Jeff Cole,
a Wall Street Journal editor who died in a plane crash in 2001,
developed a method for finding a job that helped him rise from
a small newspaper to one of the top newspapers in the world. The
Columbia Journalism Review published
these tips in January 2002.
His approach makes sense. It mixes
research, contact, politeness and determination. Any employer
would admire this approach, and all students, whether in public
relations or news-editorial, can learn from his wisdom. The following
list draws heavily on his strategy as CJR reported it.
Hunting for a job
- Look for a job in
a place where you want to live and work.
- Pick a place and order
two weeks of back issues from the local newspaper.
- Call one of the reporters
from that paper. Ask about possible job openings, details about
the person who does the hiring and interviewing, the newspaper's
philosophy, its competition. Be sure to ask about how the editor
hopes to improve the newspaper.
- Write a cover
letter and use the information you received. Be sure to explain
how you will fit into the newspaper's future.
- Be sure to end your
letter with promise that you will soon call the editor.
- Include with your clips a typewritten line on the bottom
of each clip that concisely explains why the clip is special.
For example, Cole suggested: "It was written 45 minutes before
deadline.
- Call a few days after
you send the letter and even if the editor is not hiring ask to
come by for a chat.
- A nice gesture is
to bring a thank-you gift for the reporter who helped you.
- After any interview,
write a thank-you note to the people who took time to talk to
you.
- Don't give up. Keep
checking to make sure that you are considered for any job opening.
Variations for finding
internships
The journalism
department has an active internship program for students who meet
the criteria. But many students
find their own internships every summer.
Many small
newspapers and businesses in your hometown may not be able to
afford to pay interns and may have never hired one. Sure, you
may need to have that summer job at the corner restaurant, but
you also might find a few hours a week to volunteer to work for
your hometown editor. The benefits are clear. You gain valuable
professional experience, you have a contact who might hire you
when you graduate, and in some cases, you might even make a few
extra dollars.
Here are a
few ideas for making that contact:
- During the
winter break or spring break, visit the employer. But before you
visit: do some research (read numerous issues of the newspaper),
write a letter introducing yourself as a journalism student, and
be sure to say that you hope to visit during break.
- Call and
make an appointment
- Bring work
samples and a resume. If the best that you have is that "A"
on a Jour 060 assignment, bring that.
- Optional:
Based on your research, come up with a story idea for the newspaper
and actually write the story during the break. It should be short
but good. Offer it to the editor. It's a rare editor who would
refuse to print a good news story.
- Show enthusiasm,
eagerness and desire. Editors have a soft spot for young people
who have a burning desire for news.
- Try to get
some commitment from the editor.
- Write a thank-you
letter after the visit. Remind the editor about the commitment.
- About a week
before summer break, contact the editor and remind the editor
that you will be home soon. This is a good time to set up an appointment.
- Persistence
pays off. Dr. Glen Bleske still remembers the journalism school
student who showed up at his office every day for two weeks asking
for work. After the student offered to work for free and suggested
three story ideas, Bleske gave the student an assignment. The
student published five good clips that summer plus earned an extra
$300.
