This past week in class we discussed life after college. I was taken aback that we were already talking about post-graduate life. We just arrived at Muhlenberg ten weeks ago! Why the rush? Although I was surprised, I soon appreciated the discourse which occurred. I was given some time to think about my college timeline and what exactly I wish to accomplish in the next three and a half years. Since middle school I’ve wanted to pursue a degree in English and Creative Writing because I enjoyed my English classes. Despite the fact that I have received criticism as to why I would pursue such a degree with a low salary, these comments don’t sway me but rather encourage me to continue working hard to fulfill my dreams. What dreams you ask? Read the rest of this post to find out.
After college I would like to work as a Television comedy writer. It is extremely difficult to achieve success as a writer in show business but I have long been fascinated with TV production, and more specifically with the construction of character development, storylines, conflict and humor. I want to work in a creative environment and not in a cubicle. Having the ability and opportunity to work in a writer’s room would fulfill my creative dreams. I grew up watching my dad, an advertising writer, create the most incredible scripts and incorporate humor at the same time. On school holidays, I would go either to his office and watch him write or go to a Downtown Dallas editorial studio and watch editors masterfully cut commercials. These memories and experiences have without a doubt informed my decision to go into this field.
However, my real dream is to work as the camp director at the summer camp I attend. I have been interested in the camping industry for many years and I would also like give back to an institution which gave me so many life experiences. Camp has been my creative playground and working as the camp director would enable me to further add my creative flavor on a greater scale. Pursuing a degree in English would certainly assist me because camp director’s communicate regularly with the parent body, staff members, fundraising partners and vendors.
Cover Letters
After reading two articles from The Muse and Allison Green, I gained valuable tips for writing a personal and professional cover letter. A cover letter is more than just a résumé. It is a helpful way to introduce yourself and express your personality in addition to listing your job in a résumé. It’s not only important to write why you would be good fit for a job but it’s also important to convey why you would be a valuable asset to the entire company. When hiring employees, employers are also looking to see that you have good values in addition to past job experiences. A person may do their job well but employers need to know that they treat others with dignity and respect. An interesting tip I learned is to include comments said by colleagues, as it proves to the employer that your talents and skills are recognized by others. Even including a positive office nickname may leverage your chances of acceptance. Another interesting tip I learned is to use similar language found in the job description and the company’s mission statement to convey that your values are clearly aligned with that of the organization. This shows that you’ve researched thoroughly and your commitment for wanting such a job at a company.
