January 09, 2025 By Xuege Wu
YouAlberta is written by students for students.
Xuege Wu is a second-year MA student researching early modern English drama. She currently works as a student staff at the Digital Scholarship Centre, where she’s exploring how to combine the communication and writing strengths of her English degree with her interest in digital technologies to build her skills and consider future career paths. In her free time, Xuege enjoys creating fan art of video games and surfing Wikipedia.
As a master’s student in English, I find that my program offers an extraordinary breadth of career possibilities, from freelance writing to publicity roles. Yet, this freedom can feel overwhelming, leaving me with the daunting task of identifying the one path that truly suits me.
Fortunately, the University of Alberta Career Centre offers various programs that help students explore potential careers before graduating. Last Reading Week, I participated in the Centre’s Job Shadow Program, accompanying a communications associate on the U of A Student Communications team. This was my first opportunity to observe a professional in action in a real workplace, and it showed me that career exploration doesn’t have to be a solo journey.
My mentor, Michelle Peters-Jones works on internal communications for students, contributing to initiatives like the Community Food Pantry and the Family Corner in Rutherford Library. When I asked Michelle about the key to effective communication strategies, she emphasized the importance of balancing diverse perspectives.
I told Michelle that it sounded really challenging because I hadn’t had much exposure to the theories or practices of strategic communication. She encouraged me to think about whether I’d had any similar experiences in my coursework or student life. That made me realize that many research methods from my English studies, like in-depth interviews and readership studies, could actually be used for situation analysis and evaluating the effectiveness of strategies. Also, when I planned a community-building event for my dorm friends, I was already thinking about whether the event’s content was something participants truly wanted and found meaningful. Michelle said those were great insights and told me, “You don’t have to wait until you’re in the workplace to start learning. A lot of these skills are already part of who you are.”
Michelle was very understanding of the uncertainty and unease I felt as someone from a non-communications background exploring this field. She explained that what matters most to employers is whether the candidates have the ability to analyze the needs of target audiences and deliver messages effectively. She also suggested that if I want to develop more communication tools, I could look into taking relevant courses through U of A’s Continuing Education programs. In the long run, earning these certificates could help advance my career.
The final activity of the day was going through a few entry-level communications job postings from campusBRIDGE with Michelle. She walked me through each job description from an employer’s perspective, explaining what they’re looking for in candidates. She also encouraged me to start thinking about how I could use my work at the Digital Scholarship Centre to build a strong portfolio. By the end of the day, I had practical tips for standing out in the job market but a much clearer understanding of what communications roles involve.
If you feel a bit lost figuring out the leap from student life to the working world like me, the Job Shadow Program can be a game-changer. It connects you with hosts like Michelle, who share their expertise, answer your questions without judgment and give you the confidence to take your next steps. If you’re on the fence about applying for the next round in January 2025, just do it—you never know what amazing people or opportunities might be waiting for you!
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