Bringing Linguistics to Work(shop) has been designed to help linguistics students become more aware of (and better able to show) the transferability and applicability of our skills and training in a range of professional contexts. Focusing on story as a central tool, and sharing stories of career linguists who have found innovative ways to put linguistics to work, this workshop is designed to engender a sense of ownership, agency, and creativity to thinking about career.
Check out some of the publicity surrounding a recent workshop at South Dakota State University.
Possible Themes / Activities include:
- Why the world (of work) needs linguists
- Navigating / orienteering using the journey (path) metaphor
- A story approach to career (story listening, story finding, and story telling)
- Pocket examples (handy stories that “show” you at work)
- “Linguistics, what are you going to do with that?”
- Identifying skills, interests, and dream jobs
- Using LinkedIn as a career research tool “linguistics +X”
- Putting the SOQs (support, outcomes, quantification) on your resume
- Getting the “I want’s” out of your cover letter
- Exploring the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW of work
- Honoring the ask – the importance of questions in networking
- Networking simulation: share an “I have,” and an “I need” with the room
- Career path stories (dozens to chose among, from a range of professional contexts)
- BRIGHTEN –sectors where linguists work (business, research, innovation, government, healthcare communications, technology, education, and non-profits)
The workshop is typically given as a 90 minute interactive presentation (read here for a more detailed description of A story approach to career blurb), but can be offered in a variety of formats, ranging in length from 45min to full-day; mixing lecture, activities, and workshopping; in-person or virtually (I really enjoy using the virtual medium, actually, I think it lends itself to close focus on language, which given that we are linguists, works out quite nicely!)
The cost for an in-person workshop is $1000 (exclusive of travel) and $300 for a virtual presentation. Understanding that not every budget can accommodate this, I am open to exploring options, including sponsorship and collaborations (i.e. identifying partnering schools, or coordinating around other travel). Let’s discuss!
