How to Navigate Your Job Search in 21 Days

The first year out of college can be a tough one for any graduate, not only those with English degrees! But rest assured, English majors: your skills are indeed practical and sought-after by many employers. We’re not saying that finding these awesome jobs will be easy, but there are PLENTY of things you can do to successfully navigate the job search process!

There are a few crucial tactics you need to know in order to make a smooth transition from studying Shakespeare and Steinbeck to full-time employment, and From Graduation to Career Ready in 21 Days: A Guide for English Majors will guide you every step of the way in 21 days. 

Each of the 21 days outlined in this book is packed with important information that will help you to stand out and set yourself up for success!

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Week 1

We’re not gonna lie—Week 1 is intense. Do some yoga. Light a candle. Keep calm. Prepare yourself to work hard and kick some serious butt in the job search and application process. By the end of this week, you will have transformed from a brand new college graduate into a viable job candidate with the resume, portfolio, and wardrobe (yep, we go there!) to prove it. 

Here’s what this week looks like:

• Day 1: Do your research. 
• Day 2: Look the part. 
• Day 3: Create a resume. 
• Day 4: Collect your writing samples.
• Day 5: Own your online presence.
• Day 6: Create an online portfolio.
• Day 7: Connect with alumni.

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Week 2

Roll up your sleeves and make a cup of coffee (or two, or three…). Week 2 is filled with exciting stuff, and this is the week you’ll choose your first three jobs to actually apply for. By the end of this week, you’ll have resumes, cover letters and writing samples that have all been meticulously and thoughtfully tailored to the jobs at hand. Resist the urge to cut corners, and do your best to give this week 100%—not only are you trying to successfully land your first full-time job, but you’re practicing and honing skills that you’ll use for the rest of your professional life!

Here’s what this week looks like:

• Day 8: Get organized.
• Day 9: Choose the right jobs to apply for.
• Day 10: Research the jobs you’re applying to. 
• Day 11: Tailor your resume for Job #1.
• Day 12: Learn how to write a cover letter. 
• Day 13: Compile job application #2. 
• Day 14: Compile job application #3.

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Week 3

This week, we begin with officially submitting those three applications you’ve toiled away on. Take a moment to enjoy and appreciate what you’ve accomplished, but then it’s back to work! You’ll be preparing for interviews and learning how to make yourself a more appealing job candidate. 

Here’s what this week looks like:

• Day 15: Hit the “submit” button and officially apply!
• Day 16: Plan your follow-up strategy.
• Day 17: Prepare for interviews.
• Day 18: Practice answering interview questions.  
• Day 19: Review the basics.
• Day 20: Keep learning and bulk up your resume.
• Day 21: Congratulations, new professional!

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You worked super hard for four solid years to complete your English degree, and you deserve the chance to show off those hard-earned skills at a job you LOVE. You have what it takes. Are you ready?!

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

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

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

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

Relevant domain:

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

Aesthetically pleasing design:

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

Professional headshot:

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

Your resume:

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

Portfolio:

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

Contact info:

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

Optional:

Description of services:

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

Testimonials:

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

Dead pages:

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

Unfinished design:

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

Out of date information:

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

Faulty links:

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

Spelling or grammatical errors:

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

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

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

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READ MORE:

What GIRLS Can Teach English Majors About Post-Grad Life

For those of you who haven’t seen the award-winning HBO show GIRLS, here’s a quick rundown: GIRLS details the 'real-life/fictional' experiences of four twenty-something besties living in NYC. Season 1, Episode 1 sets the whole story in motion: Hannah— our fellow English major and the main character— receives a special visit from her parents when they drop some awesome news on her:

Hannah’s mom: We’re not going to be supporting you any longer.

Hannah: But I have no job…

Hannah’s mom: No, you have an internship that you say is going to turn into a job.

Hannah: But I don’t know when…?!

Hannah’s mom: You graduated from college two years ago, we’ve been supporting you for two years, and that’s enough.

And there we have it. In the following episodes and seasons, poor English major Hannah learns some lessons the hard way so you don't have to. 

LESSON 1: People will try to take advantage of you and your skills.

Unpaid internships suck. Especially when you're like Hannah and have been at it for over a year with zero compensation. In a world where jobs are scarce and competition is stiff, many graduates (with the safety net that many millennials' parents can offer) take unpaid internships with the hopes that they will turn into real jobs. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't, but either way, a lot of these unpaid internships are actually illegal. (I obviously cannot provide anyone with legal advice, but it doesn't hurt to do some digging on your own and while you're at it, check out the U.S. Department of Labor's page on internships).

However, that being said, sometimes taking an unpaid gig or volunteering can provide valuable insight into work environments and various fields. You just have to make sure that what you're doing is really worth your time. And now it's time for a lil' pep talk: as a graduate with an English degree, remember that you have real skills to offer: writing! editing! creativity! oh my! Not everyone can write, and not everyone can write well. Don't lose sight of that fact. You've spent hours and hours honing your craft in and out of the classroom. Whether you're freelancing or starting your first gig, remember: charge what you're worth, don't do things for free or "for fun" because "you're a writer" and you "enjoy it anyway." No, no, no. Writing is a business, and treat it like that.

LESSON 2: You need real skills. (Writing and editing just ain't gonna cut it no more.)

"Whoa whoa whoa, I thought you were just saying WRITING IS A SKILL?!" Thanks for that stupid, meaningless pep talk. 

Ok. Writing totally is a skill. But to start with, you need to have some real world experience, like working in teams, learning to work well in office environments, and all of that other stuff that goes into making you a fancy professional. After all, you're not always going to be staring at a Word doc.

In Season 1 of GIRLS, Hannah approaches her boss at her (unpaid) internship and basically tells him that it's time to get paid. She was hoping that since Joy Lin was hired after being an intern, her time might be coming, too. Her boss says something along the lines of, "Well, Joy Lin knows Photoshop". Hannah begins to obsess over the fact that she doesn't have any skills, which finally brings us to the real part of Lesson 2:

You need real skills. Are you familiar with WordPress? Do you know the ins and outs of Facebook? Do you have a working knowledge of Photoshop? Are you able to easily switch between Mac and PC computers? (You may laugh, but Hannah struggled with this at her first job.) Can you effectively implement SEO strategies into your web copy? Can you translate the thoughts of a business owner into copy for the homepage of their business website in the 'voice' of the brand? These skills are only the beginning of a long list of things employers routinely expect and assume to find in their piles and piles of job applications... in addition to strong writing skills. And even then, what sets you apart? Yeah... getting a job can be complicated.

LESSON 3: Discipline will absolutely-100%-I-promise improve your life.

Discipline is really uncool, but without discipline, I promise your LIFE will be really, reallllllly uncool. Might sound stupid and obvious, but it's true and worth pointing out. In Season 2, Hannah gets an e-book deal, procrastinates on her 'word count' deadlines, has a mental breakdown, and basically ended up needing to write an entire novel in one hour. Then she chops up her hair and stabs her ear with a q-tip because she goes insane. See what will happen if you fail to improve your life with DISCIPLINE? Then, in Season 3 of GIRLS, Hannah turns 25 and starts growing up! She is finally buckling down and staying on schedule with her e-book deadlines. Yay, Hannah! Success is surely in her future (as a result of her newfound discipline. See a theme here? (Or at least a corny fortune cookie quote?)).

Time management is super important and is a big part of this discipline thing for us writers. Whether you're a full-time employee for a corporation or a self-employed writer, not meeting deadlines is absolutely not cool. Buy a calendar and actually write things in it. No, seriously. You are so successful and have so many magazine deadlines and meetings with editors and literary agents that you WILL eventually forget something. Something important.

Also, you probably already know this, but waiting until "creativity strikes" or you're "feeling inspired" is also a really bad way to run your writing career. Sometimes you have to put pen to page and finger to key no matter what. But that's discipline.

If all of these things sound really undoable and terrible to you, then the writerly/editor-y path is probably not for you. Being an English major isn't for wimps. 

LESSON 4: Don’t be afraid to take a non-writing job.

After all… what are you going to write about if all you’re doing is writing?! Sure, there are those 9 to 5 jobs that require us to write about pre-determined subjects. But then there are those things in life, like Hannah's memoir, that require her to be out actually living that memoir-worthy life. And this is where having a job that is totally unrelated to writing is awesome!

After an unsuccessful stint as some kind of office assistant, Hannah ends up working as a barista at Grumpy's. Hannah hates it, she's not very good at it, and based on her calculations, probably makes about $40 per day. But this is how she pays some bills while also getting to meet Mr. Handsome Doctor Neighbor and gets lost in Patrick Wilson World for an entire episode, during which she has some great revelations. 

Anyway, I digress: try not to feel like a failure if you take a non-writing, non-dream job after college. Seize the opportunity to have a new experience.

And perhaps the most important thing of all: networking! How are you supposed to network with other professionals who may need your writing services when you are only working with OTHER WRITERS?! Working at a totally unrelated job gives you a great opportunity to meet people who know people who know people --> who might need a writer one day. And voilà— it's time for you to get some business cards!

LESSON 5: Don’t underestimate the power of a ‘real’ job.

A lot of creative-types are scared of becoming a dirty good-for-nothing sellout. Whatever your definition may be of this, get over it. A 'real job'— the supposedly soul-sucking 9 to 5 kind— is also the kind of job that offers you healthcare, paid time off, a 401k and if it's a good company with your best interests in mind, even more! (Free snacks and stock options, anyone?!) These are all great things because everyone gets sick and old and enjoys going on vacation while continuing to get paid. 

But for some reason, in Season 3, Episode 6 of GIRLS, Hannah totally turns her nose up at her fellow co-workers at her new grown-up gig at GQ:

Hannah: “...I’m not really trying to make a name for myself. I mean, I just kind of want to get in, get out… I’m like, no offense, just like a writer writer, not like a corporate, advertising, working for the man kind of writer.”

Joe: “Who is?”

They proceed to list each others literary successes— Kevin’s a published poet with awards from Yale, Karen’s published some pieces in n+1, and Joe has been published in The New Yorker. 

The conversation continues, and Karen laments the plight of the self-employed (if you want to stretch the term) purely 'literary' writer: no health insurance, no dental insurance, and no corporate gym membership. I could elaborate more, but I think you get the point.

Hannah: “But you all still write, like your own pieces and stuff, right? Like your own spiritually fulfilling work?”

And again, this is where the discipline comes into play. Joe tells Hannah that she can write after work, and on the weekends. And you know what? He is so right. Sometimes getting home and writing again after a long day of writing, oh I don't know, descriptions of ugly discount lawn décor is HARD, but ya know,

you have the same number of hours in a day as Beyoncé, so get to work. 

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