How I Became a Full-Time Writer
After graduating college in the wake of The Great Recession, I fell backwards into Retail. It was a far cry from the creative media path I’d spent four years training for, but you really can’t wait around for the ideal role when your student loans and medical bills are piling up every month.
I’d put 10 years into the field, painstakingly working my way up when I was furloughed for the second time at the same company due to the pandemic. Because I had been doing a lot of healing, learning, and side-hustling behind the scenes, I was totally at peace when the news came last May that I was officially losing my job.
I saw it as divine permission to give my passion a real shot — so I started applying for writing gigs. To my utter shock, I got one.
I landed a dream job that checked all the boxes I thought were just wishful thinking. Because I understand how difficult it is to transition out of one field and into another, I have curated the 5 steps that I took to go from a career in retail to a full-time writer... in hopes that it doesn’t take you a decade to do it too.
The Dream and Decide Phase
First of all, you have to have a vision for what your ideal lifestyle and career looks like. It’s really hard to get out of the woods with a broken compass. This is where I encourage vision boards and exploring and dabbling in different hobbies to find what truly aligns with your personality and skillsets.
This part of the process may take time. For me, it was years in the making. For others, figuring this “big-picture” shift may be a snap. The goal here is to create an idea of what industry or job you would be happy in.
I chose writing because there was no barrier to entry. I just needed an idea and a pen… (or actually in my case, an idea and an ancient first-gen MacBook I nicknamed Bruce).
2. The Dabble and Learn Phase
Whatever the ultimate direction is, this is where you get to start dabbling. If your goal is to be an editorial writer, then you can start writing blogs and posting them on a free site. Or if you want to be in a creative marketing role, you can start being more strategic with your personal TikToks or Instagram.
In this step, the goal is to get a little experience while being open to the learning process. You’re not going to be great at it yet, and that’s expected. There was a point when Julia Child sucked at cooking. You have to start somewhere.
3. Take on Clients
Getting your first few clients sometimes means doing work for free or at a discounted rate. When I took on my first few clients, I certainly did it for a fraction of what established professionals would charge, and I think that’s fair… because I wasn’t an established professional yet. In this step, you’re in charge of what makes sense for you, your goals, and your budget.
A Pro Tip: Be very explicit in the scope of work you’re providing so there aren’t any hurt feelings when you deliver the final product. A simple written agreement is recommended.
You can find your first few projects through friends, family, or inside online groups. Sometimes payments can be actually money or trades, but be sure to ask for feedback or testimonials. These come in handy later.
4. Create a Portfolio
For the first few years, I didn’t feel like a confident writer yet. So creating a portfolio never even crossed my mind. Now I can see that it was my self-perception, not my ability that kept me stuck in a career I wasn’t in love with for years too long.
When you’ve produced any work at all, it’s time for a portfolio or resume update. I think both are needed, but you’d be surprised how many creatives don’t have this ready to go.
I’m a huge fan of Canva dot com because it is a free platform with hundreds of templates to give you a professional edge. I chose a few of my favorite pieces to showcase, selected a presentations template, and created my first portfolio.
I kept the color palette neutral and the content short (just excerpts and samples) but comprehensive. I even hyperlinked my samples to the live URLs in case a recruiter wanted to read the whole piece.
As you go along, you can update your portfolio to reflect your best up-to-date work, stronger social proof, and more professional portraits (if you like). But having a samples kit is a professional touch that will set you apart from the competition when you’re ready to job hunt.
Want a look at the actual resume and portfolio Rowan used to snag her first full-time writing gig? Tap the button to see.
5. You’re Ready to Apply
With some experience under your belt, a fresh resume and portfolio ready to go, now you’re ready to job hunt.
If you’re in a similar position like I was in, you can’t just quit in order to look for that perfect opportunity. The safest way to transition is to keep your primary job while job hunting in your off-hours.
You may find some part-time work that helps supplement your income and build a stronger portfolio— I did this for a few years. This usually means that you’re a super strong candidate and can seek higher-paying jobs later on. On the other hand, you may find a full-time gig right out of the gate with that shiny new portfolio.
Either way, I believe in a job well done and recommend you don’t mentally check out while looking. It’s just bad form and can damage your reputation.
I really love the idea of searching while you’ve got a safety net of another job because you can be more discerning and choosey about where you decide to go, meaning that transition will be in better alignment with your values and overall goals.
Conclusion
Transitioning into a new field is tricky to navigate, but with some determination and creativity, you can make it a reality. The most important takeaway is to not sell yourself short. Industries are starting to recognize the benefits of employees with diverse backgrounds as they bring innovation and new perspectives into the field.
Learning as much as you can about the industry you want to work in while adding the most value to your current workplace is the best way to position yourself for the career move you desire.