Posted on: June 4, 2013
Posted by: Chelsea Oliver
Categories:
Copywriting
Once the first day has come and gone and you begin settling into your new routine, it’s important to avoid something entry-level copywriters are notorious for…thinking you know it all. When I was establishing myself at Yabsta Digital, I’ll admit that I felt quite confident, occasionally to the point of cockiness. I thought my years of writing in university had set me up to be a rock star at this job and, shortly after, I realized that was very far from the truth.
While you may feel like those years spent in classrooms and on campus (and in the pubs too!) have taught you everything you need to know about writing, this is not the case. I earned a degree in English Literature from the University of Waterloo and, now, I understand the differences between school and the workplace.
I spent four years reading novels, crafting essays and honing my writing ability and style, which, truthfully, is only part of the repertoire of abilities a copywriter must have.
Instead of using the skills and knowledge you acquired in university to do the job, use them to learn how to do it. For example, my position at Yabsta Digital requires me to learn and use many digital skills, such as social media and search engine optimization. While my degree program did not cover these topics, I attribute my ability to study and retain the information effectively to my university experience. When faced with writing about a subject you’re unfamiliar with, use the research skills that served you so well in school to accomplish the task.
University truly is just the beginning. As you continue on in your new role, absorb as much as you can and never stop learning. While it may sound cliche, there really is no such thing as a stupid question. View this new position as a continuation of the learning process, whether you’re fresh out of school or have been navigating the waters of employment for quite some time. When it comes down to it, university must be acknowledged as a foundation in order to be successful – it has provided you with a certain set of skills, and, more importantly, an understanding of how you learn. It’s up to you to use those abilities and knowledge effectively, professionally and with advancement in mind.
Image Credit: Brice Ambrosiak (Flickr)
Once the first day has come and gone and you begin settling into your new routine, it’s important to avoid something entry-level copywriters are notorious for…thinking you know it all. When I was establishing myself at Yabsta Digital, I’ll admit that I felt quite confident, occasionally to the point of cockiness. I thought my years of writing in university had set me up to be a rock star at this job and, shortly after, I realized that was very far from the truth.
While you may feel like those years spent in classrooms and on campus (and in the pubs too!) have taught you everything you need to know about writing, this is not the case. I earned a degree in English Literature from the University of Waterloo and, now, I understand the differences between school and the workplace. I spent four years reading novels, crafting essays and honing my writing ability and style, which, truthfully, is only part of the repertoire of abilities a copywriter must have.
Instead of using the skills and knowledge you acquired in university to do the job, use them to learn how to do it. For example, my position at Yabsta Digital requires me to learn and use many digital skills, such as social media and search engine optimization. While my degree program did not cover these topics, I attribute my ability to study and retain the information effectively to my university experience. When faced with writing about a subject you’re unfamiliar with, use the research skills that served you so well in school to accomplish the task.
University truly is just the beginning. As you continue on in your new role, absorb as much as you can and never stop learning. While it may sound cliche, there really is no such thing as a stupid question. View this new position as a continuation of the learning process, whether you’re fresh out of school or have been navigating the waters of employment for quite some time. When it comes down to it, university must be acknowledged as a foundation in order to be successful – it has provided you with a certain set of skills, and, more importantly, an understanding of how you learn. It’s up to you to use those abilities and knowledge effectively, professionally and with advancement in mind.
Image Credit: Brice Ambrosiak (Flickr)
I spent four years reading novels, crafting essays and honing my writing ability and style, which, truthfully, is only part of the repertoire of abilities a copywriter must have.
