Experience Training as a copywriter with a federal certificate
www.heykonrad.ch
Did you always know that you wanted to be a copywriter?
Writing has always been my great passion. I have always been fascinated by the various possibilities of language - and how you can find the exact wording that simply fits perfectly. So I have often recorded my thoughts in text form. But for a long time, writing was something private for me and it was not an option for me to make it my profession. That's why I studied philosophy after my A-levels. But it wasn't the right fit for me at university - and at some point I had to admit to myself that I was in the wrong place.
When was the first time you worked professionally in copywriting?
While I was still at university, I worked part-time as a proofreader for the free newspaper "20 Minuten". As I had no experience in this field, I had to learn the know-how from scratch. However, I was lucky enough to have a great boss who guided me very well in my tasks. So I got to grips with the world of texts and articles step by step - long before I started training as a copywriter.
How did you decide to take the copywriting course with a federal certificate?
After my time at university, I worked as a proofreader and editor. At the same time, I gradually developed the desire to make writing my profession. However, I was unsure whether I could do it professionally and whether I really had everything you need to do it. I also didn't know exactly what being a copywriter actually meant as a profession. When I saw that EB Zurich was offering the "Copywriter with federal certificate" course, I jumped at the chance. I knew that this course would allow me to find out whether professional writing was really my vocation, and it would also fill in the gaps in my knowledge. It was a decision of the heart that took a lot of courage, but it definitely turned out to be the right move.
Tell us how you experienced the course - were your expectations met?
I jumped in at the deep end! I didn't know exactly what to expect from this training. So I sat in the first lesson and thought: "Oh man, I'm in the wrong place! What am I doing here?" However, this thought quickly proved to be a mistake. It was a very intensive but exciting and instructive year. The course at EB Zurich was very well organized. The modules were very varied and we were taught a wide range of knowledge. The course was led by a dedicated professor who gave us a lot of freedom and strongly encouraged our creativity. At the same time, she gave us very specific methods and tools that I often use in my work as a copywriter.
Can you tell us more about the specific content of the individual modules?
Many prospective students - like me at the beginning - are afraid of monotonous lessons in grammar and spelling, but this is only a small part of the training. The "Copywriter with Federal Certificate" course primarily teaches creative and targeted writing - but what does that mean? Writing is not just stringing sentences together, it is rather the appropriate communication of information and, above all, messages. A large part of the training was about creating concepts, because the concept is a fundamental tool in this profession. A copywriter must understand exactly what messages are to be conveyed - in other words, she must be able to listen very well and respond to the customer. A concept defines, for example, who the information and messages are aimed at and which communication channels are best suited for this. The second step involves writing the text - the focus here is on vocabulary and a fine feel for the right style.
What did you gain from the training?
What the training course has given me above all is self-confidence. Thanks to the course and my additional professional experience in this field, I knew exactly how I wanted to set up my company Konrad GmbH in the proofreading and copywriting sector. The training reinforced my knowledge that I am really good at what I do and sell.
What do you like best about working as a copywriter?
I love the challenge of finding the right words for what needs to be said. But of course variety is also a very important point. I have a huge range of clients. People who want to tell their story and companies that want to position themselves in the best possible way.
What does your professional life as a copywriter look like?
I am the owner and managing director of Konrad GmbH. Our text agency is located in the center of Zurich. I founded Konrad GmbH three years ago and now employ two members of staff. We are professionals in many areas of copywriting: journalism, advertising copywriting, proofreading and editing. This means that we can always offer our clients exactly what they are looking for in the field of copywriting. Our clientele is very diverse and varied. My wishes and goals for my company are that we can position ourselves even more broadly and expand our customer base. Above all, however, I hope we continue to enjoy our work.
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin
