job tips for college journalists
TRANSCRIPT
HOW I GOT MY FIRST JOB IN JOURNALISM
Pre-med in college
Magazine summer
internship
2 freelance
jobs
Magazine managing
editor
WHY INTERNSHIPS MATTER ¡ Bad news: Hiring managers care
little about you did at your college radio station/ newspaper/TV station.
¡ You now have professionally published work for your portfolio.
¡ You have a professional reference.
HERE IS MINE
¡ You are always interviewing for a future job
¡ Don’t burn your bridges
¡ Buy his books
STILL AT THE SEATTLE TIMES… BUSINESS
REPORTING RESIDENT
TECH REPORTER
INVESTIGATIVE PROJECT
HIGHER ED REPORTER
CITY HALL REPORTER
MICROSOFT REPORTER
SENIOR DIGITAL NEWS
PRODUCER
ASSOCIATE OPINIONS
EDITOR
DIRECTOR OF JOURNALISM
INITIATIVES
Pet Peeves
¡ Not targeted to the role, lacks a narrative
¡ Listing of duties instead of accomplishments
¡ Overplay or downplay key various skills sets
¡ Use words that sounds important but explain nothing
¡ Bad, Crazy and boring designs
¡ Not copy-edited
What’s your goal? • First job
• Moving up to management
• Transition from freelancer to permanent staff
• Transition into a different platform (From print to broadcast or online)
• Landing a job after layoff
Build a narrative
¡ Organize a narrative that builds up your skills and experience
¡ Be specific about your accomplishments. Remember PAR. Problem, Action and Results
¡ Have a sense of direction on where you want to be and why this job is the next logical step
Design matters
¡ A good resume design is like a good suit. It will last for a long time
¡ Keep the design clean and simple but not BORING
Good
¡ Has a visual hierarchy
¡ Sub headlines allow for scanning
¡ Mix of list and sentences
¡ Contact info easy to fine
YOU NEED:
¡ Personal website
¡ Public social media presence
¡ Good photo
¡ LinkedIn profile
¡ Consistent voice
MORE CAREER READING
¡ How to land a job in a digital era http://bit.ly/journojobs
¡ “Show your work,” a book by Austin Kleon