One of Intouch’s core values is “Live to Learn” … we believe in this mantra so much, in fact, that each year, we offer a completely cost-free, one-month course in copywriting — even for people who have no experience with writing or advertising. Why would we do that, you ask? Because we recognize that everyone brings a unique experience and perspective to the table, and diversity of thought and experience can only make our work stronger.
Briefly: How It Works
The Intouch Copy School’s purpose is to provide aspiring healthcare writers — either those new to the advertising industry or who come from non-healthcare marketing roles — with the groundwork they need to (potentially) jump-start an associate copywriting career at Intouch. At the end of the four-week program, Copy School students take a final exam and then talk next steps with our hiring teams if they’re interested in full-time employment. If they decide copywriting isn’t what they hoped it would be, good news: there’s no obligation to join Intouch.
Let’s Dish!
As we gear up for this year’s Copy School, we thought it would be fun to catch up with four graduates to learn more about where they “came from” and how the healthcare copywriting life is going so far. Hint: one is a former pastry chef!
Brennan Bogert
What was your career like before coming to Copy School and Intouch?
Before Copy School, and subsequently Intouch, I was a freelance journalist and copywriter. I spent a lot of time writing about music, books, visual art, and the innovative ways people create stories for the web. I come from a literature background. I spent a lot of my life in Iowa City, in the backyard of the Writers’ Workshop, and at the University of Iowa before I studied poetry in graduate school at Sarah Lawrence. Throughout my career, I have been interested in finding ways to comingle image and language.
If your career/degree was pretty different from copywriting, can you think of any ways your past knowledge/experience may still come in handy?
The health sciences are very different from what I was writing about before, but what excites me about Intouch, is the opportunity to explore, create, and collaborate in an unfamiliar industry. I am accessing new concepts. I’m discovering new metaphors and I am – I hope – helping people to live healthy and more adventurous lives. I also get to take things I learn about how our bodies work in the muscles, fibers, and cells and use them to expand the work I do in the off hours.
What excites me about Intouch, is the opportunity to explore, create, and collaborate in an unfamiliar industry. – Brennan Bogert
Kat Dolan
What was your career like before coming to Copy School and Intouch?
I was actually a pastry chef for nearly a dozen years. I had no background in pharma or advertising, but I had a degree in psychology and always enjoyed writing. When I was ready for a career change, the opportunity of Copy School presented itself. It was a leap of faith, and one I am grateful I took.
If your career/degree was pretty different from copywriting, can you think of any ways your past knowledge/experience may still come in handy?
There is more overlap than you might think between cooking and advertising. Both are fast-paced team efforts to creatively produce the best possible product for the client. I was surprised at how easily I was able to transition from kitchens to advertising. I think that says a lot about the supportive people at Intouch and the magic that can happen when you are open to new opportunities.
I think [the easy transition] says a lot about the supportive people at Intouch and the magic that can happen when you are open to new opportunities. – Kat Dolan
Lesley Dufner
What was your career before coming to Copy School and Intouch?
My most recent career was as an Infection Preventionist in a hospital. I am also a nurse (worked nights for 10 years) and began my working life (many moons ago) as an epidemiologist.
My most recent career was as an Infection Preventionist in a hospital. – Lesley Dufner
If your career/degree was pretty different from copywriting, can you think of any ways your past knowledge/experience may still come in handy?
It’s helpful for me to already understand a lot of the medical terminology and how pharmaceuticals work, in general. I also know how HCPs think, and I see that being useful in developing content that resonates with HCPs.
Thomas McCorkle
What was your career before coming to Copy School and Intouch?
This answer has two parts to it. First, my degree. I graduated in 2021 with a BFA in Creative Writing, so while my degree was within the realm of writing, I’ve come to find over time that copywriting is a whole different beast. Second, my career. Immediately prior to working at Intouch, I actually held a couple educational roles such as a Game Design Instructor and Writing Tutor.
If your career/degree was pretty different from copywriting, can you think of any ways your past knowledge/experience may still come in handy?
Absolutely! My education in Creative Writing allowed me to study and experiment with the English language to a degree that has greatly helped with creating compelling copy. On top of that, my educational jobs helped hone my ability to take complex and wordy concepts, and break them down so that a wider audience can understand them, which I’ve seen as essential to copywriting in some cases.
If your degree and/or career is similar to copywriting, what’s something you like about working at Intouch or are looking forward to?
So far, I’ve enjoyed the people at Intouch the most. They seem like a very tight knit group that’s just the right amount of professional and the right amount of casual. They’ve gone above and beyond at making me welcome at the company, and I can’t wait to continue working with them into the future.
They’ve gone above and beyond at making me welcome at the company, and I can’t wait to continue working with them into the future. – Thomas McCorkle
Want to work at a company that lives to learn and values diverse experiences and backgrounds? Check out our openings today — and stay tuned for more to come on our next session of Copy School!
Special thanks to associate copywriter Claire Bauserman for her help in creating this feature. 🙂