Writers of Silicon Valley

From english major to content design lead: advice for grads


Listen Later

Listen on:

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review!

Ah, English degrees. So often the target of snide comments and "there but for..." looks. I don't think there's another academic pursuit that's used as a metaphor for uselessness quite as much. Maybe basket weaving.

And yet, as content designers know, English majors can become one of technology's secret weapons.

Speaking of secret weapons...

Today's guest might be one of the most impressive people in content design.

Sammie Spector is the content design lead at Condé Nast, where she looks after brands including Vogue, The New Yorker, Condé Nast Traveler, GQ, Glamour, Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, Pitchfork, Wired, and Bon Appétit. And she's one of the most impressive people I know. She has an incredible work ethic. Not only does she hold down a demanding job, she grades students and teaches workshops for UX Content Collective, and oh...she was an English major too.

Which is exactly what we talk about today. How English majors can stop feeling helpless, and start thinking about their careers. But we don't stop there. We cover:

  • Why content design has a pipeline problem, and how to fix it
  • What it's like working at a publishing company versus a traditional "tech" company
  • Why English majors should start thinking early about how to adapt their skills to tech
  • What content design can learn from software engineering to fix our graduate shortage

Sammie's wisdom should be heard by everyone in the industry. Send this to your friendly neighbourhood English grad, and give them a smile: it's gonna be okay.

Connect with Sammie:

  • Sammie Spector on LinkedIn

Listeners get 20% off podcasts and workshops at UX Content Collective! Just use PODCAST20 at checkout

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Writers of Silicon ValleyBy Patrick Stafford

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

37 ratings


More shows like Writers of Silicon Valley

View all
99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,264 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

113,078 Listeners

Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

24,545 Listeners

Content Rookie by Nicole Michaelis

Content Rookie

14 Listeners

Money For Couples with Ramit Sethi by Ramit Sethi

Money For Couples with Ramit Sethi

3,468 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

20,663 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

936 Listeners