The English Aggie February 2021 - Career Feature Edition: What Can You Do With An English Degree? - Texas ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
February 2021
The English Aggie
Career Feature Edition: What Can You Do With An English Degree?
Editor | Manager | Author | Marketer | Freelancer | Entrepreneur | Etc.
Career Feature: Editor Career Feature: Manager
Not Every Editor A Strong Foundation
Lives in New York City For Fernando
Rodriguez ‘16, an
English degree
in education. He returned to
Laredo, Texas where he taught at
a high school for one year as an
English teacher. Then, his wife was
through a decision and understand
all the context, and then people can
question things that you might not
be thinking of.”
Former student Marissa Madsen, Class of ‘13, talks about her career as prepared him for a wide stationed in South Korea where
To get to his current position,
they both lived for two years.
a Senior Medical Editor in Houston, Texas, and how the Professional range of career paths Rodriguez had to learn how to
Writing Certificate got her to where she is today. since graduating. He While abroad, Rodriguez worked
as a freelance editor while working
leverage his English education
along with the skills, knowledge,
and accuracy. This kind of work is with teaching her many of the skills
spoke with us about towards another degree in web and career experience he
considered “quality review” in the necessary to succeed as an editor. 5 Myths of how current students design. Even in an industry that picked up along the way. In all
seems far away from his English of his positions, the ability to
industry.
“I strongly recommend it,” Madsen
Being an can leverage their degree, Rodriguez continued to communicate clearly and influence
“A lot of people in academic said, speaking about her experience own English skills to find similarities between what he others through writing has been a
Sitting with her three 15-pound
publishing will move to the with the Professional Writing Editor transition into any learned at Texas A&M and the work constant.
furry “coworkers,” Floki, Odin
regulatory side of pharmaceuticals.
It’s more of a technical position,
Certificate. “I think my technical
editing class, and my technical industry and not be
he was doing in web design.
“I think what’s cool about the “There’s
and Juniper, Marissa Madsen
prepares for her work day and
which was very fitting for me, writing class have been 2 of the top 1. You have to live in
limited to a single path.
“Coding is similar in a sense
because when you’re learning a
English major is that it crosses
into so many areas. The best thing
a strong
foundation,
because I was never much for 3 most important classes I took at New York
pulls up her latest project. As a fluff,” Madsen said. “There’s a lot language, you understand the that you learn is writing, and how
Texas A&M.” Fernando Rodriguez ‘16 knows
Senior Medical Editor at Syneos
now you go
more technical skill involved with basics of picking up language, and to communicate with people.
Health in Houston, Texas, Madsen Madsen encourages graduating a thing or two about thinking how to write and that fundamental Being able to write in different
making things neat and concise.”
build the
is used to fast-paced, high energy English majors to look into medical quick on your feet and making understanding of how to organize styles about different things is
days where she edits and reviews According to Madsen, being an editing as a career. Many times, Editng job are everywhere, the best of your situation. Since yourself to get something done,” an underrated skill. In the tech
multiple documents. As a Class of editor requires a meticulous medical editing opportunities do even Houston, TX. graduating with a bachelor’s
degree in English, Rodriguez has
Rodriguez said. industry, I guess what I’ve learned house.”
‘13 Aggie, the former English major attention to detail, a rule-oriented not require a medical background is that there’s a lot of people that
and Professional Writing Certificate mindset, and a love for fixing or moving to a large city like New experienced multiple different Rodriguez and his wife eventually
2. You don’t get paid just don’t know how to write
recipient regularly uses the skills things. York City. Medical editors also career fields, including education, moved back to the United States
effectively,” Rodriguez said.
she learned during her time at earn more than you might expect; enough freelance editing, and web design. where they now live in Washington.
“My joke has always been that I Currently, he works as a Program Rodriguez started to work for For many graduating students, life
$69,000
Texas A&M in her job today. according to GlassDoor, medical
want to fix the clock, not build Manager at Amazon where he uses Amazon, first as a temporary after college feels daunting and
editors in Houston with a couple
At the beginning of her career, it,” Madsen said. “Also, with my his writing skills on a regular basis Recruiting Coordinator, and later as uncontrollable, especially if they
years of experience can make Average salary for medical
Madsen started working as an job, it’s important to be able to do in a seemingly unconventional a full-time Program Manager. In his don’t have a job offer in hand when
an average of $69,000 a year. In editors in Houston
unpaid editorial intern for a things that I can do, but because industry. current role, Rodriguez works with they walk across the graduation
addition, the career has mobility (GlassDoor)
nonprofit organization with two we’re a contract company, I have to members of the military community stage. According to Rodriguez,
and long-term career opportunities. Originally from Laredo, Texas,
academic journals. She soon be fast. This is definitely a quick- to prepare them for new roles at students have more control than
Madsen’s current job has also Rodriguez was a member of the
became Editorial Coordinator of paced job.” 3. It requires years Amazon. they think.
afforded her the flexibility of Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M,
those two journals after being
working from home, even before of experience
promoted to a full-time position. and played baritone and tuba for “I currently manage a job “You make your own value and
the COVID-19 pandemic. You don’t
She eventually moved to a the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. He placement program that helps your own skills. Put your ego aside,
different academic publication “I personally have “This is the kind of job that I can
have to have
medical majored in English with a focus in service members transition to the cut out the noise, do what you want
in Texas A&M’s Political Science always really have a wonderful career in over the experience to rhetoric and creative writing, and private sector after leaving the to do and make sure that you’re
be a medical worked at the University Writing military,” Rodriguez said. With this secure doing it,” Rodriguez said.
Department. After a few years, she enjoyed ripping next few decades,” Madsen said.
editor Center. position, Rodriguez continues to “There’s a strong foundation, now
made the jump to medical editing
for Syneos Health, a contract other papers While there are numerous perks in use his English degree to fit in with you go build the house.”
Speaking about his experiences at
research organization (also known to shreds, so if Madsen’s current career, she also
4. Editing is boring A&M, Rodriguez said, “I think I’m
Amazon and its “Writing Culture.”
genuinely enjoys the work she does.
as a clinical research organization). you’re like that, I ahead because of the leadership According to Rodriguez, the
“I enjoy trying to make a document “This is definitely
“I realized that in academic recommend my neat, and making sure that an a quick-paced
opportunities that were afforded “Writing Culture” started when
Fernando Rodriguez
to me through the Corps, through Jeff Bezos asked for the notes to a
publishing, I was pigeon-holed in job.” element of a document, like job.”
my experience working at the top business leader’s presentation
‘16 has entered many
this situation where, with just a - Marissa different career fields
bachelor’s degree, I could only go a phrase used periodically, is Madsen ‘13 University Writing Center, and in lieu of a PowerPoint. The idea
consistent.” Madsen said. “And with his English degree,
so far in my career. So, I had been studying what I wanted to study.” behind this request is that the notes
then there are sometimes style and currently works at
trying to get into medical editing,” To prepare for her future career contain a more comprehensive
or formatting issues in these 5. Editing jobs are The start of Rodriguez’s many Amazon as a Program
Madsen said. while at Texas A&M, Madsen review of all the important
200-page documents that require hard to find career paths began when he met Manager.
worked as an undergraduate information needed to make a
At her current position, Madsen troubleshooting or a phone call to a There are a lot of his wife at Texas A&M, also a decision.
research scholar in the Department opportunities for technical member of the Corps of Cadets,
works on the regulatory side of of English and in the Glasscock coworker to see what went wrong.
pharmaceuticals. Working with It’s fast and I’m always learning writers and who planned to join the Army “Pretty much, it’s compiling what’s
Center, which she says provided editors is after graduating. As a military- important for the audience that
her team of writers, Madsen will her with valuable insight something new. And I personally various
review the documents they send have always really enjoyed ripping husband, Rodriguez had to be you’re speaking to,” Rodriguez
into the academic publishing industries
her, essentially fact checking and other papers to shreds, so if you’re ready to move where his wife was said. “When you put everything
world. Madsen also credits the stationed. To him, few careers on paper, when everything’s
reviewing them for consistency Professional Writing Certificate like that, I recommend my job.”
were more portable than working organized, it’s quicker to get
pg 2 | The English Aggie February 2021 | pg 3
Career Feature: Marketer, Freelancer, and Entreprenuer
A Story-Filled Career:
Not So Fiction After All
Savanna Polasek ‘18 discusses her journey to becoming a Marketing and
Communications Specialist, Freelance Writer, and Entrepreneur after graduating
with an English degree from Texas A&M.
One statewide non-profit, 81 which is something I think you enhanced her already rigorous
program locations, 9 different have to do anywhere, not just in and impactful writing course
social media accounts, and a marketing.” load. One of the classes she took
memoir-writing business on the at Texas A&M inspired her to start
side—all components that make up She also pursued multiple her own business called Memoir
the daily life of Savanna Polasek, extracurricular experiences that Ink, in which Polasek transforms
a former English student who gave her various perspectives on interviews with clients into
graduated from Texas A&M in 2018. writing about diverse topics for memoirs.
In her current role as a Marketing different audiences. According to
and Communications Specialist at Polasek, one of her most valuable “[Memoir Ink] was inspired by my
Upbring, a nonprofit dedicated to experiences was interning for the creative nonfiction class that I took
breaking the cycle of child abuse Texas A&M Foundation as a writer with Dr. Susan Stabile, which was
in Texas, Polasek gets to do what for Spirit Magazine. one of my greatest classes at A&M.
she’s always wanted to do: write. That’s when I first learned about
“The experience just opened a creative nonfiction. I became really
whole new world of nonprofits and interested in memoirs and people
philanthropy to me. Before, I was telling their stories,” Polasek said.
“I knew that there mostly writing essays and creative “I create a content calendar each on LinkedIn Learning, and she information. Finally, saving and
were stories as a very Polasek’s work-from-
things, so learning about writing for As a Marketing and home desk features month, and I decide what’s going suggested courses on SkillShare keeping (safely) all of your work
little kid, and I loved the web and for print and infusing Communications Specialist with artwork from co- to go across all those channels,” for more design-oriented training. is essential.
them. Then, I found my creativity into those pieces Upbring, Polasek continues to workers, letters from Polasek said, describing one of her Joining associations such as the
out that somebody while still making sense was a great bring stories to life for the nonprofit former classmates, main responsibilities. “A big part is Public Relations Society of America “You need more than a flash drive
was writing the learning experience,” Polasek said. and its multiple programs that and other inspiration thinking about messaging and how and the American Marketing - put it on your Google Drive, and
stories, and then, empower children, families, and for her writing. different content would relate to our Association is another great way if it’s on your TAMU Google Drive,
Along with her internship, Polasek communities. She specializes in audiences.” to become involved in the field’s get it onto your personal account
I wanted to be a also joined The Eckleburg Project, external communications for the community. because that’s going to expire
writer.” an undergraduate literary journal nonprofit, overseeing the content In addition to content management, one day, and your flash drive
at Texas A&M University, as a posted to Upbring’s 9 social media Polasek also incorporates the For aspiring freelance writers, might get wet - I’m speaking from
Screener to review submissions for accounts, monitoring the news, passion she has for discovering and Polasek highly recommended experience,” Polasek said. “Even
“I knew that there were stories as publication, and eventually served creating press releases, supporting telling peoples’ stories in her work. Writer’s Market, an annual if your writing from freshman
a very little kid, and I loved them. as Prose Editor for the organization. media and public relations, publication that explains what year was really rough, having
Then, I found out that somebody writing articles, and running the “My favorite part of the job is writers should do and how much to an idea to go back to is really
was writing the stories, and then, “I think it really helped being a organization’s blog. interviewing the people that our expect to be paid for certain pieces helpful.”
I wanted to be a writer,” Polasek Screener for The Eckleburg Project programs are helping or the people in certain publications, like The
said. to see other students’ work. I working in those programs,” New Yorker or Time magazine. According to Polasek, anything
was already kind of seeing other Polasek said. “Being able to that students can use to
To pursue her dream, Polasek students’ work in creative writing interview, for example, foster moms Speaking about the Writer’s Market demonstrate their skills will make
completed the creative writing classes, but just to see even a and ask why they foster, and ask publication, Polasek said, “I think them more marketable when the
track during her time as an English greater diversity and all those people aging out of foster care that it’s the most valuable thing I time comes to start the job search.
major at Texas A&M. She said the perspectives was good for me about their journey and how they’re found after graduating.”
coursework she took trained her in creatively. It was also good to see progressing is really impactful.” “All of these things will give you
valuable skills that she still uses what we wanted to publish and to For all writers looking to enter an advantage and just show
today. know that sometimes a work isn’t For current English students the workforce, Polasek highly that you know how to do things.
selected because of other reasons,” looking to enter the Marketing recommended networking now Because even though you know
“In the creative writing track, I Polasek said. “Now that I’m & Communications field, with current classmates and what you can do, it helps make
learned how to read like a writer Savanna Polasek ‘18
submitting my own work, I don’t Polasek recommended pursuing student organization members to a better case for you to HR if
and so many writing tricks, like currently runs her
take the rejections very personally volunteering opportunities form friendships that can support you have those things as well,”
how to engage the audience and own writing business
because they might have a theme in and additional certifications to you later on in the job search. Polasek said.
keep them interested. Also, all and manages
mind, or they’re not accepting my demonstrate valuable competencies Making use of the Association
liberal arts classes usually involve the marketing
specific kind of work yet.” to potential employers. For her of Former Students’ resources to
defending a point or articulating communications for
work, Polasek completed the network with Aggies in your career
an idea and expressing yourself, Upbring, a state-
Polasek’s extracurricular activities content strategy certification field can also provide useful career
wide non-profit
pg 4 | The English Aggie February 2021 | pg 5
at Texas A&M was working at “Really any resources or networks “Be patient. There is not a level of
Career Feature: Author the literary journal, Callaloo. The
journal was founded and edited by
that A&M or the Department can
provide, I would say seek them out.
patience that you need to acquire—
you just need as much patience as
Dr. Charles Henry Rowell, a former Reach out to your professors, and possible,” Dr. Bancroft said. “Have
How to professor of English at Texas A&M. ask them because they likely know patience with yourself and patience
Publish A Book
if you don’t,” Dr. Bancroft said. with the process because it takes
“It had a huge impact on me. I had “A&M was such a great place to time. Be kind to yourself throughout
a much stronger idea of what it start out for me. There was always the process because you’re going
was like behind the scenes in the something happening or something to get a lot of rejections—that’s
publishing world, and Callaloo, to learn about, whether it was a just the nature of it. The key is to
Dr. Christian Bancroft, Class of ‘09 (they/them), being such a respected and prize for a paper or a collection of not lose faith. Really have faith in
renowned journal, you get to see poems that they were advertising. the book that you have, and faith
talks about the publishing process and the journey these incredible writers from all The professors themselves and in yourself as a writer. If you’re
they took to become a published author. over,” Dr. Bancroft said. the faculty—they know so much. I determined enough, and if you stick
Dr. Bancroft’s would really utilize those resources with it then, I think you have a very
Complex, enigmatic, byzantine— After graduating from Texas A&M book, Queering The experience at the literary because there’s so much available.” good chance of getting that work
all words used to describe the University, Dr. Bancroft got their Modernist journal introduced Dr. Bancroft to published.”
publication process. From the Master’s in creative writing from Translation: The the world of publishing, making it Getting a book published also
outside, it is hard to understand, the University of Texas, with a Poetics of Race, much less intimidating when the takes a substantial amount of To read this article and more of Dr.
and on the inside, it can be focus on poetry. Later, Dr. Bancroft Gender, and time came for them to publish their determination. From Dr. Bancroft’s Bancroft’s poems, visit our English
daunting to navigate. Dr. Christian earned their doctorate in literature Queerness was own book. It also provided insight experience, patience and Aggie blog: http://englishaggie.
Bancroft, a former Texas A&M from the University of Houston. published in July as to what would be going through kindness—with yourself and with blogspot.com
English student who graduated They currently live and work 2020. an editor’s mind reading through your work—are key to any aspiring
in 2009, successfully undertook in Pennsylvania as an English the manuscripts or reading samples author seeking to be published.
the challenge and published their teacher and as a poet. During their during the publication process.
first book, Queering Modernist doctorate program, the work they
Translation: The Poetics of Race, did on their dissertation eventually Dr. Bancroft said, “It can make you
Gender, and Queerness. In the turned into their first book, a better writer because as an editor Excerpt from
book, Dr. Bancroft explores three published in July 2020. or from an editorial perspective,
A Ghost Has No Fantasies by Dr. Christian Bancroft
translations from Ezra Pound, you can see what you like or what
Langston Hughes, and Hilda “I really enjoyed the work that I did pops out to you. You need stuff to [Note: The poems in this submission are from a longer manuscript,
Doolittle (H.D.) through the lens of on my dissertation, and I really had pop out to you and illuminate you A Ghost Has No Fantasies, and are engaged with bringing to light
queer theory. a lot of fun with it. The people on in some regard when you’re reading and the reframing of the persecution of gay men and lesbians
my committee thought that it was after several hours. I think that’s during the Holocaust. These poems are found texts, taken from
While Queering Modernist really strong, and so I tried to see something that writers really need memoirs, first-hand accounts, and archival documents that
Translation is a critical book what I could do to get it published,” to learn and understand when they catalogue the persecution of queer men and women during the
based on research, Dr. Bancroft Dr. Bancroft said. While their start out—their piece is very likely Holocaust.
specialized in the creative writing first book was a critical book, Dr. not the first piece that [the editor]
track within their English major Bancroft is currently working on is reading for the day. They’re
and was specifically interested in three poetry books and hopes to probably not looking at it with fresh Comrade
poetry during their time at Texas initiate the publishing process for looks different. For authors of Dr. Christian eyes, and so you have to keep their Pierre Seel
A&M. From the beginning, they them soon. their first, second, or even third Bancroft, former attention for the whole thing.”
always knew that they wanted to poetry book, the manuscripts are student from Texas During machine gunning,
be a published author. While the publication process is usually sent out to contests or A&M University, is a blond
complex, it also differs between open reading submission periods, now a published was killed at my side:
“Even back then, I was really
determined to be a writer and to
different genres and styles of
writing. For a book to be published,
where it starts off in the slush pile.
If the book is chosen after a couple
author, poet, and “If you’re
I took him
publish my work,” Dr. Bancroft an author must query publishers of readers, it will move on to the
English teacher.
determined by the shoulders,
said. “I had great mentors at A&M, with a letter that describes the book next stage, and the process will enough, and if you I talked to him,
and it really helped me get a better
idea of the publishing world and
and why they think it is a good fit
for the publisher. If the publisher
repeat for however many stages
that particular publisher has. The
stick with it, then I hugged him:
get a foothold into that.” is interested, they will request a book will eventually end up in front I think you have a I loved
sample. Once the author sends of a judge or a series of judges who very good chance for three days
them sample pages, the publisher
will decide if they are interested
will narrow down the list. For more
commercial fiction or nonfiction
of getting that work and nights
with that dead man
published. ”
“The key is to not in seeing the whole book. For a books, the author has the option to next to me:
critical book, such as the one Dr. query an agent to advocate for them
lose faith. Really Bancroft just published, the book and their book on their behalf with after three days
have faith in the will go through a peer review
process by two or three experts in
publishers.
In addition to working at a literary
he was starting
to ice
book that you the field. These experts send notes “It’s complex,” Dr. Bancroft said, journal during their time at Texas over:
have, and faith and feedback about the book to the
editor, who then decides whether or
speaking about the publication
process. “I feel like, fortunately,
A&M, Dr. Bancroft also formed
valuable connections with Texas
those three days left
me
in yourself as a not it should be sent to a board for because of my editorial experience A&M faculty, who served as with an inexpressible
writer.” review. at Texas A&M and afterwards, I had
a glimpse into what it looked like.”
mentors to them throughout their
education, and provided them with
attachment
For a book of poetry, fiction, inspiration and insight.
or any other more commercial, According to Dr. Bancroft, one of
mainstream book, the process their most valuable experiences
pg 6 | The English Aggie February 2021 | pg 7
Share
Your
Story!
Tag us in your post
@theenglishaggie
Use our hashtag
#theenglishaggie
Want to share your work?
Email EnglishAggieStories@gmail.com
Follow us!
englishaggie.blogspot.com
facebook.com/TheEnglishAggie
@theenglishaggie
@theenglishaggie
EnglishAggieStories@gmail.com
This publication is brought to you by:
Texas A&M Department of English
Editor: Sarah Roberts ‘21
You can also read
