She’s covered three presidential elections, worked for the Canadian Prime Minister, and traveled around the world. Today meet another one of our newest copywriters, Chelsea Connor, as fellow member, Noelle Abarelli, interviews her.
Noelle: In addition to being a new contributor to the Second Shift blog, you’re also a member at large of The Second Shift. Tell me about the journey that led you to the site.
Chelsea: I’ve always been a working woman trying to have it all! I started working for NBC News at age 18 while attending college at NYU full time. From there, I took a role as a political consultant in New York City, which eventually led to a position working for the Canadian government. When that position wound down, I jumped at the chance to return to NBC to cover the 2016 U.S. election.
Needless to say, that was an exciting election to cover. When it was over, I returned to my job with the Canadian government, and many of my friends commented that, “I must be glad to be out of the U.S,” but I wasn’t. I felt a real need to return home and be a part of a movement that gives voices to people who weren’t heard in the last election process. I wound up returning to New York and taking a position with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU, UFCW). Today I’m focused on building the 21st century labor movement, which means helping U.S. workers fight for a union voice, fair wages and safe working conditions.
I joined The Second Shift a few months ago as a way to supplement my income. My partner is a retail worker, and we have seen firsthand that job stability isn’t a given in the industry. The work I take on via The Second Shift helps us keep a roof over our heads. He’s nearly seven feet tall and eats a lot – it gets expensive!
Noelle: What excites you most about being a member of this community?
Chelsea: I’m excited to be a part of a community of women. I work in a male dominated field on a daily basis, and The Second Shift offers me a great opportunity to network with other professional women. I also like that I can find extra work that aligns with my skill set and the hours I have available.
Noelle: What’s your experience been like since joining The Second Shift – have you landed any interesting projects?
Chelsea: I’m really just getting started. Thus far, the site has opened my eyes to the kinds of freelance opportunities out there and helped me hone my pitch. I also secured the opportunity to write for this blog through the site!
Noelle: What advice do you have for other members just getting started?
Chelsea: Read our blog! It’s going to be packed with helpful hints from real women trying to do it all. Each contributor has unique experiences and perspectives; our combined knowledge will give you insight into many tips and tricks.
Noelle: What kind of content can we expect to come our way from you over the next few months?
Chelsea: As a former journalist with a news background, you can definitely expect to see some of my posts responding to real time news and events. I’m also fascinated by generational differences. What success looks like for women today is so much different than what it looked like for my mother or my grandmother. I plan to explore those differences a bit, as well as some of the success I’ve had getting my voice heard in a male dominated field.
Noelle: I can tell from this conversation that you are an amazing journalist, communicator and writer. But I’m wondering if you have any secret talents you haven’t told me about?
Chelsea: Well it’s not a huge secret, but I love to cook! I know a lot of working women don’t want to come home and cook, but I love walking in the door and heading to the kitchen. It probably helps that my partner doesn’t mind cleaning up my messes! I’ve even won a few food competitions, like a mac & cheese cook off at one of the comedy clubs my partner performs at.
Noelle: Okay, let’s say when we finish this interview, you step outside and find a lottery ticket that ends up winning $10 million. What would you do?
Chelsea: I’d definitely open Chelsea Connor Communications! I’d love to build a company that believes in its clients and its people. My experience has been that there are firms that are passionate about their clients, but don’t treat their employees great, and firms that are more about making lots of money from their clients and going over the top with perks. I’d love to create a real family-oriented PR company and combine it with traveling all over the world!
Noelle: Please take me with you Chelsea! Thanks for your time today, I know we all look forward to hearing more from you.
Want to learn more about our member contributors and copywriters? Get to know Keara M. Piekanski and Noelle Abarelli!