geographers:

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career paths - uw geography alumni and friends

Marketing Coordinator - Suzy Hybak

1. Description of current work.

I work for the Puget Sound Business Journal, a weekly business publication and one of 40 in the American City Business Journals chain. As the marketing coordinator I am responsible of writing sales letters, designing promotional flyers, and keeping our subscriber statistics up-to-date.

2. Are you currently in a job where you find your training in geography is useful?

I do a great deal of writing and critical thinking, which I believe I gained while in the Geography Department.

3. How did your undergraduate studies prepare you for the workplace and/or graduate school?

A geography degree gives you a variety of skills that can be useful in many fields. Unless you are studying GIS (which I highly recommend) it is difficult to make the direct correlations between what you study in geography and what employers are looking for. Learn to think outside the box about the kinds of skills that you have to offer.

4. If there is potential for professional growth with your current employer, what kind of a career path is it?

Yes. I worked here in the advertising division as an advertising coordinator for a year and a half before I was promoted to my present position.

5. What advice would you give to college geography majors about what courses to take or which skills to get before they graduate?

I would advise geography students to take a combination of urban/social/political course and course with a more quantitative focus such as statistical analysis and cartography. It is important to be able to think in several ways.

6. What do you wish someone had told you when you were in college?

Unless you have a very specific career goal in mind, I would advise all students to study something that interests you. It is important to enjoy what you are studying because the general sills that you will gain in college can be found in any of the fields.

Suzy is willing to answer other occasional questions as they come up. If you have questions, please ask in the Geography Advising Office (415 Smith) for his contact information.

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Geographers:

getting jobs
planning careers
at work