matter what your job function is, good grammar is essential. I end up helping proofread everything that goes out to clients from my office, because every comma splice, typo, etc., undermines our professionalism. My coworkers know they can count on me to point out their spelling and grammar errors (all in the name of making the company look as good as possible, of course!). By being able to communicate effectively and professionally, you will automatically stand head and shoulders above plenty of other people in the workforce. 

There are undoubtedly many more useful skills that an English major teaches, but in the interest of brevity we’ll stop here. English majors, be confident in yourself and in your degrees—you have a lot to offer the world regardless of what path you choose!

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About the Author

Hayley Crowell Curry graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013 with a double major in English and Spanish and a minor in creative writing. She now makes her home in Winston-Salem, NC, where she works as a TV and Internet marketing consultant for a local TV station. In her spare time, Hayley continues to write guest blog posts, fiction pieces, and various freelance projects. Some of her favorite words include “ignite,” “serendipity,” “burgeoning,” and “mellifluous.” She loves ice cream, a capella music, reading as often as possible, and cheering on her beloved Tar Heels. You can follow her on Twitter @_hayleycurry and/or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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Chelsea Phipps: Community Management Lead

Name: Chelsea Phipps

Age: 29

College: University of Washington 

Major: English: Creative Writing

Minor: Diversity Studies

Current Location: Seattle, Washington

Current field: Social Media Marketing

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I currently work at a social media marketing agency as the Community Management Lead. My team and I represent a variety of local and nationwide brands on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest. We write Facebook posts, tweets and interact with our brands’ fan bases across all platforms.

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

My first job after college was as a seasonal hire for the Seattle International Film Festival on the Marketing & Communications team. In this role, I wrote copy for SIFF’s website, e-newsletter, print media and even wrote film blurbs for the Seattle Times! I found this job simply by browsing SIFF’s website and sending in a cover letter and resume. Though they weren’t hiring at the time, they reached out when they were hiring and it was an incredible experience. 

““I ended up at my current job via good old-fashioned networking. In other words, a colleague from a previous job referred me when she heard her company was looking for writers. Fellow writers are your best friends when it comes to finding a job!””

I ended up at my current job via good old-fashioned networking. In other words, a colleague from a previous job referred me when she heard her company was looking for writers. Fellow writers are your best friends when it comes to finding a job!

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

Before I ventured into the world of social media, I worked as an Email Copywriter for the flash-sale site, zulily. This role was incredibly fast-paced as we had to produce quippy email and homepage copy for over 100 different branded events every day. I learned how to create copy that was memorable and made an impact with very limited characters and with very little time.

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

During my last year of college, I took an internship for about 25 hours a week and was eventually hired on full-time. That being said, I don’t believe I really did enough to prepare myself for my post-grad life. If I could go back, I would definitely have taken many more internships, at a variety of organizations, so that I would have a greater breadth of experience going into my first year out of college. Many internship opportunities are only available to current college students, so I wish I had taken advantage of those opportunities. 

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

To current English majors I would say, begin your job search early! Also, throw yourself into the internship search early in your college career. Not only will you gain valuable experience in the workplace, but you’ll start to get over some of those job interview jitters. Lastly, keep your social media profiles interesting and personable, but maintain at least a degree of professionalism. Social media is becoming an increasingly important part of the business world and employers love to see you know how to conduct yourself in an engaging, appropriate manner. 

You can connect with Chelsea on LinkedIn and follow her on Twitter. 

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READ MORE: 

Sydney Turnquist: Social Media Coordinator

Ariel Price: Associate Editor at Corwin

Jack Neary: Head of Community @ Litographs

Hayley Crowell Curry: TV & Digital Advertising Sales

Name: Hayley Crowell Curry

Age: 24

College & Majors/Minors: I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated with honors and highest distinction in 2013 with a double major in English and Spanish and a minor in creative writing. If anyone reading this is interested in studying creative writing, UNC's undergraduate program is one of the best in the country. I grew tremendously as a writer and as a human being from the education I received there. Two years after graduation, I am still in touch with several of my professors!

Current Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Current Form of Employment: Full-time job in television and digital advertising sales

Where do you work and what is your current position?

I work at WXLV ABC45 and WMYV My48 TV, which are two TV stations in one building. I sell television and digital advertising/marketing, which can basically be broken down into two distinct roles: 1. Getting new local direct business, aka working with local business owners on their marketing to help them grow their businesses and 2. Working with media buyers/advertising agencies for bigger clients like fast food restaurants, furniture stores, etc. to place their planned TV schedules on my stations. In my spare time, I continue to pursue my love of fiction writing (my college honors thesis was a short story collection) and various other writing opportunities.

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

Towards the end of my college career, I developed an interest in marketing and advertising. This interest was partially spurred by an intro to advertising and public relations course that I took at UNC during my senior year and partially by an internship that I did in the promotions department of a radio station in my hometown of Charlotte, NC. I knew I didn't want to be a teacher (Side note: I have the utmost admiration for what teachers do - they are basically like superheroes. Teaching just isn't my particular gift!) and I knew I wanted to move to the area where I now live, so I started searching very early for my first job. I first began applying to jobs in October of my senior year, and I applied to anything and everything in this area that I found remotely interesting. I found my first job posted on UNC's career services job board, Careerolina. As I went through the interview process, I was attracted to the fact that I wouldn't have to spend all day stuck in a cubicle and that I could help people by growing their businesses. What ended up sealing the deal for me was the awesome people I would get to work for and the opportunity to make more money than most English majors would. In the end, I received my official job offer the day after I graduated, which was a huge relief. I'm still working in that same job over two years later. I've learned so much, but something I love about it is that every day brings a new learning opportunity.

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

In college, I interned for a local entrepreneur. I ran her social media accounts, coordinated her public relations efforts, and edited and proofread one of her books. This experience was a crash course in social media best practices as well as an opportunity for me to do a lot of self-directed independent work, a skill which has served me very well in my current role.

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

A better question might be "What didn't you do to prepare for your post-grad life?" I took career tests at the career services center, took a for-credit class at the career center all about applying for jobs, considered going into law school and ultimately decided against it for the time being, completed two internships, and began my job search several months before I graduated. As you may be able to tell, I am rather Type-A and I love nothing more than a good action plan.

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

I have several pieces of advice for students who are majoring in English. First of all, make sure you're in this major because you truly do love it. If you're wanting a get-rich-quick path, this probably won't be it. Assuming you really do love your major, my next piece of advice would be to get to know your professors. They are an incredible resource for you because they can help you become a better reader and writer, can write you recommendations and/or serve as a reference later on, and they give some of the best advice out there. I had one professor who happened to be the head of the graduate studies English department. At the time that I was in her class, I was considering getting my PhD and pursuing a career in academia. I asked for her honest opinion about whether I should do it. I'll never forget what she told me: "This isn't an easy life. If there's something you think would be as much fun or more fun, go do that instead." After that conversation, I did a good bit of soul-searching and realized that academia wasn't my passion. It was much better to have discovered this fact before taking out student loans and committing to 6-7 more years of school! My other piece of advice for students is to supplement your experiences in the classroom with internships in fields that you find interesting. The reality of the "real world" is that employers will be looking for internships and/or work experience on your resume when you graduate. These experiences don't have to correlate precisely with your intended post-grad job, but it helps if they are related. More importantly, these experiences will help you figure out what you like doing and what you don't, which can be critical when it comes time to figure out your post-grad plans. 

As for graduates, I would say to never believe that your English degree is inferior to any other degree. You will get the inevitable Starbucks jokes, and no, they never stop being irritating. But you have a wealth of marketable skills that can help you get a wide variety of jobs. If you want to be a teacher, writer, or editor, great! But if not, there's nothing wrong with you, and you do have a bright future in the workplace. It's all about how you can sell yourself in a cover letter and a job interview. It's a good thing your English major taught you how to communicate well, isn't it? For more on those transferable skills that an English major teaches you, be on the lookout for an article I'm writing for Dear English Major that should be on the site soon!

For anyone who is interested in learning more about my career path so far or just wants to chat, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter... I'm always happy to make new friends!

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READ MORE:

Jack Neary: Head of Community @ Litographs

Angeline Evans: Digital Media Manager

Kelsey Manning: Ad Promo Coordinator at HarperCollins, Social Media Manager, & Contributing Editor

Jack Neary: Head of Community @ Litographs

Name: Jack Neary

Current Form of Employment: Head of Community at Litographs

Where do you work and what is your current position?  

I've been Head of Community at Litographs for almost 2 years. We create art from books you've read and loved and hopefully some you haven't. Our posters, t-shirts, and tote bags are all created entirely from the text of classic books. From a distance, the artwork illustrates a theme, character, or setting from each book. Move closer and you'll see that the text is fully legible. 

The best part of my job is creating unique campaigns for each new release to get the fans of a certain author or book excited about our take on it. We've crowdsourced tributes for Maya Angelou, tattooed thousands of people for Alice in Wonderland and celebrated Shakespeare's birthday with 500 of our closest Twitter followers.

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

Fresh out of school, I found myself in the same position as a lot of English majors. I felt like all of my classmates were accepting offers while I was still figuring out where to apply. For the sake of doing something, I took a job that basically amounted to door-to-door sales. It didn't pay much, but I learned a heck of a lot about persistence, avoiding dog bites and door slams, and overcoming barriers to communication that I still use today. 

I found my current job through my personal network. You never know which friends will be able to help your career so I recommend trying to keep in touch with as many interesting people as you can. Go through your phonebook and call someone out of the blue just to check up on them. Even if they don't have anything for you at that time, you'll be top of mind the next time they do come across a suitable opportunity.

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

What qualified me for my current job, apart from my writing and communication skills, was the experience I picked up working as a social media consultant for small businesses as part of a content marketing agency. I always knew that I wanted to combine my love for writing with a professional atmosphere so this office job allowed me enough room for creativity while also giving me the skills necessary to work within a team and deliver for clients. Most importantly, it taught me that I wanted to build and shape the voice of one brand that I was passionate about and not spread myself out over clients in industries that don't excite me.

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

I regret not doing more to prepare for post-grad life. I was involved with the Boston College arts journal, Stylus, but wish that I had made more connections with upperclassmen of similar interests who were going to go through the job search ringer before me and let me know what to expect. I would recommend finding a mentor your freshman year, whether it's an upperclassman or a professor, who can provide recommendations and support.

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

Be brash. A lot of employers will make assumptions about what an English major can or cannot do so it's your responsibility to act like your degree is the absolute best thing you could have done over the past 4 years. Think about the opposition candidates every time there's an election cycle. They gain traction by providing an alternative to the status quo and that's exactly what you can offer. You may be a little behind on the technical skills that someone who had an internship in your field picked up last summer, but that doesn't mean that you can't help a company look ahead and explain what you'd be able to do to help them get there.

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Jess Huckins: Editorial Manager

Sidney Charlotte Tribe: Appellate Lawyer

Hannah C. Coffman: Grant Writer & Writing Specialist

Steve DaCosta: Full Time English Faculty

Name: Steve DaCosta

Age: 30

College & Majors/Minors: Towson University, Class of 2010 B.S. English (Writing Emphasis), Northern Arizona University, Class of 2013, M.A. English (Writing Emphasis)

 Current Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Current Form of Employment/Job Title: Full Time English Faculty

Where do you work and what is your current position? 

I am currently a full-time English faculty member at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. I teach English Composition I and II in both the traditional classroom and for the online campus.

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

The job market in my home state of Maryland was very difficult when I finished my bachelor’s in 2010. I applied to well over two dozen jobs in a variety of fields and didn’t have much luck finding anything entry level beyond unpaid or minimally paid internships. I sold cameras at Best Buy for almost a year. During that time, I decided the best way to set myself apart was to earn a master’s degree and some real world experience. My goal was always to teach, but many of my professors warned me I’d have to pay my dues in adjunct or administrative roles for a few years first. 

““Being persistent, stacking my resume with a variety of administrative and educational experience, and networking with colleagues are the biggest factors that I attribute to my quick success in becoming a full time faculty member within two years of graduation.””

Changing geographical locations helped! I attended graduate school at Northern Arizona University. After I graduated, I literally accepted the first education related job I was offered. Surprisingly, I was employed within a month of graduation. The job was at a large private school as a student recruiter. It was a tedious call-center environment that was outside my wheelhouse, but within a year I was able to internally transfer to the Academic Affairs office, where my duties were split between investigating student behavior/conduct and assisting faculty members with compliance and policy questions. Purely through networking, I was able to join the faculty part time. I taught sophomore level research writing part time for six months and was lucky enough just in April of this year to get hired on at my current school to teach full time. Being persistent, stacking my resume with a variety of administrative and educational experience, and networking with colleagues are the biggest factors that I attribute to my quick success in becoming a full time faculty member within two years of graduation.

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

While I was in college, I did everything in my power to gain exposure to the field I wanted to work in. I went to poetry readings and department-sponsored talks, joined the English Club to network with my fellow students, and visited my professors during office hours to chat and get advice. I asked questions and took notes. Finally, I took a job as a student worker in the College of Education. 

In graduate school, I took two part time jobs related to education. I worked as a tour guide and public program educator at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona for a year and a half. I also took a seasonal job as a US Park Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. Having education-related jobs on my resume after graduation helped me prepare for being a strong candidate in the job market.

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

The first time a student told me I changed her life for the better, I shed a couple tears of gratitude. I know that sounds clichéd, but she told me that nobody had ever believed in her before. She went into my class with no confidence and thinking she’d fail, but she left with her head held high. I was a little surprised at how much stock some of the students placed in my appraisal of not only their work but their character. It made me much more patient and humble to realize that I was in a position of trust. My mentors have taught me a great deal about compassion.

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READ MORE:

Tiffany Aldrich MacBain: Associate Professor

Brett Ashmun: Teaching Associate & Graduate Student

Callie Kitchen: Full-time Lecturer and Adjunct Professor

Dear English Major: Ask Alyssa Your Questions!

Hey! It's Alyssa here, English Major and founder of Dear English Major. I get questions ALL the time from English Majors via email, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram about all kinds of English major-related topics. "Is an English degree worth it?" "Where should I look for jobs?" "Is an unpaid internship a good idea?" 

I've been thinking about a good way to address all of these questions so EVERYONE can become more informed, and as a result, I've decided to launch a Q&A video series!

Ask your questions using the form below, and it might be answered in an upcoming video.

Thank you!