This position has been filled. Please read below for future opportunities.
Wow Is Hiring Part-time Writing Coaches
Job Description
Wow writing coaches guide students and counseling professionals through the ten-step Wow Method as they write college application essays. Our coaches are passionate about writing and young people. Publication is not a requirement, but you need to know from experience that writing is a process, and that writers don’t necessarily start with that killer first line. You need to believe in drafts, and to be open and curious about the wonderful and surprising things young people have to say. We are writing coaches and guides. Our students make the important editorial decisions; we guide them through a proven process, make observations, and ask the right questions.
Schedule
This is a fully remote, part-time, contract position. We work with students all over the world, and our coaches try to respond to student work by noon in the coach’s time zone. While there are exceptions to this rule, our coaching schedules are set in such a way as to make this timing possible. We meet as a team once a week to discuss student coaching issues.
The job is a good fit for someone with a flexible schedule, who can be available when trainees and students need us. That means:
- After school in multiple time zones
- During the day (Jan-June for CEE trainees and in the summer months for students)
- At least one evening during brainstorm weeks (Tues, Wed, Thurs, approximately every 3 weeks)
- One weekend day each week during the summer and fall and very occasionally at other times during the year
Our annual calendar is as follows:
- January – June: College Essay Experience training for professionals. Learn more about CEE here.
- June – October: Student coaching. We work with our own students, and also support our colleagues by taking their students through our ten-step process as they write their Common Application personal statements. Learn more about Wow student coaching here and Jumpstart here.
- November – December: We have very few students during this time. We are closed the last week in December.
Our students follow a standard schedule. You can find examples of CEE schedules here and student schedules here. All coaches work with trainees for most CEE schedules (a new group starts every three weeks). They work with students during multiple student schedules, depending on availability and student needs. We can be flexible with advance notice.
Required Skills/Abilities
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
- Familiarity with online tools for document management, scheduling, video conferencing, email tracking, among other tasks.
Required Tools
Coaches must have an up-to-date computer, microphone, and camera (either free-standing or built-in), as well as the most up-to-date operating system for their computer. We provide access to all coaching-related tools, including Dropbox, Gmail, HubSpot, Acuity Scheduling and Zoom.
Education and Experience
- At least two years related experience required.
- Teaching or coaching experience preferred.
- Professional writing experience preferred.
- Familiarity with the college admission industry preferred.
Request an Application
Q&A
Q: What does the job entail?
A: Students follow our online, 10-step process for writing application essays. Coaches meet with them by video conference to brainstorm ideas for an hour early in the process, then communicate primarily by email, with occasional texts or phone calls if required. Coaches manage schedules, review student work and offer writing exercises to help students with their essays.
Q: How many hours does the job require?
A: Hours vary with the season, but it is safe to estimate at least 10 hours per week. We can discuss your availability and our needs to see if they match.
Q: Do I have to live in Detroit to work for you?
A: No. Our coaches are located all over the US. If you are comfortable working remotely so are we.
Q: I have a traditional full-time job. Is this something I can do after work and on weekends?
A: Unfortunately, no. While you might have the right skills, our students need us to be available when they are, including after school or during school breaks. We also check in with our coaches during regular work hours to discuss student needs, plan strategy, and provide ongoing training. (And sometimes just to say hello!)
Q: I am a teacher. This sounds like a perfect summer opportunity. Is that correct?
A: We are busy year-round, during workday hours in multiple time zones. This generally does not work well for full-time teachers.
Q: I have a lot of editing experience. Will that make me a good fit?
A: We do not edit student essays. We ask questions, make suggestions and coach them so they can make their own editorial decisions. If you feel comfortable doing that, you might be a good fit.
Q: I have a lot of experience helping students apply to college. Will that make me a good fit?
A: If your approach to essay coaching matches ours, we could be perfect for each other. If not, it might be difficult for you to let go of what you have learned in the past. That’s not to say you couldn’t learn our method, but you should know that we approach this task in a unique way, and we expect our coaches to work with students according to our philosophy.
Q: I teach creative writing, but I do not have much experience with application essays. Could this be a good fit for me?
A: Yes. The Wow Method follows the same principles we use when teaching creative writing to students of all ages.
Q: What type of training do you provide?
A: New coaches write an essay using the Wow Method, guided by our CEO. They are then shadowed by a senior staff member until they are ready to work on their own. We provide templated emails, guidelines and writing exercises to address common student issues.
Q: What is the pay scale?
A: We pay by the essay, not by the hour. With that in mind, our coaches generally earn between $30 and $50 per hour, depending on the essay, how long they’ve been working with the student, the number of essays they are working on together and other factors. No one will get rich working for us, but the work is very satisfying!