"I have learned that writing is probably one of the most marketable skills there is. Businesses are always looking for good writers because, believe it or not, they are few and far between!"
When did you graduate from BYU?
BA English 2011
What is your job/position? And how would you describe what you do in that job/position?
I am an associate editor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I prepare manuals, books, and other material for multichannel publishing by doing proofreading, copyediting, and substantive editing.
Describe the path that you took from your BYU English degree to your current career, highlighting the important realizations and turning points that paved the path for you.
I took a rather indirect path to get to where I am now in my career. After graduating from BYU, I worked as an administrative assistant, a publications assistant, and a senior executive secretary. But I used my editing, writing, and research skills in each of these jobs. I learned that these were the most valuable skills in my work, and I knew that's what I wanted my career to be.
What are the specific skills that you cultivated as an English major that you now use in your professional life? And how do you use those skills in ways that set you apart from your colleagues?
Writing! The writing skills I developed as an English major have been extremely valuable to me in my chosen career path as an editor. I have learned that writing is probably one of the most marketable skills there is. Businesses are always looking for good writers because, believe it or not, they are few and far between! The research skills I learned have also helped me to source check and fact check important material in my career.
What are some of the surprising ways in which your English degree helped you in your life?
I have been constantly surprised at how often I use the skills I learned from my English degree not only in my career but in life. I've helped friends edit and write resumes, theses, college application essays, academic papers, novels, etc. I've also been able to help family members edit and compile journals into volumes so that future generations can benefit from them.
What do you wish you had known as an English major? Is there any advice you’d like to share with current students?
I wish I had known just how valuable the skills I learned as an English major would be. Much of my major was focused on British literature, so I wasn't sure how relevant my major would be to my career. But the strong writing, analytical, and research skills have been invaluable to me. My advice is to have a general idea of the direction you want to go with your career. Whatever it is, the skills you develop as an English major will prepare you for it.
Contact
islek_311@hotmail.com