So last night was the MSU Professional Writing Program Town Hall meeting on finding communication job opportunities in Michigan. All in all it went well – there was a good crowd attending, there were knowledgeable professionals on the panels, and the students asked smart and important questions. Public speaking is not my forte (I prefer to write!) and I left feeling like there was a lot more I wanted to say – more practical tips and advice for finding writing jobs in Michigan.
So here it goes – These are questions that were on the panelist preview [opens as pdf in new window], but not directly asked at the town hall. The answers are expanded versions of my notes that didn’t make it into the discussion:
Q: How are professional writers playing a part in revitalizing the Michigan economy?
Take a look at what the city of Detroit is doing. The Metro Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Tourism Economic Development Council has spent the last couple years working on the relaunch of the ”D-Brand” – or embracing Detroit for what it is and selling it as hip, edgy, and cool in the hopes to attract tourists and in turn investors who can create jobs. It’s people with PW skills who are helping to shape this re-branding effort – and in turn helping to bring in new business and create other jobs for the rising creative class.
Lansing should be taking a close look at what Detroit is doing and trying to replicate the plan. Take a look at Old Town Lansing – this area has seen considerable growth and prosperity in the last few years. There are no less than 8-10 design/media/marketing firms right there within blocks of each other. Research these organizations. Old Town is also home to several non-profits. Visit their web sites and see who is hiring.
Q: What attributes does Michigan have that typically “Creative Cities” have already cultivated and used to create job opportunities?
1. Tourism – Check out Grand Rapids Magazine and the State’s Pure Michigan web site.
2. Higher Education - We have Michigan State, University of Michigan, Central Michigan, Ferris State, among many others. All of these institutions have writers, editors, and graphic and web designers. Also look at Higher Ed related industries – Hayden-McNeil in Plymouth and The Gale Group in Farmington Hills.
3. Arts & Culture – Check out Wharton Center, Midland Center for the Arts, andCharlotte Performing Arts Center.
I’d also add that new graduates need to realize that we aren’t going to be Chicago – but not everyone wants to live in Chicago – so that shouldn’t be our goal. Rethink the way you look at communication jobs. Writers don’t just work in publishing houses. We work in higher ed, at non-profits, at hospitals, at ad agencies and, in software companies.
Q: What are the three most important skills for a professional writer in a tough economy?
1. Solid writing skills (grammar and style): I think this is important anywhere – everyone needs to communicate, but not everyone can do it very well. Having a consistent and appropriate writing style could certainly make you stand out among other candidates.
2. Problem solving skills: You must be able to deal with last minute deadlines and constraints of budget and time and other resources. Budgets are tight here in Michigan – we are continually expected to do more with less, and creativity helps. If you can show in quantifiable ways that your skills can save a company money or make a process more efficient then you are more likely to stand out among the other candidates for a position.
3. Technology skills: Social media is the new big thing – you may want to learn how to use it as a marketing tool. But above all, become an expert in something. We all know writing is more than composing prose – and every organization out there is trying to do more with their website, and if you can go to an interview and say “I have those skills”, you are also more likely to stand out among the other candidates.
Q: How significant is the economy of the city you choose to live compared to other concerns? I’d say not as significant as you might think. I graduated almost three years ago, and I knew I wanted to stay in Michigan. This is my home – my family is here and I was willing to tough it out. And I was confident I would get a job here because I was applying for anything and everything communications related that I could find. Two weeks after graduation I took a job that I was over-qualified for and spent the next 10 months job searching for something better. And it took 10 months, but the break finally came.
There was one point in the whole process where I was ready to give up – and I applied for a job at Notre Dame as a writer for their alumni magazine. They called for an interview the day after I accepted my first job at MSU.
Bottom line: You have to know what you want – at least a general idea of what type of environment – urban big city? mid-sized? rural area? Figure out where you want to be and learn about the local economy. Read the Lansing State Journal, Capital Gains Media, Detroit Metro Mode, or others and learn what companies are growing and hiring. Network as much as possible. Attend Grand River Connection, Tweet Ups, and join organizations like PRSA, the Mid-Michigan Creative Alliance, or the Society for Technical Communication. These organizations typically have internal, local job postings that you wouldn’t have access to unless you are a member – and most have student rates so you can join even before you graduate.
The most important part to remember is that in spite of what is reported on the news, there are jobs in Michigan – writing and technology jobs – you just need to know where and how to look.
What a fantastic follow up to the Town Hall, Lindsey! Thanks for that, and thanks for participating on Tuesday evening!
I agree with you that there is obviously a lot more to say and it is obvious that we need to have more opportunities for folks representing the professional community, state and local government, and the university community to talk. We should also throw in the non-profit and advocacy community – also strong in the Lansing region – for good measure.
We hope that the Town Hall was just a beginning. Perhaps next time we can try a different format – a roundtable with folks rotating in small groups, perhaps – to increase dialogue and promote more networking…