Alumni Networking/Career Night: Writing & Communications Presented by the UT Mississauga Career Centre in partnership with the Professional Writing & Communications Program Career Centre Room: SE 3094, Phone: (905) 828-5451 Website: www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers Updated By: Kirandeep Dhindsa - Senior Career Assistant, 2008 Panelists: Robert Price Sean Fitzgerald Rachel Sa Nadeem Basaria Demetra Dimokopoulos 1
Career Paths in Professional Writing & Communications Magazines, press releases, books, ad slogans, e-zines, song lyrics, newspapers, business reports, instruction manuals, websites, brochures, journal articles, speeches Anywhere you find the written word, there had to be someone there to write it, edit it, publish it, and in some cases, sell it. These endless written materials mean endless career opportunities. Writing and communication skills are an asset regardless of field. Below is a list of different career options available for those interested in a career in writing and communication. Note: This is not an exhaustive list of all the career paths available. Many positions below require additional education or experience. Occupations marked with an asterisk (*) have career profiles which can be viewed using Career Cruising. WRITING Critic Ghostwriter Essayist Lyricist Novelist Playwright Poet Science Writer Scriptwriter/Screenwriter Short-story Writer Specifications Writer Speech Writer *Technical Writer *Writer MARKETING AND ADVERTISING *Advertising Copywriter Advertising Director Director Of Communications E-Commerce Manager E-Business Development Promotions Manager *Market Research Analyst *Marketing Specialist Web Communications Manager PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS Communications Officer EDITING Advertising Editor Associate Editor Copy Editor *Editor Editorial Consultant Manuscript Editor News Editor Production Editor Proofreader Prose Editor Sports Editor Technical Editor NEW MEDIA Content Designer *Graphic Designer Interactive Curriculum Manager Interactive Media Writer *MultiMedia Developer Production Manager/Assistant *Videogame Developer *Webmaster *Web Site Designer JOURNALISM Book Reviewer Columnist 2
*Communications Specialist Crisis Manager Director of Internal Comm. Event Co-ordinator *Fundraiser Fundraising Consultant Information Officer Investor Relations Officer *Lobbyist Media Co-ordinator Media Relations Officer Public Affairs Officer Public Relations Consultant *Public Relations Specialist Publicist Publicity Director TRANSLATORS AND INTERPRETERS Court Interpreter *Interpreter Literary Translator *Sign Language Interpreter *Translator Correspondent Features Journalist Film & Video Reviewer Investigative Reporter News Analyst News Commentator Newspaper Critic Network Reporter *Print Journalist *Radio Reporter *Researcher/Fact Checker *Television Reporter Skills Developed By Professional Writing & Communications Majors As a Professional Writing & Communication student, you develop the following skills: Able to communicate clearly and effectively to a broad range of audiences Able to communicate for a broad range of purposes including e-mail communications, technical copy, business writing, marketing copy, speeches, proposals and presentations Resourceful and skilled at conducting intense primary and secondary research Able to approach projects independently without supervision beyond the initial contact Deadline oriented, time management skills Ability to gather and evaluate information, sources, ideas and research Ability to listen, clarify, question, and respond comprehensively Ability to conduct and clearly explain research results Skills in organizing ideas, information, materials, and people Ability to present persuasive arguments Skills in textual analysis and interpretation Editing skills 3
Who Employs Professional Writing & Communication Graduates? Wondering where to jump start your career? Below is a list of employers who typically hire Professional Writing & Communication graduates. Universities and Colleges Government Advertising/Marketing Agencies Newspapers/Magazines Publishing Companies Television/Radio Stations Banks/Financial Institutions Self-Employment Public Relations/Communication Firms Science Related Companies Consumer Organizations Multimedia Firms Professional Organizations Not-For-Profit Organizations The following are sample de-listed job postings for graduating and recent graduates. To get access to current full-time listings (via GSES and/or RGES), you must be in your final year of studies or have already graduated. To learn more about this service, please visit the Career Centre. Graduating Student Employment Service (GSES): Position: Chief Communications Organization: Bell Canada Job Order Number: 2002.GS.0166 Description: Developing and coordinating communication activities which align with company objectives. Advising and training managers about communication with staff members. Devise an annual business plan. Position: Policy Analyst Organization: CRTC Canadian Radio- Television and Communication Job Order Number: 2008.GS.0252 Description: Work closely with leaders in the policy sector at the CRTC. Position: Technical Writing Organization: Entrust Technologies Job Order Number: 2001.GS.0337 Description: Will work with worldrenowned security experts to produce bulletproof software for Internet and enterprise transactions. Recent Graduate Employment Service (RGES): Position: Managing Editor Organization: Fulcrum Publications Inc. Job Order Number: 2009.RG.2372 Description: Responsible for editorial calendars, surveys, generating story ideas, coordinate and lead editorial meetings. Will also write feature articles for a variety of industry publications etc. Position: News Reporter Organization: Wish Canada Recruit Job Order Number: 2009.RG.1369 Description: Collect information through interviews, write news stories for publication and broadcast, conduct interviews as part of research for publication. Position: Copywriter/Production Assistant Organization: On-Hold Marketing Inc. Job Order Number: 2008.RG.5216 Description: Use creative talent for projects relating to marketing. 4
Position: Customer Service Logistics Manager Organization: Procter and Gamble Job Order Number: 2009.GS.0197 Description: Will ensure the flow of products and information between P&G sites and the retail customers. Position: Junior Production Artist Organization: Digital Cement Job Order Number: 2007.GS.0464 Description: Work in teams to produce and assist with online marketing (Flash Demos. Websites, Email), produce streaming technologies (video, audio, presentations), and publish online content. Position: Assistant Medical Editor Organization: Pulsus Inc. Job Order Number: 2008.RG.3944 Description: Prepare print clinical and medical research articles for print and online publication. Position: Freelance Writer Organization: AMOI Magazine Job Order Number: 2008.RG.3305 Description: Create story ideas and cover assigned stories dealing with a range of topics such as Sports, Education, Features etc. Gaining Relevant Experience During university you should explore volunteer opportunities, summer/part-time jobs, and internships to develop relevant work experience and skills. Take this time to also determine whether a career in writing is for you. Gaining experience can be done in many ways as shown below. Portfolios: For journalism and other writing careers, employers typically want to see samples of your writing. Start preparing a portfolio or e-portfolio of samples now. To market your skills and knowledge gained as a Professional Writing student, select a few short stories, interviews and other writing pieces to show the variety of your writing skills. You can make mention of the relevance of your portfolio in your cover letter and consider sharing a significant project you have worked on. On-campus Opportunities: Clubs/Associations: Consider joining The Medium, UTMSU, The English and Theatre Society, Blackwood Gallery, and other clubs/associations on campus. Work-Study: These are paid positions for students eligible for OSAP. Positions in the past have included Communications Assistant for Department of Management and Writer/Reporter for the UTM Research and Graduate Office. 5
Academic Courses: Take courses that develop your writing and communicationsrelated skills. Complete projects with the intention of making them portfolioworthy. After the course is finished, edit the project until you believe it represents some of your best work and keep it as a sample of your abilities. UTM Internship and Experiential Learning: explore career options in Professional Writing and Communication by doing an internship in fourth year. To learn more, visit: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/index.php?id=500. Research Opportunity Program: ROP students participate in many phases of research practice from: developing research plans, writing proposals, conducting research, analyzing data and finally presenting their research results. ROP does provide opportunities for students to conduct research projects relating to English. To learn more visit: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/index.php?id=428. Off-campus Opportunities: To explore summer, part-time, volunteer and internship opportunities off-campus, drop by the Career Centre to browse through the Volunteer Binder, Internship Binder, Career Directories and other resources. Ask a Career Assistant to help you find these resources. Below is a sample of de-listed postings relating to offcampus opportunities. To view current postings, log on to your Career Centre account. Don t have a Career Centre account? Drop by and a Career Assistant can help you sign up for one. Volunteer: Position: Public Relations Coordinator Organization: UofT International Health Program Job Order Number: 2009.VL.0327 Description: Coordinate publicity of events on bulletin boards/newspapers and create posters for events and meetings. Position: Editorial Journalist Organization: Amazing Canadian Fashion Magazine Job Order Number: 2009.VL.0329 Description: Writing editorial articles content, based on interviews of industry leaders in fashion, research on potential editorial features. Internship: Position: Intern Organization: RTR Media Job Order Number: 2009.VL.0354 Description: Assist with all aspects of Part-Time: Position: Website Design Organization: Software Techniques Inc. Job Order Number: 2009.PT.0872 Description: Create small websites, and modify existing small websites. Position: Copy Writer Organization: PCA Services Inc. Job Order Number: 2009.PT.0535 Description: Help with the marketing, messaging, and campaign development in the launch of a new revolutionary healthcare system. Summer: Position: Writer/Reporter (Intern) Organization: Toronto Star Newspaper Ltd. Job Order Number: 2008.SE.0910 6
production. Position: Communications Intern Organization: Canada Helps Job Order Number: 2009.SE.0275 Description: Provide logistical coordination, assist in planning, communication of online interactive tools, conduct online research, develop surveys etc. Description: Experience working for a leading Toronto newspaper company. Position: Communication Assistant Organization: Roots of Empathy Job Order Number: 2008.SE.1071 Description: Help fill orders for communication resource materials, file print media in binders, catalogue photo s. Professional Associations: Consider joining an association to learn more about your profession and to expand your network circle. Associations organize events, conferences, and workshops for members. Your membership provides opportunities for networking, demonstrates your interest in the field, and keeps you up-to-date on what s happening in the industry. You don t have to be a professional in the industry to join. You just need to have the interest and enthusiasm to learn. Most associations also post job boards and provide mentorship and support for new writers. Here is a sample listing of associations you can possibly join: Canadian Magazines Publishers Association Canadian Film and Television Production Association Canadian Association of Journalists Canadian Authors Association Periodical Writers Association of Canada, PWAC National Office Canadian Association of Journalists Further Education Options No specific accreditations exist for most writing and communications careers, but any programs that allow you to develop research, writing, editing, and oral communication skills are useful. Typical education backgrounds for these careers are liberal arts degrees (often in English), communications or journalism programs, or relevant post-graduate college programs or certificates. Common further education options include: journalism, creative writing, technical writing, script writer, and many others. To view university/college programs, visit our website under the Further Education tab and browse through our Graduate Studies bins found in the Career Centre library. Attend our annual Professional Schools Fair in October. You may also use Career Cruising to view program and school information. Come into the Career Centre and ask a Career Assistant to help you find the resources. 7
UTM Career Centre Resources Note: Resources listed below are by no means the only resources at the Career Centre. These resources have been listed to provide you a starting point for your research. Career Centre Services: Career Counselling Appointments: Not sure about your future? Need insight on what you can do with your degree? Know what you want to do but not sure how you should go about your work search? Book an individual appointment to speak with a professional Career Counsellor. Individual appointments are also useful if you re considering graduate school or would like to discuss personal statements for graduate/professional school applications. Extern Job Shadowing Program: Ever wondered what your dream career is really like? Consider applying to the Extern Job Shadowing Program. A unique career exploration program offered to current U of T students, the program allows you to investigate your career interests in the actual workplace over a 1 to 5 day voluntary placement in February and/or May. Job shadow a journalist, public relations professional, etc. Ask us for details! Resume Critiques: Applying to a job, but not sure whether your resume will make the cut when reviewed by an employer? Sign-up for a thirty minute resume critique and receive feedback on your resume or cover letter from a professional. Workshops: Throughout the school year, many workshops are held at the Career Centre, giving you information to make effective career choices. Some workshops that may be of particular interest include: Road To Graduate School Resume and Cover Letter Workshop Effective Interviews Finding Part-Time/Summer Work Networking Workshop Events: Throughout the Fall/Winter academic term, the UTM Career Centre holds many events, including Career Fairs, Employer Information Sessions, Career Panels, and Networking Events. To learn more, visit the UTM Career Centre homepage under the Events tab. Here are a few annual events that may be of interest to you: Get Experience Fair Professional Schools Fair Career Expo Summer Job Fair 8
Electronic Resources: UTM Career Centre website: Visit www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers to explore the various sections of the website. You will find information about exploring careers, gaining experience, finding employment, further education, alumni profiles, careers by major and other great resources! Career Cruising: An on-line career exploration tool with information on careers including: their job descriptions, working conditions, earnings, education, career path, related jobs, and interviews with professionals in the field. It also includes MatchMaker and Career Selector, questionnaires that help you match your interests with occupation possibilities. To use this resource, log on to your Career Centre account. Career Centre Library Resources: NOC Binders: The following are a list of NOC binders available in the Career Centre library to help you obtain information about a certain career occupation. Each binder will consist of a career profile, educational information, sample job postings, associations, labour market information and articles. Writing/Editing/Journalism/Translation and Related Areas- NOC512 Marketing/Advertising/Public Relations and Related Areas-NOC112 E-business/E-commerce- NOC110 Film/Theatre/Visual Arts/New Media/Design- NOC500 and NOC513 NOC 512 and 513 black bins for the Careers in Culture series. Career Panel Packages & Videos: Attend a Career Panel or Networking Session to make contacts and get advice, tips, and information about your prospective career straight from successful members of the industry. To view a complete list of panel packages, check out the Career Panels binder in the Career Centre library or view the electronic versions online. You can also watch video recordings of past career panels. Videos: Careers in Writing and Communication Focus on: Careers in Media and Communication Focus on Publishing Writers Fair Panel (U of T) Career Panels: Careers In Writing and Communications Careers In Human Resources Careers In Marketing 9
CCIT Speaks Up: Alumni Career Panel Careers In Languages Careers with a Conscience: Making a Living While Making a Difference Career Books: The Career Centre has many books for general career development. The following books are tailored to careers in writing. Careers for Writers and Others Who Have a Way with Words (1.231 Discover) Great Jobs for Communications Majors (1.221 Discover) Great Jobs for Liberal Arts Majors (1.221 Discover) Great Jobs for Art Majors (1.221 Discover) Great Jobs for English Majors (1.221 Discover) I m an English Major- Now What? (1.22 Discover) Careers for Bookworms & Other Literary (Discover 1.231) Top Careers For Art Graduates (Discover 1.221) Careers In Journalism (NOC512 Bin) Freelance Writing Business (NOC512 Bin) Employer Directories: Instead of waiting for organizations to post jobs, decide where you want to work and contact them. Tell them why they should hire you. The Career Centre has several directories with contact information for thousands of organizations. A few directories of interest include: The Canadian Writer s Market- The Essential Guide For Freelance Writers (NOC512) A comprehensive list of publications including consumer magazines, literary and scholarly journals, trade, business, and professional publications, daily newspapers, book publishers. Quill & Quire- The Book Trade In Canada: 2002 Edition (NOC512) Your complete guide to the Canadian publishing marketplace. Directory of Editors 2004 (NOC512 Bin) Profiles and contact information for hundreds of writers and editors in Canada. Quill & Quire Canadian Publishers Directory- 2007 Edition (NOC512 Bin) A comprehensive guide of the Canadian publishing industry. Not sure if a career in writing and communications is right for you? Book a one-to-one appointment with one of our professional staff today by calling 905-828-5451. 10
Alumni Profiles Astrid Poei Degree: B.A. - Professional Writing, English (2003) Since graduating from UTM, Astrid Poei has interned with The Standard, the local newspaper in St. Catharines, Ontario, and with Reuters, a global information company and newswire service. With The Standard, she reported and took photographs as needed. With Reuters, her reporting focused on stories based in Toronto. As a UTM student, she reported for the Mississauga News, the Toronto Sun, and the Hamilton Spectator, while working for the campus newspaper, The Medium. The Medium definitely had the most influence over my choice to become a journalist. I originally attended UTM for the computer science program, but quickly found that it was not the program for me. I remember questioning, what do I do now? I found that it was the campus paper that quickly steered me in that direction, says Astrid, who is set to earn a post-graduate degree in Journalism from Ryerson University in December 2005. She says that to be a successful journalist you have some basic writing skills, but excellent reporting skills are a must. You have to meet deadlines and you have to keep up with current events and sometimes maintain a beat, which involves keeping in touch with key sources. You have to be persistent and have an ability to think outside the box, she says. This isn t a career for students who want to be writers. This is a career for students who want to be reporters. If you want to be a writer, talk to the writer in residency at St. George. If you can't tell the difference, I'd say you'd have to do a little more research into your career. Astrid is a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and she is glad she ended up at UTM. I think the Professional Writing program here is first class and had I not entered UTM for Computer Science, I would have never considered the PWC program since I don t think it is widely known yet, she says. In terms of the mistakes I've made, and there have been many, I would not do anything differently, because I have learned from those mistakes. Astrid s advice to students is to find out what you want, trust yourself, and go out there and get it. But know this, she says. Just before you succeed, everything in the world will go wrong. That s when you have to trust yourself and it is at that time that most people give up. I consider myself lucky, however, I know that luck didn't get me this far. I got this far because I was good at something. 11
Nicole Brewster Degree: B.A. Sociology, Professional Writing and Anthropology (2001) Nicole Brewster is currently an Associate Producer for CBC Television. Everyday is a challenge working in investigative news. I work for Fifth Estate specials. It is rewarding to see all the research and hard work appear on television, says Nicole, who previously worked as an Assistant Producer for NBC Television s Dateline for one year and a Promotions Producer for CBC Television for another year. I also enjoy working as a freelance producer directing and producing documentaries. Nicole says her work requires organization, strong writing and researching skills as well as interviewing skills. We interview subjects for stories and background information, so you must be social and professional, she says. She adds that the externship program she took at CTV s Canada AM and her involvement with UTM s campus radio station, where she was the Program Manager for two years, were key to getting her career off the ground. I also had an internship in New York with the Sally Jessy Raphael show with the guidance and help of Professor Barry Green. On top of that, I volunteered at Rogers Television as a Production Assistant in my third and fourth years at UTM, she says. I had a job lined up before graduating. I started making calls and sending letters to companies in the US because I found them to be more responsive than Canadian companies. I was very organized and followed up with all potential companies. If she could have done anything differently, Nicole says she would have probably studied journalism. My advice would be to seek work and volunteer experience on your free time and during the summer in the field that you hope to end up in. Make contacts early. Do not wait until you graduate, she says. Once you've made a good contact, stay in touch with them. One day they may be able to help you in finding a suitable career or put you in touch with someone who can. Read more alumni profiles, or check out our Careers by Major: Professional Writing, on the UT Mississauga Career Centre web site at http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers/ 12