There are jobs out there for you! It just may take some time.
What is your name? And when did you graduate from BYU?
Mattea Gygi 2022
What is your job/position? And how would you describe what you do in that job/position?
Press Release Editor - I edit press release written by AI and by people outside my company. I make sure they fit our company policies and approve them for distribution.
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.
In high school my aunt had THE dream job. She worked from home (when it wasn’t a normal option) and she took care of her kids while balancing a career. She also graduated in English. Watching her, it helped me take the leap and study English, knowing there were jobs out there like hers. Fast forward to 2021, I was about to graduate and spent my time at BYU advocating for English majors and all the opportunities they had in front of them. My internship helped me hone my English skills and from that experienced I knew there were opportunities for me in the work place. Yes, when I started looking for a job, it was brutal out there. A month before graduation I was promised a job, only to have it taken from me a few minutes after I turned in my last BYU essay. I was devastated. After months of searching I finally found a job as a copy writer. While at this job (a job that didn’t actually require a degree and paid horribly). My aunt reached out from her dream job. She let me know that a position would eventually be opening at her work as an editor and if I got my foot in the door now, it could be mine in the future. For the next two years I helped my aunt’s company as a freelance writer, while also working, and then quitting my job to be a stay at home mom. Finally, my aunt called me up and let me know that the job was ready. After paying my dues, I now work at the exact same job I saw my aunt working at all those years ago. My company is a lifestyle company, meaning, they understand we have a life outside of work, and constantly make sure we aren’t working too hard. I’m able to be at home with my daughter while still exercising my English skills and learning and growing in the workforce. It took awhile, but I truly am grateful for the struggle that eventually led me to a wonderful job.
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?
Editing, communicating (a lot of people in the company are not from the US, and we have to often describe things in simple terms so everyone understands), writing, and collaboration (I work on a team of 3). Since we work from home it is important to keep in close contact with those you work with, so they know what’s up. I always communicate if I’m sick, away from the keyboard, or unable to work. While my boss might not know where my other coworkers are, or why they aren’t working, they always know my situation, as I think it’s an important part of this kind of work-from- home set up.
What do you wish you had known as an English major? Is there any advice you'd like to share with current students?
There are jobs out there for you! It just may take some time. My advice would be to work on your interview skills and intrapersonal skills as well as your writing and “on paper skills” (hopefully that makes sense?). If you have great “on paper skills” but can’t sell them in an interview, you can easily get overlooked. I think this often hindered me when I was first looking for a job.
Contact: matteaoriana@gmail.com