Many job coaches advise you to talk only about the last 15 to 20 years of your work experience. But I think a foundation is good to have and I’ve always liked breaking rules that should be broken. And my situation is a little different, so here’s the full story. I started out working full time as part of in-house corporate publications groups, followed by a variety of contract and short-term editorial work and the beginning of a sideline career as a freelancer. Then I took my communications skills to academic libraries. And now, because I love both fields (but don’t love commuting), I work part-time in the library publishing area and also make myself available for freelance editorial work.
Below is most of the full-time permanent and contract work as well as some shorter contracts and freelance work.
Library Publishing Coalition, 2019–present
Program Assistant (part-time, remote)
Provide program and administrative support, such as event planning, communications (blog postings, emails), membership support, website updates (WordPress), research, and editing/proofreading, including the 2021 and the 2020 Library Publishing directories (proofread), the Library Publishing Competencies (copyedit), the Library Publishing Research Agenda (copyedit).
Boston College Libraries, Chestnut Hill, MA, 2015–2019
Digital Publishing Specialist (full time)
Managed day-to-day operations for open access journal publishing platform, including writing documentation and providing training as well as technical and troubleshooting support; researched, curated, and produced research guide for journal editors. As ETD administrator, annually processed 175–200 dissertations and theses for submission to ProQuest database, provided support to students and school administrators, led workshops, project managed creation of online tutorials. Created and reviewed metadata for materials submitted to the institutional repository; collaborated on digital scholarship projects, including the Séamus Connolly Collection of Irish Music and TEI coding of the Thomas D. Craven diary.
WGBH Educational Foundation, Boston, MA 2013–2014
Copyeditor (freelance)
Copyedited most of the content for Resources for Early Living, including early learning curriculum, tips for educators, tips for parents, activities, parenting video guides, facilitator guides, overviews, activity ideas, the program About page, and Design Squad instructions.
Sundance Publishing, Northboro, MA, 2005, 2006
K–12 educational materials
Copyeditor/Proofreader (freelance)
Copyedited collateral materials for K–12 reading program.
Boston College Social Work Library, Chestnut Hill, MA, 2003–2015
Evening Supervisor/Reserves Coordinator (full time)
Coordinated course reserve materials for approximately 80 courses each academic year (includes creating course reserve lists, ensuring compliance with copyright guidelines, cataloging electronic resources, purchasing necessary items), ensuring timely availability to students; responsible for library operation evenings and Sundays; hired, supervised, and trained student workers; managed library technology, including laptops and video cameras; provided reference services and instruction; assisted faculty with learning management system (WebCT/Blackboard Vista/Canvas); participated in pilot upgrades to the university’s learning management systems; part of the team that tested new library resource management software (Ex Libris Alma); created library basics learning module for use in core course sites in LMS, which included video tutorials, transcripts, summary points document, and links to additional materials.
Special Libraries Association, Museum, Arts, and Humanities Division, 2003–2006
Newsletter Editor (volunteer)
Boston College O’Neill Library, Chestnut Hill, MA, 2001–2003
Library Assistant III (full time)
Managed stacks work at night; assisted patrons at the circulation desk; responsible for closing library.
Chrysalis Publishing, Natick, MA, 2001, 2002
K–12 educational materials
Copyeditor/Proofreader (freelance)
Copyedited/proofread textbooks and collateral materials for reading and mathematics programs.
Nortel Networks, Billerica, MA, 2000
telecommunications/data networking
Writer (freelance)
Researched and wrote Science of Selling (SOS) guides for network services.
Compaq Computer Corporation, Stow, MA, 1998–2000
computer hardware/software/services
Writer/Editor (contract)
Researched, wrote, and edited marketing and sales materials, including brochures and product information; assisted with updates and maintenance of internal websites.
Digital Equipment Ireland Ltd., Galway, Ireland, 1997–99
computer hardware/software/services
Tech Writer (contract)
Researched, wrote, and edited system and server descriptions for online product information database.
Freelance Editorial Association, Cambridge, MA, 1997–99
Project Manager (freelance)
Managed all aspects of production for the Freelance Editorial Association Yellow Pages; redesigned and managed association website (before you look, remember this was way before friendly website creators and even before CSS; I hard coded this).
Instron Corporation, Canton, MA, 1997
materials testing systems
Tech Writer (contract)
Researched, edited, and wrote business procedures for sales/marketing and manufacturing departments.
Digital Equipment Corporation, Marlboro, MA, 1994–97
computer hardware/software/services
Tech Writer (full-time contract)
Researched, edited, and rewrote product descriptions for online pricing database and sales tool; developed and distributed guidelines for writing descriptions; created and maintained database to track descriptions and provide statistics; wrote and maintained documentation for departmental business control objectives and testing procedures.
Silver Burdett Ginn/Prentice Hall, Needham, MA, 1992, 1993, 1994
educational publisher
Copyeditor/Proofreader (contract, freelance)
Copyedited and proofread textbooks and collateral materials, including hard copy and interactive study aids, for reading, American government, and mathematics programs.
Digital Equipment Corporation, Westminster, MA, 1992–93
computer hardware/software/services
Editor (full-time contract)
Edited and produced Software Product Descriptions (SPDs) for DIGITAL and third-party products.
Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, MA, 1987–91
computer hardware/software/services
Editor (full-time contract)
Edited, proofread and coordinated production of a variety of business and marketing materials, including newsletters, brochures, presentations, and manuals; collaborated with colleagues to develop, write, and present training session on editorial process; researched and wrote department marketing brochure.
McCormack & Dodge, Natick, MA, 1986–87
financial software
Production Editor (full-time contract)
Edited, proofread, and coordinated production of training materials, user manuals, and other documentation.
Charrette Corporation, Woburn, MA, 1984–86
art and architectural supplies and equipment
Copywriter/Editor (full time)
Researched, wrote, and edited product catalogs, direct mail catalogs, brochures, other advertising and promotional materials.
Parker Brothers, Beverly, MA, 1983–84
board and video games, toys
Senior Copywriter (full time, freelance)
Wrote and edited rules, package copy, collateral and substantive copy for games; wrote and edited copy for catalogs, other advertising and promotional materials, and sales materials.
Honeywell, Inc., Golden Valley, MN, 1977–82
HVAC controls and systems
Catalog Editor/Tech Writer (full time)
Researched, wrote, edited, coordinated production of catalogs and collateral materials for TRADELINE marketing program as well as spec sheets, installation instructions, and user manuals; edited in-house newsletter.