Teen Starts Planning College and Career Early

I first need to give you a hearty congratulations, Rachel, for thinking about your career at such an early age. I think high school is a great time to begin thinking about the things you really enjoy doing — and then researching careers that match those interests.

Magazine editors, as you probably already know, need to have a strong grasp on the English language, have good people skills, and good organizational skills. Most editors were first writers who then progressed up the ladder to assistant editors, associate editors, and then editors.

So, your first step is really to learn more about the career. What really attracts you to the idea of being a magazine editor? There certainly is some glamour attached to the job, but you need to do the research to see all the hard work that goes along with the job. It’s never too early to contact a few editors and ask if they would allow you to conduct an informational interview with them. An informational interview is where you meet and discuss jobs and careers — where you can learn much more about a career field, and where you can begin to build your network.

The two most important things you can do now is find a good college where you can take more writing classes and start getting writing experiences. A college with a journalism program is helpful, partly because the professors may have more contacts in the field, but really any college that has a strong writing program would work. And experience is critical. Start writing for your high school publications and consider freelancing for your town’s newspaper. Once in college, strive for editorial internships and more experience.

Find lots more resources in the Career Exploration Resources section of Quintessential Careers.

And find lots of college resources in the College Planning Resources section of Quintessential Careers.