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Is having a portfolio more important than a degree when it comes to breaking into the writing profession?

Should I start getting my portfolio together now even though I am still a ways away from graduating with my writing degree? I have some writing samples. But, I haven't applied for any writing jobs because I am not sure that I would be considered without a degree. #writer #writers

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Sarah’s Answer

To build on Michael's answer, getting your degree is really important to landing your first paid gig as a writer. So stay in school! That said, in my experience, many hiring managers in the publishing world view a college degree mostly as proof that you can learn new things and commit to something long-term. It really doesn't say much about the actual quality of your writing. (So from their perspective, a degree in journalism or English or communications or marketing or poli sci all carry about the same weight.)

The real proof that you're a good writer is your portfolio. Be sure to collect up your best work and make it easy to share with prospective employers. One easy way to do that is by creating an account on a platform that allows you to self-publish such as Medium.com. Every time you've got a piece worth adding to your portfolio, just go to Medium, start a new article/story, paste your content in, and hit publish. That way, you can send employers a link to your Medium profile and boom: all your writing samples will be right there. As a bonus, you might even get feedback from readers who happen to stumble upon your work. I know that probably sounds a bit scary when you're still in school, but it can be incredibly helpful as you work on your craft.

Good luck out there!

Sarah recommends the following next steps:

Create an account on Medium.com and copy in your best writing samples as articles there to establish your portfolio
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Michael’s Answer

I got hired for a top tier internship in Washington D.C. before finishing my Bachelor's Degree. Most of the publications that I have worked for have not mentioned education and my education is just another notch that is listed on my resume.

Given that, your education is very, very important. It's important that you learn to write in a scholarly manner and expose yourself to ideas and perspectives different from your own. School does that in a way nothing else does.
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