Sue Bryant-Still landed a Proofreading role in Needham

Susan <bryantstill@yahoo.com> wrote:


Hello All,
 I'm a copy editor and proofreader. I was laid off a year ago September, had
 foot surgery right after that, and started my job search in January. It's
 been a long journey!

 Starting November 16th, I'll be one of three proofreaders for the Journal
 of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) in Needham, working four days a week to
 start and then maybe full-time after the first of the year. It's a
 well-regarded, peer-reviewed journal that's been in business since 1889. I
 found the posting on JournalismJobs.com in early September, took a
 proofreading test September 29th, and had my first interview on October 6th.

My second interview was last Thursday, the 22nd, and Friday at about noon I
 got the offer! It's a small company and feels like a good fit. I'll be
 working hard (and I have lots of medical terms to learn), but the job won't
 be my entire life.

 I found and applied for jobs on Craigslist and Indeed, as well as the job
 on JournalismJobs.com that I landed. Two interviews gave me practice but
 didn't result in offers; one of the companies offered me freelance work, but
 by then I was waiting to hear from JBJS snd I decided I wanted to go for the
 position that offered steadier work and benefits.

 What's been useful for all these months?
 1. LinkedIn (mainly for discussions of the various groups I've joined,
 though a British publisher also contacted me through my LinkedIn account).

 2. In the early months, I took a number of courses at the Career Centers in
 Marlborough and Norwood; among the most helpful were the ones on creating an electronic resume and interviewing, as well as the computer courses on Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

3. Most helpful throughout these months, though, has been meeting with you
 wonderful Acton Networkers and Westford Job Seekers. The constant drilling on the elevator pitch, resumes, personal branding, and hearing interviewing tips has been very useful. At least as helpful as the talks has been seeing you all and talking with you and comparing notes! These are very tough times, and you amazing people are volunteering your time and doing lots for the groups, week after week! Thank you, particularly, to Randall Warniers, Steve McGovern, Barbara Yates, Elinor Kerr, Chris Janus, Libby Dilling, and Francoise Hembert for your programs and for facilitating, and to all you great people I've checked in with every week (you know who you are!).

 Thanks again to you all!
 --Sue Bryant-Still
 Proofreader and Copy Editor