Full name/age/job title:

Hattie Hawksworth, 27, Assistant Editor at IdeasTap

Please give us an overview of your average day.

An average day could include anything from doing a video interview with Kevin Spacey or Jeff Goldblum to writing an overview of my average day!
I normally spend most of the day writing, emailing and researching. I’ll do a lot of phone interviews, which last about 15 minutes. I interview people who our members would be interested in – producers, actors, graphic designers, photographers, filmmakers and directors – people from all creative fields.
I also get the chance to work with other organisations; I’ve recently set up an opportunity for our members with the poetry collective Clinic.

What is the most common misconception about your job?

I’m not sure if there is one. Writing for a living has changed massively in recent years and it’s all down to the internet. I think the nature of my job is a fairly modern concept, it’s too new for people to have misconceptions.

What is the hardest thing about your role?

Video interviews are always hard. I don’t think I’ll ever stop being nervous before them, but you do get used to it. You have to be quite confident, good people skills are an absolute must.

When did you decide what you wanted to do with your life and how did you set out achieving it?

I realised I wanted to be a writer at university. I did Fashion Communication and Promotion at Central Saint Martins and our final year project involved making a magazine. We had to do everything – from the layout to all the writing and photoshoots. I found it was the writing I loved. When I graduated I did some work experience at The Financial Times. I was assisting the fashion editor, arranging her interviews. She asked if I’d ever been published before and I said no, so she gave me a small sidebar to do – so my first published work was in the FT. I was then shortlisted for the Vogue Talent Contest, which gave me an incentive to pursue writing seriously.  From there I went to ELLE online, and then to IdeasTap.

What can you do to get a head start?

Work experience, work experience, work experience. Get a blog, tweet, and go to writing classes. Write all the time. Read a lot. A writer that doesn’t read isn’t a writer.

Could you describe the creative element to your job?

I’m very lucky in that my job is pretty creative all the time. Whether I’m researching stuff that interests me, writing or doing an interview.

What one thing do you wish you had known at the start of your career that you know now?

Confidence is key. But you’ve got to know when to shut your mouth too.

Which organisations/websites/resources do you think would be useful for people entering your industry?

IdeasTap – everything

Gorkana – jobs

London Writers' Club – publishing

Read Platform – amusement

Ffffound  - visual stimulation

Would you like to be featured in Job of the Week? If you work in the creative industries and would love to share your advice, expertise and experience with IdeasTap members, get in touch with our deputy editor at Luiza@ideastap.com.