Today I'm pleased to welcome a new guest writer, Helen Gallagher, to my
blog.Helen has some cogent advice for anyone who is hoping to get a job
as a full-time business writer.Over to Helen with her first tip,
then...1. Watch Your MouthI studied English and Creative
Writing at University and learned a lot; including the fact that professors are
not above ego-tripping, and that watching your mouth was a useful trait (I
blithely corrected an English professor about an aspect of the famous Beat
Generation poem Howl... I didn't get more than 50% for the rest of the
year).Later, I was lucky enough to get some interviews at very good
companies - including Reed Elsevier, where my big mouth got me into trouble
again. "Is there anything you don't like about the company?" the interviewer
asked. I said, "Yeah - the cluster bombs."Needless to say, I didn't get
that one. 2. Suss Out the CultureRemember
that when you go for an interview, you need to see if you would be comfortable
working there. If you are naturally a scruffy person (no shame in it) an
uber-polished office where you are expected to look pin-sharp every day is just
going to stress you out and negatively impact your work.I interviewed at
Foxtons, a vast warehouse of a place with a strict, glossy corporate culture.
The job would have included taking my piercings out and wearing a suit every
day. I considered it, but I knew I wouldn't have fit into that kind of
super-corporate environment and I wouldn't have lasted.Think about
whether you would fit in with the social atmosphere. Introverts can find busy,
social workplaces incredibly stressful and distracting. I eventually got a
pretty good job sub-editing questions for the Buzz! Computer games. It
was good fun, but the laddish atmosphere (one bloke bought another a blow-up
doll one day) was off-putting and the managers were unscrupulous, routinely
cutting corners and demanding unpaid overtime from their staff (only one of whom
was over 25). 3. Don't Work for FreeDon't
fall into the trap of working for free, unless it is for a charity that cannot
afford to pay you. In this case, be careful about how much time you commit.
Freelancers are particularly vulnerable to being asked to work for free, or
'exposure' - an illustrator friend of mine writes continuously on his blog about
people who have gotten in touch to ask/demand freebies, ranging from a quick
sketch to an entire graphic novel.Commercial writing/editing jobs can be
just as bad - the usual entry into publishing is an unpaid internship or
extremely low wage entry-level job. When I was looking, companies were offering
an average of 14,000 UK pounds a year (pre-recession) in London and Oxford. This
makes it impossible for most people to enter the field, unless they are being
supported by parents or a spouse.Another role was advertised as a
writing position with 'some client interaction'. I accepted a lower wage and a
long commute to pursue my passion. Turned out to be a bit of a con. The job was
mostly phone work and promised raises failed to
materialise. 4. Dress AppropriatelyMake sure
you attend interviews on time, well groomed, with minimal jewellery and
make-up. Wear a suit and carry a smart briefcase/handbag, or at least wear a
shirt and tailored trousers. Making the extra effort in your interview, even if
the boss is wearing a zip-up hoodie and ratty jeans (and they usually do) is
important. Little details will stand out; do take the time to brush your coat
free of lint, polish your shoes, remove any old nail varnish and make sure your
shirt sees an iron beforehand. 5. Stay
HopefulLuckily I was able to progress away from the customer service
role and got into SEO, my current job and one I love; I'm also working for a
better company now, one that is honest, straightforward and ethical. I get to
write, and blog, learn new skills and explore how the internet works - the only
way this could get better is if I were working on the Fallout franchise. Another
friend of mine worked writing product descriptions for a flower website while
creating his (now published) novels. As with anything else, just be aware, be
safe and be careful; remember at every single interview that you are a good
writer, that your work is worthwhile, and that you are also interviewing
them.Byline: Helen Gallagher, SEO manager at Urban Attic.
* * *
Thank you to Helen (pictured, right) for her hard-won
practical tips. I hope younger readers of this blog in particular will enjoy and
benefit from this advice.There are plenty of jobs that involve writing,
and even if your ultimate ambition is to become a freelance, there's a lot to be
said for doing a paid job for a few years at least, to gain skills and
experience and build your network of contacts. Having a guaranteed monthly
income has a lot to recommend it too!In my earlier life, I worked in
public relations, an occupation which involves writing all types of content,
from press releases and articles to newletters and reports. Other types of job
with substantial writing content can include copywriting, journalism, website
design, SEO, research, publishing, marketing, and so on.If you have any
comments or questions for Helen (or me), please feel free to post them
below.Photo Credit: Toby Working by Dave Fayram on
Flickr. Reproduced under Creative
Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic Licence. Photo of Helen Gallagher supplied
by the writer
|
