Comments | journalists: Job hunting questions

bulliciosa in journalists

Job hunting questions

Jul 06, 2010 03:34

While the economy limps along its path to recovery, I've had a few journalism job leads, but they didn't pan out. Most of the time, it seems my messages enter into e-mail limbo and I never hear back, even after repeated follow-ups, for whatever reason. I suspect the real issue is my cover letter/resume. I've taken steps to correct them, but I'm ( Read more... )

question, writing tips, advice, job hunting

Comments 3

misslynn July 6 2010, 12:56:41 UTC

I'm certainly no expert, but here's my 2 cents.

1. No, although I have wondered about that from time to time

2. Nope

3. Yep -- I've heard it over and over (though I think this applies less to more academic jobs; my husband has a CV that's about two pages)

4. I got my job in Illinois while living in Kentucky through, I think, sheer luck and having my name mentioned at the right time. It may vary in other states (I have occasionally gotten e-mails from, say, editors in Indiana looking for someone) but in most major metro areas you have to be living in that area to be considered -- or know someone/have a contact who can put your name out there. I had met a girl through this community, actually, who knew a guy at the paper I ended up at -- she mentioned my name to him, I happened to be in the area, and I got an interview.

luminate July 6 2010, 13:31:41 UTC

I know at the university I graduated from they'll look at your resume and cover letter for free if you were a university grad. They are all about helping you find a job and getting you out into the real world, so you might check with the university you attended.

months July 7 2010, 19:52:47 UTC

1. No. Most of the CV advice I've seen out there is lousy. If you want to be a writer, you should be able to write to a brief - including a cover letter or CV. If you want advice, get it free, e.g. here in the UK some of the papers do 'CV clinic' sections.

2. No. People do that?!

3. Yes. You do NOT need two pages. Every two-page CV I have ever seen has been full of over-written waffle. And when asked I have always been able to cut them down without losing any important information. There is a LOT of my info on my CV and it still fits on a page. Bear in mind recruiters are bored and busy and do not want to wade through waffle.