Front page article - did-i-choose-the-wrong-profession - Page 3

Margaret Garcia-Couoh · 02-01-2008, 12:17 PM

I had no idea that is post would strike such a chord. I should explain that in a one week period I've been asked to come down on my rates for editing and 'help people out' ---Editing is a trade like any other as is writing when you think about it and I had to teach an extra online course that lasts the entire month so I can pay for the six hour job of the electrician. We ask writers and editors to practically volunteer their time but we'd never have the audacity to ask the same of the electrician. And yes--the one day job is the equivalent in my teaching a 5 week class.

Ronni · 02-02-2008, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margaret Garcia-Couoh

We ask writers and editors to practically volunteer their time but we'd never have the audacity to ask the same of the electrician.

I'm an editor and not only is it impossible for me to find freelance work to help supplement my income (there are 438954895785 other editors out there--I am certainly NOT special and the field is very competitive), but I know that I'll never be paid much simply because a lot of people don't see writing an editing as valuable skills--not in a tangible way, anyway. Or... the field is so competitive that someone can always undercut me.

Lucy · 02-02-2008, 05:11 PM

Like Finally Frugal, I work as an advisor on college campus, and I'm constantly advising students to look carefully at their options. But unlike FF, I work in a community college, so it's easier for me to offer students options that don't cost a bundle, but that will help them earn a good living once they get out. On that note, I highly recommend our career exploration workshops & classes for those students who don't really know what they want to do (or aren't sure if they're going to be happy in their major

). Taking the time to work through the process of choosing a career that's right for you can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Since I have a master's degree and I'm using it, I have to say that my education was well worth it. I'm well-paid for what I do, and although I do see students go out there and make more money than I ever will, I still believe in the value of a college education.

I certainly agree that a 4-year degree isn't necessary for everyone, but there are a lot of options out there in our nations community colleges and even a few courses can make a difference if they teach you how to think & how to learn. And I also agree with Tightwad about NOT taking out loans to pay for graduate school. I worked my way through grad school on a graduate assistantship - that means I worked for my university for very little money, but they paid my tuition & fees AND gave me real-life experience to put on my resume, so that by the time I graduated, I had good experience under my belt and no debt. You can't beat that!

Kathryn · 02-03-2008, 07:17 AM

As another editor, I'll add my "me three" to the observation that the pay for freelancers is atrocious. Your best bet there is to up your efficiency and charge by the page. Right now I am splitting my time between editing and translation, and even though my translation rates are bottom-of-the-barrel according to other translators I talk to, I *still* make 50% more or better on an hourly basis as a translator (and that's with 10 years of FT experience as an editor and 3 months of experience as a paid translator!) If you habla espanol, Ms. Garcia, I would seriously look into it. Your skills as a writer and editor will serve you well.

I posted on the blog comparing my husband (licensed tradesperson) and myself. It's true that he makes better money than me with nothing more than a HS degree and a license he acquired after a few years of on-the-job training. I don't think I could, personally, do his job, though, and it *is* hard, physical work where you have to be willing accept the fact that you're going to get injuries, completely ruin your hands, be required to work shiftwork and/or overtime, and be physically exhausted at the end of most days. Plus, he has to eat more, which costs money :-). He is fortunate in that he is not just skilled, but smart, and he's recently moved up to sort of a bridge position between labor and management. If he wants to, he could easily wind up in a pure management position by the end of his career (possibly with the addition of a management degree that his employer would PAY FOR) that would pay even better and relieve him from having to crawl around on top of buildings or into filthy boilers when he's 65 years old.

As for me--much of what I'm doing now I could have been doing with just my undergrad degree. I've got a PhD that I don't "use" in a direct way, but I (mostly) don't regret getting it. Fortunately, I only took out one tiny loan through all my umpteen billion years of higher ed!

The thing I tell younger people thinking about college and careers is to break free from the trap of thinking about what *classes* they like best, and open their eyes to the world of work around them and think about what *jobs* they think they would like to do. I think this would cut down greatly on the number of English and Philosophy majors who shell out sometimes significant amounts of money to get a job that pays less than the janitor's. Yes, you may love to analyze poetry or read great literature, but not only is the pay pretty poor, but that's not even what you'll wind up getting paid to do once you're out of school.

02-02-2008, 05:11 PM	#23
Lucy Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (15)	If I Knew Now ... Like Finally Frugal, I work as an advisor on college campus, and I'm constantly advising students to look carefully at their options. But unlike FF, I work in a community college, so it's easier for me to offer students options that don't cost a bundle, but that will help them earn a good living once they get out. On that note, I highly recommend our career exploration workshops & classes for those students who don't really know what they want to do (or aren't sure if they're going to be happy in their major ). Taking the time to work through the process of choosing a career that's right for you can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Since I have a master's degree and I'm using it, I have to say that my education was well worth it. I'm well-paid for what I do, and although I do see students go out there and make more money than I ever will, I still believe in the value of a college education. I certainly agree that a 4-year degree isn't necessary for everyone, but there are a lot of options out there in our nations community colleges and even a few courses can make a difference if they teach you how to think & how to learn. And I also agree with Tightwad about NOT taking out loans to pay for graduate school. I worked my way through grad school on a graduate assistantship - that means I worked for my university for very little money, but they paid my tuition & fees AND gave me real-life experience to put on my resume, so that by the time I graduated, I had good experience under my belt and no debt. You can't beat that!

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02-01-2008, 12:17 PM	#21
Margaret Garcia-Couoh Wise Bread Blogger Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (10)	I had no idea that is post would strike such a chord. I should explain that in a one week period I've been asked to come down on my rates for editing and 'help people out' ---Editing is a trade like any other as is writing when you think about it and I had to teach an extra online course that lasts the entire month so I can pay for the six hour job of the electrician. We ask writers and editors to practically volunteer their time but we'd never have the audacity to ask the same of the electrician. And yes--the one day job is the equivalent in my teaching a 5 week class.

02-03-2008, 07:17 AM	#24
Kathryn Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Reputation: (19)	As another editor, I'll add my "me three" to the observation that the pay for freelancers is atrocious. Your best bet there is to up your efficiency and charge by the page. Right now I am splitting my time between editing and translation, and even though my translation rates are bottom-of-the-barrel according to other translators I talk to, I still make 50% more or better on an hourly basis as a translator (and that's with 10 years of FT experience as an editor and 3 months of experience as a paid translator!) If you habla espanol, Ms. Garcia, I would seriously look into it. Your skills as a writer and editor will serve you well. I posted on the blog comparing my husband (licensed tradesperson) and myself. It's true that he makes better money than me with nothing more than a HS degree and a license he acquired after a few years of on-the-job training. I don't think I could, personally, do his job, though, and it is hard, physical work where you have to be willing accept the fact that you're going to get injuries, completely ruin your hands, be required to work shiftwork and/or overtime, and be physically exhausted at the end of most days. Plus, he has to eat more, which costs money :-). He is fortunate in that he is not just skilled, but smart, and he's recently moved up to sort of a bridge position between labor and management. If he wants to, he could easily wind up in a pure management position by the end of his career (possibly with the addition of a management degree that his employer would PAY FOR) that would pay even better and relieve him from having to crawl around on top of buildings or into filthy boilers when he's 65 years old. As for me--much of what I'm doing now I could have been doing with just my undergrad degree. I've got a PhD that I don't "use" in a direct way, but I (mostly) don't regret getting it. Fortunately, I only took out one tiny loan through all my umpteen billion years of higher ed! The thing I tell younger people thinking about college and careers is to break free from the trap of thinking about what classes they like best, and open their eyes to the world of work around them and think about what jobs they think they would like to do. I think this would cut down greatly on the number of English and Philosophy majors who shell out sometimes significant amounts of money to get a job that pays less than the janitor's. Yes, you may love to analyze poetry or read great literature, but not only is the pay pretty poor, but that's not even what you'll wind up getting paid to do once you're out of school.