Skills that you have vs. skills that you need.
One of the reasons why I started a Medium account were due to my skills in copywriting. I didn’t always consider copywriting a career attribute. In fact, I didn’t even know copywriting was a formal component until a more recent time than you would imagine; I’m embarrassed to admit.
I used to love to read. Not that I fell out of love, but I feel like a lot of people would concur with the notion that you simply stop making time for it. Years ago, I would even carry a book around with me everywhere I went and believed that even the basic aesthetic of doing so heightened my validity as an intellectual. I chose a bookcase over a television in my bedroom that is overflowing with titles and have, sadly, gathered a lot of dust over the years.
Reading then turned into writing. Being one of the few students in high school who voluntarily opted for Literature co-currently with English branded me an “English freak.” But I prided myself in grammatical accuracy and the ability to spell words I didn’t even know the definition or meaning of. Eventually, analytical essays and oral presentations allowed freedom of expression, as well as opened opportunities to advocate my opinion, in written and verbal format. I mean, I did that in art and design but I was exceptionally good at penning my thoughts, as well as speaking.
I was the type of person where memes depict someone sleeping in bed and laying awake at night thinking about anything and everything. Journaling and documenting these ideas helped extract the insomnia. When life experience gave me something worth writing about, I started a blog — personal pieces that I still don’t broadcast to this day, four years on.
My tone of voice in my style of writing changed when I decided to direct it to a larger audience. Another blog, but this time, marketed to appeal to the masses. I have a strength to produce, arguably, quality content in short time frames. My first draft is usually my final draft. Yes, all these Medium entries included.
How is this relevant to the direction I want to follow in my career ? It isn’t. Well, not really. I can write a solid email, letter, or anything in the professional or arbitrary sense, given the topic. I often get told that I should have been a lawyer. I just like research, facts, and information.
(I have never seen a lower grade than a distinction in university up until recently, to my devastation (actually). But in my defense, (or on the contrary) I didn’t submit the end of semester essay. Three marks away from an actual distinction is still pretty fair effort in all consideration.)
Back to my point, it is imperative to establish as many skills and attributes that allow you to be employable to an array of industries. But what if you’ve committed to one, as I have, and feel as though your other acquired capabilities are redundant? Well, knowing that I will struggle to find a job in architecture prior to completing my qualifications means there is flexibility to seek avenues in copywriting. Perhaps social media, which isn’t too bad an idea. Yet, that’s the completely optimistic outlook. Don’t forget that these opportunities also require some sort of relevant experience. I’m just hoping that my rambling-ons in Medium pays off.
