Why Writing for Consumer Tech Clients Ended Up Being My Dream Job
By: Jordan
A zillennial, I was raised on rom-coms and feel-good flicks where communications seemed to be every protagonist's profession of choice. Bridget Jones’s Diary (publicity assistant), The Holiday (society columnist), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (magazine columnist), Never Been Kissed (metro reporter) and 13 Going on 30 (magazine editor) — the list of main characters with creative careers goes on.
It’s no wonder I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was young. Yet despite its glitz-and-glam portrayal, this dream job always seemed to be just that: a fantasy. Getting paid to write stories, be creative, and live in a city I love? It felt like a long shot.
That is until I found a career in content writing. As a content manager at Cutline, I have the opportunity to write for incredible, inspiring brands and speak with leaders who are shaping the world around us. I’m living in Los Angeles and get to visit Cutline’s offices in San Francisco and New York, bringing my bicoastal dreams to life. A career that makes a fun, fulfilling lifestyle possible? I like to think even Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson’s character in How to Lose a Guy) would feel lucky.
It turns out you don’t have to star in a movie to have a career as a professional writer. In fact, there are several magical things that have surprised me about writing in the consumer tech industry.
1. My creative muscle is stronger than ever
Earlier in my career, I wondered how my creative writing degree would translate in a business setting. I never guessed that writing for consumer tech brands would be where I grew my creative practice most. As a professional writer, I get to learn about my clients, interview people about their lives and careers, and help tell their stories. Creativity is part of my daily job, which means I can’t wait around for an idea to strike. I’ve learned where to look for inspiration, what to eat when I need a brain boost, and when I need a 10-minute break.
“My best trick is believing in the work and being mindful of the world around me — ideas love landing in an open heart. ”
My creative muscle has strengthened over time, making those “aha” moments more reliable and accessible — especially when I’m surrounded by a highly collaborative team. Creativity is contagious at Cutline, by design. Whether coming together for an agency-wide brainstorm or sharing articles in our specific Slack channels, we consistently cross-pollinate to share ideas.
2. I’m expanding my skill set in unexpected ways
Being a professional storyteller at an agency has helped me expand my toolbox. In addition to becoming a better writer, I’m building skills that will help me throughout my career. From collaborating with my clients on content strategy to learning about media relations from my teammates, here are a few “tools” I’m especially excited about:
Content types: As a content manager, I work on a wide variety of content formats — including blogs, social media, talk tracks, and internal communications — for different audiences. Whether working on a blog post about virtual reality or a whitepaper on leadership, no two days are the same for my to-do list.
Diverse subject matters: Because I get to interview fascinating leaders and innovators, I’m always researching new topics and technologies. From the future of gaming to disability inclusion, I’m gaining new knowledge constantly.
New skills galore: It’s important for storytellers to build our business acumen, client service, project management, and leadership skills. While we often learn by doing, Cutliners also participate in agency workshops, mentorship programs, and learning opportunities outside the agency.
3. Flexibility empowers me to do my best work
Here’s the plot twist that’s changed my life: a 40-hour workweek can be super flexible! At Cutline, we know people work best at different times throughout the day — and people have lives outside of work. Being able to run an errand, take a walking meeting, or schedule an appointment in the morning has redefined how I see having a desk job (where you aren’t tied to your desk!).
I’m a morning person, which means my creativity sizzles and sparks between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. During that time, I love to dig into my long-form writing projects, make my Google Doc full-screen, and set my Slack status to “Writing ✏️” so my teammates know I’m focused and will respond to their messages shortly. If I start my day a bit early for an international client call or because inspiration strikes, I know I can sign off a bit early and still be reachable to my teammates. Who knew I would learn about balance and boundary-setting from my job?
Suffice it to say, I’ve had a few “pinch me” moments since joining Cutline. While I’m not quite 30 yet, I imagine my 13-year-old self would be thrilled to see where I’ve landed.