The Post-Degree Blues

In a previous post, the idea of a "mid-degree" crisis was explored. But now, I'd like to take this opportunity to discuss a whole new crisis you might face once you make it through the first one (and don't worry, you will).

Post-degree depression: it's not uncommon. You've worked hard for four years, maybe even more, and now you're ready to enjoy the fruits of your labour. That being, hopefully, a fulfilling post-graduate position. You want a position you're passionate and interested in. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt if the pay was great. And maybe a couple weeks paid vacation. A health spendings account maybe? Oh, and benefits. Yeah, benefits would be great.

You start to make a list of all the things you'd like out of a job. You take a step back and see how massive the list has become. So you start the job search and begin striking things off the list as it becomes more and more apparent that you're probably not going to find a position that fills all your requirements. Then the rationalizing inner-dialogue kicks in.

"Well,  it could be interesting to write newsletters for a company who makes paper... I like paper."
"On second thought, who really loves what they do everyday anyway?"
"Okay, maybe I don't really need GREAT benefits."
"Maybe I'll just never get sick or injured ever again, and then who cares about health insurance?"
"I could just do unpaid internships and live off the land."

Now, before you start making your, "will write copy for food" sign, you must first understand that these circumstances are normal. In fact, research from the Institute for Employment Studies shows that many graduates take two or more years to settle into "stable" employment, and one in three graduates enter temporary or fixed-term contracts. This means that the majority of recent grads may not find a full-time position in their field until two years after they've completed their programs.

These facts aren't meant to discourage; they are meant to show you that post-degree life isn't always easy, and that it's common to become a bit adrift. Sometimes it just takes time to settle into the professional world after studying for four or more years.

Saying goodbye to the familiar haven of education and the flexible structure of a post-secondary life can be a huge shock for new grads, especially for ones who don't have a definite career plan. That's why it's so important to routinely check in with yourself to evaluate what exactly you want out of your career. This isn't to say that you should know exactly what kind of job you want or what route you want to take to get there, but by having a solid career plan, you can avoid that feeling of complete uncertainty. Laying out what you want and having those words in front of you can help you evaluate different directions you might take. Periodic self-evaluation might make you realize that what you want out of your career has changed over the past few years, and that could lead you to applying for completely different jobs than you might have a year ago. Career plans can be a crutch in times of post-degree uncertainty. It may take some time to get where you want, but having a plan is only beneficial to you. Being self-aware could lead you into the next great thing in your career; you just have to be open to it.

So when you don that cap and gown, walk across the stage, and proceed to drink copiously to celebrate your recent graduation; remember, there is more to come. You could get exactly the position you wanted right out of school, or you could be a mere mortal like the majority of new grads and have a little more trouble and times of uncertainty. Don't worry, you'll power your way through it. Just like you did all those hours of group assignments and all-nighters hunched over a desk studying for a philosophy final... or was it psychology? Doesn't matter. You're almost there. And you're going to be living proof that if one can earn their degree, they can handle whatever comes next. 

Good luck. And knock em' dead. 

The Mid-Degree Crisis

Image courtesy of someecards.com

Three years ago I should have been enrolling in classes for the third year of my undergraduate degree. Instead, I was googling the cost of flights to Australia and reading hostel reviews. Even thinking about choosing classes for the coming year had me panicking. What if the classes didn't help me find a position for my field placement in my fourth year? And what did I even want to do for my placement? Could I see myself doing that as a career? Where the heck was I going with this degree? I was experiencing a major mid-degree crisis.

Defined by Urban Dictionary as the sudden realization that you have absolutely no idea what you want to major in for the next two years of your four year college career, I think any sort of panic about your education and future at any point in your academic career counts as a mid-degree crisis.  The crisis can be caused or influenced by a number of things. My mid-degree crisis was caused by a sudden realization that I really, really disliked editing. A number of classes in editing had only enforced my dislike of the task. This was not a very good realization to have two years into a degree I had entered into with the intention of becoming a professional editor.

Changes in living situations, funding, interests, and the economy can all be factors in a mid-degree crisis. So can pressures from instructors, parents, and peers. And sometimes just the stress of assignments and tests is enough to have you mentally pressing a panic button. Whatever the cause, a mid-degree crisis is scary. When I started to realize I needed to rethink my entire life plan, I was terrified. Now I can admit, as horrible as it seemed at the time, my mid-degree crisis is the best thing that ever happened to me as far as my education and future is concerned. 

I was forced to take a really close look at my goals, priorities, and skills in both the short- and long-term. I quickly realized that I needed to take a break. I needed to get away from the stress of academic life before I could make any serious decisions about my future. So I used all that information I had gathered googling Australia and left the country for eight months. When I returned, I had a clear goal in mind, I had a plan to achieve that goal, and I felt amazing. That goal has evolved since then, but it has still followed a pretty straight trajectory. 

I'll admit I was pretty lucky in that I had the luxury of basically disappearing for eight months without any major repercussions. I hadn't taken out any student loans (yet), had money saved, and my program was set up in such a way that taking a break between year two and three worked really well. No two students experiencing mid-degree crises are going to have the exact same set of circumstances. And while travelling for eight months was the perfect way for me to work through my mid-degree crisis, it is not going to be a solution for everyone. So if you're facing a mid-degree crisis or are worried you may have one in the future, I offer the following advice:

• Speak to an advisor at your school. Their job is to help you out in situations like these. Tell them everything you're worried about. They're better equipped to deal with all the questions you might have about your options, and they might be able to offer some options that you wouldn't consider. And even if you have a decision in mind, they can help get you on the correct path to following that decision through. Once I realized editing was not for me, I spoke to my program advisor. She helped me focus on what other options my program provided me, and she also gave me some much needed encouragement and support. 

• Talk to your instructors. They might not be aware that you're having issues. And a mid-degree crisis is an issue regardless of if it's affecting your marks. Letting your instructors know you're unsure about your future in the program may result in them working with you to make your classes more topical. Or they might offer the advice or encouragement you need at that moment. Some students don't actually make any major changes in response to a mid-degree crisis. They simply need a boost in confidence. It's my experience that most instructors really do have your best interests in mind. 

• Think long and hard about what you want and not what your mom, dad, instructors, partner, or anyone else might want. Yes, choosing not to finish your degree and focusing on yoga, art, or any other number of disciplines not generally taught in a formal educational setting is very difficult, but making that choice might just result in something amazing. 

• Finally, know that there is no right or wrong way to deal with a mid-degree crisis. Nor is it required to ever have a mid-degree crisis. As much as my own experience dealing with panic mid-degree was rewarding for me, I still wouldn't recommend it. I've always been jealous of people who have known what they wanted to be since they were five and probably always will be.

Image courtesy of Threadless Inc. 

Whether you choose to abandon all responsibility and drink your way across the beaches of Oceania or work through the panic and stick with your original degree, the mid-degree crisis does not have to be a horrific ordeal. It may become the catalyst to the change you needed; if you don't believe me, there are other students who have recorded their experiences here and here. And once you're done dealing with your mid-degree crisis, you can get a head-start preparing for that quarter-life crisis that I hear I'm just about to encounter. I sure am glad my mid-degree crisis led me to apply for graduate school! 

Image courtesy of someecards.com

The Dreaded Writing Test

Throughout my time in university, I have managed to overcome some of my greatest fears; however, there is one fear that I have yet to overcome — the written test. Whether it is in a job interview or in a class, tests cause me to have sweaty palms, heavy breathing, an accelerated heart rate, and overwhelming anxiety. I just think of one thing: ‘I need to finish.’ I repeat this like a mantra in my head as if my proverbial life depended on it. I have left tests too many times feeling like an inadequate and complete failure — I wasn’t prepared enough; I didn’t know what to expect; I didn’t finish the test; I didn’t get the position; I failed the class.

            Although I have always dreaded timed writing tests since I was young, my first real writing test — with any significant outcome — was my writing test to get into the Professional Writing Diploma program (PROW). After submitting my written portfolio, I thought the entrance exam would be a breeze — after all, how hard could a test possibly be that is designed for writers who are recently out of high school? After entering the room, I noticed that there wasn’t a clock; how could I possibly know how much time I was taking if I couldn’t watch the time ticking monotonously away?

After taking a year off from high school, my writing skills were rusty at best; although I have always had a natural talent with words, writing is a skill like all others where you can’t always rely upon natural talent. The first task was writing an article on whether Baby Einstein videos improve babies’ IQs when they watch them. They supplied some information and asked you to argue for or against; I spent 45 minutes, at least I think, writing the article. I was then asked to write an essay on the same topic; I was about two paragraphs into the essay when my now program counselor said, “Time’s up.” 

             I was looking for some sort of solace in her serious expression; all I could sense was pity. I knew I failed the entrance exam. I failed at my dream. I locked myself in my room for three days — amidst tears and copious amounts of coffee, I thought of all that wouldn’t be. I refused to answer my phone, petrified that my deepest fear would be confirmed. I didn’t check my voicemail; for two weeks I lived in a self-imposed exile, a darkness of thought and feeling.

To my surprise, a week later, my dad knocked on my bedroom door and told me that Grant MacEwan had called. I said that I didn’t want to know; I said that I didn’t want to hear. My father congratulated me and told me I had passed the entrance exam; I would be a student again and live out my dream. In a manic, happy panic, I checked my voicemail. I was in disbelief at the news; I didn’t even finish the test. With self-doubt, I checked the purported message. In astonishment, I realized it was true. If anything, what I learned from my first serious timed writing test was that an unfinished test is not synonymous with failure.

While my PROW entrance exam was my first real timed writing experience, it certainly wasn't my last. The last timed writing experience I had was for a job interview; it was my first interview that required a writing assessment. I was asked to write a press release; unfortunately, I didn’t expect to write the exam on a PC laptop — I’m used to using Word for Mac which is a lot different than Word for PC. Half of the time I spent trying to format my press release correctly, not taking into account research time for the release — I had to write on an Engineering Conference for the U of A.  For one thing, I know nothing about engineering; I had a simple understanding, at least after reading the organization’s website and the job posting. I finished the test but only after pretending that I didn’t hear her knock to signal that my time was up.

After the interview, I received an email and a voicemail; while I was not the chosen candidate, I was in the last round of decision making, between two finalists. She offered to keep my name on file for future job competitions at the U of A. She offered me a piece of invaluable advice, which I will in turn tell you: “It may be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the PC/Windows environment so that you do not find yourself panicking in a test situation. The formatting was not a big issue in the end. In any case, I think testing just takes practice. Remember you have great interviewing skills, and these will factor into an employers’ assessment of you far more than minor issues related to a test.” From my experience writing written assessments,  I would recommend the following:

1.     Expect to be tested in an interview; think about what tasks they might ask you to do — specifically check the end of job postings, usually they are listed.

Make sure you are aware that many communications fields expect one to be able to work under pressure. A written assessment (though always difficult) shows employers whether you are able to work under pressure and under deadlines.

Photo Courtesy of The Guardian

2.     Expect a take-home test, an online test, or a test in the interview.

Many employers use different formats for the written assessment. They may send you home with an exam, test on you the spot, or give you a document to fill out and return within a certain time frame. If writing an online assessment, remember to save and remember that you are still being timed — even if it is online. If you are filling out a document at home, remember that you have the luxury to edit and rewrite your test. You have a much bigger time frame to polish your work than you do with an online or interview test.

 Photo Courtesy of Meme Generator

3.     Don’t panic about finishing a written test or if it’s not up to your usual high standards.

As I learned from writing my PROW entrance exam, not finishing a test does not always signal that you will fail or that you won’t get a position. Even after failing to finish my PROW entrance exam, I was admitted into the program. As well, although I was concerned about my press release’s formatting and quality, I was still competitive and was one of the top candidates for the position I applied for.

 Photo Courtesy of Texus A&M Health Science Center

4.     Remember, an employer (or your professor) is much more interested in your interviewing skills, your previous portfolio, your education, your previous work experience, and your writing quality.

As my interviewer said above, my interviewing skills and writing samples were much more important than my written assessment. And, in the end, the formatting wasn’t even a big deal. A written assessment, again, is mainly testing your stress tolerance. It is not indicative of your ability to write; most employers understand that you could do much better if given more time. That’s why your portfolio samples are so important!

Photo Courtesy of Dougles Chan

5.     Refamiliarize yourself with both PC and Mac versions of Microsoft Office — you never know!

As I found out, sometimes employers want you to type out your written assessment; while I am familiar with Mac platforms, I seldom use PCs. As a result, I was somewhat nervous when I was asked to write my assessment using Microsoft Word. So, before your test, make sure you know, at least basically, the main functions on both systems. Email your interviewer and ask what type of laptop you will be tested on. And, if worse comes to worse, bring your laptop with you to your interview and ask if you may write the test on that instead.

 Photo Courtesy of Cult of Mac

6.     Research each job posting and make sure you have at least a basic knowledge of the company before writing a written assessment.

It is important to research all organizations you apply for before you go in for an interview. The knowledge you acquire will be invaluable to you later, when you are writing your written assessment, as I discovered when I had to write on engineering mathematics.

Photo Courtesy of Wisconsin Alumni Association

7.     Make sure that you have the necessary qualifications and skills needed for a position.

Save yourself the time! Don’t apply for a position when you know that you don’t have the necessary skills and qualifications; it will save you from panicking when are asked to write something you have never done before or when you come across heavy, industry-related jargon that you are unfamiliar with. 

 Photo Courtesy of Willard Hypnosis

8.     Break your time up into segments — researching, writing, and editing— and roughly try to stay in your self-appointed time frame.

This technique has saved me time and time again. I usually am riddled with anxiety and nerves when I write a written assessment; however, roughly breaking up my time allows me to stay relaxed. And, although some might negate the usefulness of this, check the clock every five to ten minutes. Don’t get flustered in response to checking the clock; simply check to see if you are on time with your self-appointed schedule.

Photo Courtesy of Honest & Truly

9.     Remember practice makes perfect and to trust your education, talent, and skills!

I can’t stress the importance of this enough —you got into your program for a reason. You are naturally blessed as a storyteller; you have a natural aptitude for words. No test can ever take that away from you.  And although trite, the old proverb “Practice makes perfect,” is true. Although you may never truly embrace written tests, they are a fact of life. And, like all things, each one will become easier to write and you will be less stressed as a result — eventually you'll catch the ball!

Photo Courtesy of Damn LOL

10.  Remember to breathe; not getting a position or failing a test is not the end of the world!

Don’t succumb to self-imposed melancholy like I did! Failing a test or not getting a position might seem like the end of the world at the time; however, it’s not. There are always new opportunities that you can succeed at in the future; all you need to think is that this route didn’t work out. It’s time to pursue a new one. And, I hate to say it but, there is nothing worse than listening to friends whine about the end of their future because of failing a test or not getting a position. There will always be another position; there will always be other tests.

            In my life, I have learned to trust and embrace serendipitous moments. Maybe a written assessment is simply another avenue of fate; you either pass or fail. However, how you accept your fate and react is simply up to you. 

 Photo Courtesy of TXM World

Is Freelance Work Right For You? Decisions, Decisions...

So you decide to go to University. Then you decide which University. Then you look at all

the different types of programs, and finally settle on one. 

Communications. After all, you have a penchant for words, a love for writing and copious amounts of creativity. The choice feels like a no-brainer. 

And just think of all the career opportunities. There's corporate communications, media relations or community relations. You could do copywriting, screenwriting or technical writing. The list goes on and on. 

And you thought the difficult choices were over. Silly you.

So it's back to the drawing board to make more decisions. What exactly do you want to do with your communications degree? Don't worry, it's just your future we're talking about here. No pressure. I'll wait here for you.


Done yet? 
No? Take your time.


So after some deep soul-searching and perhaps a little self-doubt and hair loss (don't worry, that's common) you have settled on a more specific career path. Let's use editing as an example.

You love the idea of crafting words into a perfectly polished form. You revel at the thought of a beautifully written manuscript that was possible because of your talent with grammar and mechanics. 

Congrats! You've started your beautiful journey into the world of words. And rewriting of words. And then rewriting those words again. And then again after that. 

So now that you decided that editing is your calling, there's still a few more important decisions that need be made. One last choice before heading into the professional world is much the same in many areas of communications, and that is the choice between freelance or in-house work.

Maybe you start to think that freelance is the direction you want to go. But your still unsure of the logistics of it all. 

Let's break down the pros and cons of freelancing and hopefully give you a better idea and see if it would be the best fit for you. 

Pros

Flexible schedule 
Working as a freelance editor allows you to dictate your own hours and work at your own pace. This could be especially important for people with young children or other time-consuming commitments. 

Can work from home
Working from home has lots of perks. No travel time, no parking expenses and possibly less car maintenance costs. And yes, you could work in your pajamas if you really want to. 

Setting your own rates
While getting established as a freelancer may take some time, it gives you the opportunity to constantly work and improve your skills. And as you improve, you have the privilege of setting your own rates based on your quality of work and what you think your skills are worth.

Choice of Clients 

This one may go unrealized at first, but it's a biggie. Working as a freelancer affords you the opportunity to work with the people you want and on the projects of your choosing. When you first start out you may not be able to afford or want to turn down any job, but as you get more established you may be able to pass on high-maintenance clients or less desirable projects. 

Networking opportunities 
Working as a freelancer means constant connection with various clients across all areas of the business. These type of connections could come in handy if you ever wanted to branch out into other areas of the industry. Perhaps you will meet a future employer or coworker through your freelance work. Marketing yourself through networking can lead to so many other things. So it's important to keep it a priority. 

Cons

No guarantee of work 
This one might go without saying, but with any freelance job, you can never be sure if there will always be work. Again, getting established can be the tough part. So starting out may be difficult, but the hope is that once you get a few opportunities, things will snowball from there. But you have to be prepared for times of little work, and in turn, little income.


Long hours
While one pro that was mentioned was the fact that a freelancer can dictate their own hours, this isn't to say that they won't be long hours. A freelance editor must be prepared to meet numerous deadlines, and this might mean burning the midnight oil on certain projects if necessary. 

Lack of Benefits
One huge plus of working for an employer is the possibility of benefits. So this means that as a freelancer, one may miss out on these benefits. Things like healthcare or dental care can cost thousands of dollars a year, and a freelance worker must be prepared to foot the bill for any of these costs or alternate coverage plans. 


Getting clients / Getting Established
The idea of getting established has popped up a few times already, and that's because it's so necessary to the success of any freelance worker. You must be constantly promoting yourself to gain and maintain a solid client base. In addition to your actual editing workload, marketing yourself and your talents is a job all on its own. So you must be prepared for the double duty of self-branding and promotion.

So as you can see, deciding to work in communications is really just the beginning of your tale. But if you get to the point where you are truly considering taking a stab at the freelance world, as an editor or otherwise, it's important to consider both sides of the coin. It is the hope that this list will flesh out some of the finer details and help make the decision process a little easier. After all, we could all use a little help in making those big life choices. 

The Importance of Business Cards

The business card is a way of saying hello, remember me, and so much more. Today, it seems like everyone from your kid sister's babysitting business to the ubiquitous "mommy blogger" has his or her own business card. But business cards have a long and varied history that extends long before the term "blog" even existed. Once part of a formal royal visitation in 15th Century China according to this infographic from MOO Inc., a printing company, business cards now have many, many different uses and purposes.

Infographic Courtesy of Moo

But are business cards something you really need as you enter the workforce? It's common knowledge that a well-written resumé and cover letter are essential if you want to get a job. A diverse portfolio certainly doesn't hurt, either. But where do business cards fit in all of this? There has to be a reason they've been in use for hundreds of years, but what purpose do they serve now? And should students, especially, be forking over money for these ephemeral objects that are then going to be given away for free?

What it really comes down to is memorability and branding. A business card acts as a personal ambassador. It makes you look good; it provides your information in a quick, easy-to-access way; and it represents you when you're not there. A business card makes it easy for you, instead of the 50+ other applicants, to be remembered. While it is true a resumé, cover letter, and portfolio do the same thing, none of those objects fit into a pocket or a wallet.

Carrying around copies of your resumé is simply impractical. You really never know when an opportunity will present itself, and business cards allow you to always be prepared. Imagine sitting next to someone on a plane who casually mentions that his or her company has a job opening that is basically your dream job. If you have a business card you can hand to him or her, before it's even read that business card is already doing its job of making you look good. Writing your contact information down on a scrap piece of paper or pulling a crumpled resumé out of a bag just doesn't have the same professional impact.

Image Courtesy of MOO Inc. 

Business cards do more than represent you, though; they also create relationships. It is rare for the offer of a business card not to be reciprocated. All of a sudden, a job interview becomes a networking opportunity. Even if you don't get the job, you know that whoever interviewed you, personally, has your information and he or she felt you were important enough to get his or hers in return. That person you sat next to on a plane? He or she is probably going to offer you a business card in exchange for your own. That dream job is even more of a reality.

The relationships that business cards can help foster are not all professional. Even if the person sitting next to you on a plane doesn't have a job opening at his or her company, you may still want to stay in contact. In Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic Little House on the Prairie book series, business cards are simply "name cards" and are given to friends and potential suitors. Just because the name of the card has changed doesn't mean it can't be used in the same way.

Image Courtesy of The Design Inspiration

Business cards, as their history has proven, are extremely versatile. They don't have to be a standard size or shape. They can be fun, functional, and even truly artistic.  And despite the increasing digitization of so much print material, business cards seem to have found an existence that straddles digital and physical.

Image Courtesy of Juke Box Print

Business cards can now have QR (Quick Response) codes that, when scanned by a smart phone camera, will open a specified website. Most business cards list an email or an email and a website, and some print companies are even looking into NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled business cards that contain a small microchip. When tapped to a smartphone, these cards tell the phone to download information, open a webpage, save a photo, or any number of simple tasks.

QR Code

All these new technologies have essentially ensured the business card's survival as the world becomes more and more digital. Unfortunately, there's no getting around that business cards do cost money, but that doesn't mean there aren't options for those who can't afford to spend a hundred dollars on something they're going to give away. Moo offers a 20% student discount, and VistaPrint will print a run of 25 cards for under 5 dollars. And never overlook the option of printing them yourself. Many stationary supply stores like Staples sell pre-perforated business card printer packs that allow you to print business cards with any standard home printer.