Alyssa Christensen - From Graduation to Career Ready in 21 Days: A Guide for English Majors

Dear English Major presents

From Graduation to Career Ready in 21 Days:

A Guide for English Majors

Alyssa W. Christensen

Congratulations, graduate! You did it. You worked for that English degree, and now its time to make it work for you.

Lets get down to business.

If youre ready to find your first full-time job, then this book is for you. This guide provides the information and resources you need to successfully navigate the job search process, from finding the right jobs to apply for, all the way to finally accepting a job offer.

In your goal of finding gainful employment, the competition is fierce: there are thousands of other graduates vying for the same positions as you, and you need a way to grab the attention of potential employers. Not only that, but for many, the clock is tickingyour time is precious. We know how hard it is to think about applying for jobs when you've got classes, homework, and internships to take care of, not to mention enjoying the wonderful but bittersweet last days of your senior year! It can be pretty overwhelming. We feel ya. But now that youve graduated, its time to get down to business.

This guide sets you up for success: follow the instructions we provide each day in order to stay focused, make the most of your time, and land the job youve set your sights on.

You CAN get a job with an English degree.

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 delve into this right on Day 1, so get psyched!) Were not saying that finding these awesome jobs will be easy, and you might not get your dream job on the first try. But there are thousands of employers out there who are searching for candidates with the very skills you honed in college!

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 this book will guide you every step of the way in 21 days.

Ready?

(Yes. The answer is YES!) Alright. Lets do this.

Were not gonna lieWeek 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.

Heres 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.

Today is about getting your toes wet. Allow yourself the time to explore what kinds of jobs are out there, and narrow down your search.

But wait. What if you dont even know what kind of a career youre interested in? Where do you even start?

Narrowing in on something youre truly passionate about and then actively pursuing it can take years, so dont feel like you need to secure a perfect job the first time. Sometimes the best way of figuring out what you DO want to do is by figuring out what you DONT want to do. Of course, we recommend exploring DearEnglishMajor.com. Dear English Major features dozens and dozens of interviews with English majors with a wide array of careers in different fields.

And yes, theyre all using the skills they gained as English majors.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, but a few of those careers include:

Author

Comic Book Editor

Communication Specialist

Community Coordinator

Content Manager

Content Marketing Writer

Content Strategist

Contributing Writer

Copyeditor

Copywriter

Creative Director

Development Editor

Digital Media Manager

Editor

Email Marketing Copywriter

External Relations Manager

Filmmaker

Freelance Copyeditor

Freelance Writer

Grant Writer

Immersive Journalist

Internal Communications Specialist

Internet Marketing Specialist

Journalist

Lawyer

Librarian

Marketing Coordinator

Newspaper Editor

Professor

Proposal Writer

Public Relations Coordinator

Publishing Consultant

Screenwriter

SEO Analyst

Social Media Coordinator

Teacher

Technical Editor

Technical Writer

Video Game Writer

A lot of these titles are vague, and mean different things at different companies. They span a wide variety of industries, and the people featured on DearEnglishMajor.com work at nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies, marketing agencies, publishing houses, newspapers, law firms, banks, schools, universities, software and tech companies, and more. In order to narrow in on a field that interests you, read a few interviews with people in a variety of positions.

We also recommend checking out job search sites like Indeed.com, SimplyHired.com, and LinkedIn.com, for starters (there are many more to exploredont be limited by this list!). If your college has a job board, then absolutely utilize that as well. Using what your alma mater has to offer is an excellent way to begin connecting with alumni or employers who are specifically interested in your college.

No matter the website you choose to use for your first search, a practical place to get started is to only search for positions in your desired region. Then do a general search for what youre interested in: writer, content manager, social media, publishing, etc. Click on some jobs you may not have considered before (or even knew existed) and read their descriptions. Some are sure to sound terrible, but some will sound awesome and inspire you to start writing a cover letter. (Dont worrywe go over cover letters in Week 2!)

Save a few of the jobs that interest you, but dont get too attached just yet. Today is about seeing whats out there, and assessing what type of positions are available in your neck of the woods.

Take a deep breath. Your job search journey has officially started!