Can't find a journalism job (small rant)

[LovesDoomBuggies]

So I went to college to be in magazine publishing, because I live in Des Moines and the company that makes Better Homes and Gardens and about a million other DIY-Special Interest publications is headquartered here.

HA!! I have a good job(not with that company), but I am deathly bored at it and it has nothing to do with magazine publication. I have applied and applied and applied both locally and with other big magazine towns (NYC, primarily).
I'm starting to get worried that I'm going to get stuck with a job that has nothing to do with what I really want to do and when I get older I'll wonder "What ever happened to that life I wanted to have....?"

I actually think my resume looks pretty good and so do the cover letters I send. My mom works in HR, so I often send her the letters to look at so she can tell me (from a professional standpoint) what she would do differently. I just don't get it!!

Sorry. Just got one too many rejection letters and I needed to vent.

Thanks for listening, DISers!

 

[CEDmom]

Is there anyway you could get your foot in the door by freelancing? I know a few people who did this and they eventually led to full time positions. Companies would probably be much more receptive to something like that because it means they don't have to shell out for benefits and that saves them a lot of $$. Also it means they can test you out without making any type of committment.

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Do you have anything published yet? Unfortunately, experience is important in that field and if all you have is degree and a good cover letter, you aren't going to get very far. Perhaps you could volunteer at a small local paper to get some samples to send along with those resumes. Another thought is networking; I got my first paying writing job that way (I was freelancing, though, not on staff).

 

[LovesDoomBuggies]

Well, I should mabye rephrase a little bit.
My first paying freelance job got published yesterday!

And my job has a little teeny bit to do with writing, I guess. I write for the Company's monthly magazine that goes out to team members. I also write for the website which is updated daily... so I do have examples to send when I apply places. But I'm sure they are looking for more than Company drivel.

And I am trying to freelance more, but argh! It's so slow-going.
I'm just a very impatient person, which I am sure is part of my problem.

I am not actually sure that I even want to write-I may want to do something more with production, publishing, etc. But I am writing until I can get my foot in that door!

Thank you both for the advice

 

[EsmeraldaX]

 

[mom2alix]

It's not a big magazine town (at least I don't think so), but Overland Park, KS has an office of Intertec Publishing (their B to B) business. I used to work there and it was a wonderful company. You might find something there.

http://www.intertec.com/


Good luck!

 

[diznygirl]

Speaking as a journalism major, I understand your frustration. This is the advice you hear from everyone: keep writing, keep sending out resumes, keep at it in your current job - many hire from within, you have to pay your dues......

But it sure stinks to have to pay your dues and do all that other stuff until you get the really cool job!! Case in point - I never did it all! After paying my dues at a small paper and trying to get into a daily for virtually no pay, I ended up at a company writing reports for good pay, benefits and weekends and evenings off. I ended up doing marketing presentations.

Sounds like you have a really good job right now. Just keep at it.

 

[ChefBilly]

Well, if you're willing to change it up a bit and work at a weekly or possibly a daily newspaper, and you want to move to New England, I can hook you up with some leads. It's not magazine writing, but it is writing.
Also, check editorandpublisher.com or journalismjobs.com - magazine positions listed specifically here: http://www.journalismjobs.com/Search_Jobs.cfm?Media=Magazines&IndustryID=4

 

[Margie J]

Are there some small local newspapers in your area? They may be looking for a reporter. That would give you a start in the business and allow you to network. I mention this because our Town has a local paper and they advertized for a sports reporter. All they wanted was someone enthusiastic about our Town and willing to write articles about our local teams and athletes (from grade school sports to profiles of adults). A job like that could give you plenty of experience and the backup you need for the "big leagues".

I've advised people before that even volunteer jobs can lead to a paid one. Seek out whatever you can that involves writing and reporting, even in subjects you may not be familiar with now. Flexibility in what you can do and will try is important.

On the job market, expand your focus beyond the top Cities like NYC. Not that you can't get a job there but there is greater competition, obviously.

Back to networking - Your job is one place to do it. Another is through such things as Alumni Associations. You never know who you might meet at a function or who knows who. Get involved if there is a chapter near you. Through my Association I have met people from many professions and at all levels of them. For example, one friend of a friend is a TV reporter for a top Boston station.

 

[tar heel]

Get some clips, even if you have to do the work for free. A good place to start is with local nonprofits that do not have a communication person on staff. They will appreciate the help, and you'll build a portfolio. Also, try small newspapers. They are notorious for paying joke freelance rates, but the experience is more important for you than the $.

I think you already know this, but degrees are not worth a lot in journalism unless you're applying for jobs that are NOT in media. Corporations are much more impressed by degrees b/c the people hiring generally don't have the background to evaluate the experience/clips.

Because degrees are not real important, HR can be an obstacle to overcome. You need to get your resume and clips to someone actually making hiring decisions. I think the HR people are only doing screening, at least that is the case at the places dh and I have worked.

Magazines like Better Homes and Gardens are not likely to take on green freelancers because there are plenty of very experienced people interested in working for them. That's why I'm recommending that you start with the less impressive places.

Now, if I've totally misread this and you're not someone a year or two out of college, please ignore what I've written. Good luck!

 

[Amberle3]

What format are you using for your resume?

One thing I learned is that if you're looking for a job where creativity is an asset, then submitting the same old format resume is a liability. OTOH if you're looking for a standard office job or network analyist, submitting a highly creative, unusual resume is a liability!

Consider reworking your format to something a little more unusual. Maybe a bifold brochure format. I did that with mine, and while I included the usual sections on Employment, Eduction, Memberships/Certifications and Skills I also included sections on Shameless Self-Promotion and "What the Critics are saying about Amberle3". I put some colour on the cover and made it visually appealing. It stands out from other resumes, that's for sure.

 

[katerkat]

Yeah, my good friend is a photo person in magazines and she's been applying for jobs for nearly two years (and has around 6 years of experience) with no success. Honestly, I think they're just not really hiring.

Are you interesting in newspapers? That's where I started, and really didn't have much trouble finding a job at one. Granted, not a well-paying job! But I have my book of clips now to show any potential employers. Plus, I dabbled in design at both newspapers so I have that experience too.

 

[LovesDoomBuggies]

I have seen jobs for the DM Register posted, but I'm really not interested in newspaper work. I'd rather keep my job then do newspaper work, I think.

Tar heel, you hit it right on the head- I'm still a semi-fresh grad. I know I need to just build the clips and do freelance and put in my time..<sigh>

I have also been applying for just editorial assistant jobs, because even though I would be starting out low, there would be potential to move up. I'm not above making copies (or coffee... )

Chef Billy- I keep an eye on journalismjobs.com, mediabistro.com, meredith.com, monster, hotjobs, disney... anything you can think of I've not heard of editorandpublisher though, I will check it out.

Amberle3- that's an interesting idea! If you don't mind my asking, what did you put under the "What the Critics are Saying" section? I guess I would be thinking something like- The critics are saying Amberle3 is detail-oriented, blah blah blah- or did you get really creative?

mom2alix- thanks for the link! I will check it out. I am really open to almost anything (I may even be swayed over to newspapers eventually...)

Thanks everyone else! I appreciate the ears (or the eyes, I suppose).

 

[petula]

About focusing on major cities: Yes there's more competition but there are a LOT more jobs in your field in places like New York. It's not hard to get hired into a publishing position here. The problem is, you have to be willing to be here to do it. I mean moving to a place BEFORE getting the job. I too am a journalism major and had no hope of finding anything from out of town. There are just too many in-city candidates to bother with someone who'll be much more difficult to interview and transplant.

I ended up making the leap and moving to DC without a job and had offers within my second week of being there. The DC/Northern Virginia/Maryland area, by the way, is a great place to be looking for magazine work because of all of the nonprofits. Some are a lot of fun to work for. Plus, the benefits are usually excellent, the job security can't be beat, the office environment is nice, and you get a lot of opportunity to get your hands on lots of things and do a lot of writing, since they usually have small staffs of around thirty people (magazine departments tend to be around five or so people in total). I went from working on a cable directory to writing about cars to working on an amusement park magazine--all in nonprofit associations. I then went on to some bigger national magazines in new york for a bit before getting into kids' books and becoming locked into the whole corporate thing, but it's been a trip. So keep your mind open while you're paying your dues, and think about making a move if you know that magazines are definitely what you want to do. Jobs in DC are best found in the Washington Post (the online part may have been combined into careerbuilder, I'm not sure), and the jobs here are best found on company websites. Hearst, Conde Nast, Time, Ziff-Davis (uhhh...i wouldn't recommend that one. ), etc.

Okay, end of my rant.

PS Don't forget the airline publications too!

 

[LovesDoomBuggies]

I've thought about that- how I am at the disadvantage because of relocation and whatnot...
How did you afford to move with no job? Did you just save up and know that you would be covered for x months or whatever?

 

[Jockaroo]

Fellow journalism grad here wanting to offer encouragement. After I graduated I realized I did not want to work for a newspaper either. I ended up pulling nearly 7 years in marketing and public relation offices. This advice only pertains to you if you are not happy with your current job. In PR, you can deal with the media (TV, local specialty publications, newspapers, etc.) when you pitch stories and field media calls (example: "I need a Dr. to talk about flu symtoms.") You also deal with the advertising departments at the publications. These are very helpful contacts to make based on the goals you have set.

In addition, you might need to plan special events (more contacts), assist with the writing and design of promotional materials, work with advertising agencies and printing companies and much, much more. I was a jill-of-all trades in the marketing departments at two hospitals. It is hard, stressful work and the pay isn't great, but it is a wonderful training ground that can expose you to the gamut. And to add a reality check, know that when budgets are cut, corporate mergers happen, etc. marketing departments can feel the effects of layoffs--so be prepared to go with the flow. Trust me on this one! Best wishes with your career endeavors.

 

[dmadman43]

The way things are going, there may soon be openings for quality journalists at CBS. The seem to be in dire need of some

 

[LovesDoomBuggies]

Hi Jockaroo,
Corp. Communications is what I do now, which is a sort of a mix of writing and PR. I especially like the events planning stuff, but I really only help out with that occasionally and am really not that involved.
The more I think about it, the more I am thinking I need to see if my company can transfer me to NY when DBF is done with school. Then I will still have a good job, but I can look for something within my desired field and have a better shot at getting it!
Everyone has really been offering some great advice (thanks, dmadman ). I wonder if it would help to include something in the cover letter about the fact that I am relocating?
I wish I could get inside the head of a hiring manager... but who doesn't?

 

[RadioNate]

Stacy - I used to work as a freelancer at that big magazine publishing house in Des Moines. I got in through an adjunct professor at Drake who worked there FT.

The professor mentioned that they were looking for people above the standard "intern" and I was hired as a freelancer (which really ment no benefits).

Like with all jobs it really helps to know someone and apply for something specific.

Good luck - I loved working there. I always thought they had a hard time getting people to des moines so keep trying.

 

[petula]

Originally posted by LovesDoomBuggies
I've thought about that- how I am at the disadvantage because of relocation and whatnot...
How did you afford to move with no job? Did you just save up and know that you would be covered for x months or whatever?

Yeah, actually, the first time I was pretty broke. My family and I drove what little stuff I had to D.C. and I stayed with a friend for a couple of weeks, then took her spot in a house with four people, which made the rent pretty low. You definitely can't be above freelancing or temping for a bit if it seems like the search is going to take a while, but these cities have a lot of temping opportunities, and some of them can get you in the door. I know a lot of people who made more freelancing with a company than they did once they were hired on permanently with it. But those benefits can definitely be enticing!

The next time I leapt out of a job without another one in sight, I had saved money to carry me for a few months if I needed it (which I did, but only because I was very picky and wouldn't settle--not because there weren't jobs). And I ate a heck of a lot of tuna and spaghetti.