Name: Melissa Walker
Age: 34
Job Title: Author and freelance writer
College/Major: Vassar College, English Major
Website: melissacwalker.com, iheartdaily.com, beforeyouwerehot.com
 Twitter Handle: twitter.com/melissacwalker
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Her Campus: What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?
Melissa Walker: No such thing! I’m usually working on a book, so I try to do my fiction writing in the morning, then magazine writing happens after lunch. I use two different parts of my brain so I have to compartmentalize the day.
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Her Campus: What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
MW: My first magazine job was at ROSIE, Rosie O’Donnell’s magazine. I had interned at McCall’s, which turned into ROSIE, and I’d stayed in touch with the assistants I’d worked with that summer. When a job opened up, they let me know about it!
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HC: What is one thing you wish you knew about your industry when you first started out that you know now?
MW: I wish I’d known that most people don’t stay in the magazine industry for an entire career—it’s hard to find an over-50 editor! Most people move on to other worlds, so explore what you love about publishing and figure out where you fit and what your path will be. It may not be the work-up-to-EIC route.
HC: Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
MW: There are definitely a few mentor types who influenced me along the way, but if I can only name one I’ll say that my first boss, Jane Farrell, was always so kind and encouraging that it helped me learn how to submit the right ideas and work with top editors. She was honest, but never dismissive, when commenting on my work and my pitches for the magazine. I felt comfortable asking questions. And looking over her edits of other writers helped me learn how to edit myself. She remains a huge influence on me.
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HC: What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?
MW: I got an edit from my ELLEgirl editor once on a story I had written that I felt wasn’t quite right—it didn’t have a good arc. She simply said, “Someone has to change” and handed it back to me. That made all the difference. I immediately knew how to rework it.
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HC: What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
MW: In the beginning, I was afraid to negotiate for a higher salary, but I wish I had. Those small bumps of $5K are NOTHING for a big company, but you’re stuck with that baseline salary unless you jump from job to job, so start as high as you can. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you think you’re worth.
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HC: What is the best part of your job?
MW: I love setting my own schedule as a freelancer. If inspiration strikes at midnight, I can work on a story. And if I want to knock off at 4pm to hit a summer happy hour, no one tells me not to. I love it.
HC: What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
MW: I’m not in a hiring role anymore, but when I was I always looked for a good in-person vibe. I remember interviewing for a job once where the editor wanted references from the people who’d worked UNDER me at my last job, and I loved that! Who better to vouch for your skills than the people you had working for you?
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HC: What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
MW: Work hard. Be nice. Don’t burn bridges. And freelance a bit if you can—even if it means giving up some nights and weekends—it can open up a whole new career path if a staff job doesn’t fit your lifestyle.