Reflection Paper
Before this class, I was unaware of the options that were available to me after I graduate. I’ve never really researched the different jobs that qualify as writing jobs, or had heard of any that seemed interesting to me. Journalism and reporting really didn’t seem up my alley. About two months before this class, I had started a website that collected encouraging stories from fans of a band that I like. I was excited to take this class because I wanted to learn how to improve this website and make it a bit more professional. This class also gave me the chance to meet other writers and to see what they are interested in. I thought it was cool to see the success that they had on their projects and websites and to hear their opinions of what works and what doesn’t.
Through this class, I have gained knowledge of the post-graduate options by researching these different options with my class mates. My classmates and I researched the careers of Lexicographers, bloggers, copywriters, publicists, indexers, freelance writers, writing professors, online journalists, and copy editors. We took turns each week to explain our chosen career to the class by creating a page on our Weebly sites. On these pages, we had to explain a day in the life of our writing career: A brief explanation of the career, noteworthy people who have this career, the potential salary for this career, the necessary skills for this career, and the necessary education for this career.
This class also prepared me to possibly work in these field by teaching me the basics of finding an internship that is right for me; how to decide on a publisher or self-publishing; guiding questions to ask when thinking about grad school; and how to write cover letters, query letters, personal statements, resumes, and CV’s. I have never heard of some of these aspects or even knew that some professionals required them for jobs and internships. I feel a bit more confident that I have a heads up on how to do these elements. Throughout the class, I liked how examples of different pieces of work (including cover letters, CV’s, ect…) were made available to us. I believe that I work better when I know what is requested of me, especially when I’m given something like a checklist. I used these examples as checklists when completing my fake cover letters and resumes. They gave me an idea of what professionals look for when I’m applying for internships or jobs.
As an education major, I think I will mostly apply what I have learned in this class by keeping in mind the professions if I need to take on a side job as a teacher, which will likely be so. Knowing how to apply for writing jobs and keep up a successful blog may need to be a second source of income while I’m teaching. Also, realizing that there are many different types of writing audiences has reminded me that different forums require different writing pieces. I know that my writing will be different on a cover letter when compared
to a query letter. Each of these elements have different important parts that should be paid attention to if the job search is serious.
I am very thankful for this class, the teacher, and the people that I was able to meet and work with in this class. Knowing that a lot of us were on the same page, had the same worries, and (some of us) the same future goals was comforting and encouraging. I’m glad to know that I was not alone in trying to figure out my muddled future. I know that I will remember and apply the lessons and tips that I learned in this class. Whether they are applied in my job, during and internship, or hobby blogging, I am now more confident is what I need to have more chances of success in my future.
Thank you for an awesome class.
-Millie
Before this class, I was unaware of the options that were available to me after I graduate. I’ve never really researched the different jobs that qualify as writing jobs, or had heard of any that seemed interesting to me. Journalism and reporting really didn’t seem up my alley. About two months before this class, I had started a website that collected encouraging stories from fans of a band that I like. I was excited to take this class because I wanted to learn how to improve this website and make it a bit more professional. This class also gave me the chance to meet other writers and to see what they are interested in. I thought it was cool to see the success that they had on their projects and websites and to hear their opinions of what works and what doesn’t.
Through this class, I have gained knowledge of the post-graduate options by researching these different options with my class mates. My classmates and I researched the careers of Lexicographers, bloggers, copywriters, publicists, indexers, freelance writers, writing professors, online journalists, and copy editors. We took turns each week to explain our chosen career to the class by creating a page on our Weebly sites. On these pages, we had to explain a day in the life of our writing career: A brief explanation of the career, noteworthy people who have this career, the potential salary for this career, the necessary skills for this career, and the necessary education for this career.
This class also prepared me to possibly work in these field by teaching me the basics of finding an internship that is right for me; how to decide on a publisher or self-publishing; guiding questions to ask when thinking about grad school; and how to write cover letters, query letters, personal statements, resumes, and CV’s. I have never heard of some of these aspects or even knew that some professionals required them for jobs and internships. I feel a bit more confident that I have a heads up on how to do these elements. Throughout the class, I liked how examples of different pieces of work (including cover letters, CV’s, ect…) were made available to us. I believe that I work better when I know what is requested of me, especially when I’m given something like a checklist. I used these examples as checklists when completing my fake cover letters and resumes. They gave me an idea of what professionals look for when I’m applying for internships or jobs.
As an education major, I think I will mostly apply what I have learned in this class by keeping in mind the professions if I need to take on a side job as a teacher, which will likely be so. Knowing how to apply for writing jobs and keep up a successful blog may need to be a second source of income while I’m teaching. Also, realizing that there are many different types of writing audiences has reminded me that different forums require different writing pieces. I know that my writing will be different on a cover letter when compared
to a query letter. Each of these elements have different important parts that should be paid attention to if the job search is serious.
I am very thankful for this class, the teacher, and the people that I was able to meet and work with in this class. Knowing that a lot of us were on the same page, had the same worries, and (some of us) the same future goals was comforting and encouraging. I’m glad to know that I was not alone in trying to figure out my muddled future. I know that I will remember and apply the lessons and tips that I learned in this class. Whether they are applied in my job, during and internship, or hobby blogging, I am now more confident is what I need to have more chances of success in my future.
Thank you for an awesome class.
-Millie