Quill - December 2008 - (Page 31) Gen J RENEE PETRINA Renee Petrina is a copy editor at The Indianapolis Star. The East Coast native joined SPJ during college and spent two years writing for The Working Press at national convention. Now she serves on the Generation J committee. Reach her at renee. petrina@gmail.com. must have done something right at my first interview after college, because I landed the job. But when I tried to move to a larger news outlet, I crashed and burned. The kind hiring manager took the time to explain why I wasn’t chosen, in hopes that I’d improve as a journalist and as an applicant. Not all of us get that analysis. Some young journalists strike out on the cover letter, and they never know why. I wanted to find out. I turned to Dick Meyer, NPR Digital Media’s editorial director; Bob Morford, news director at Cincinnati’s WCPO-TV; and Jennifer Morlan, national editor at The Indianapolis Star (full disclosure: Morlan and I are co-workers). All responded via e-mail. Some of these tips may strike you as common sense. If so, you’re probably doing things right. But a few could surprise you. I Tips for landing a job “The first thing I look for is a story to start the audition video that is somehow unique in character. It could be a totally fresh idea, or an older idea executed in a wholly fresh way,” Morford said. Of course, include the usual stories to show that you know how to do them. But if you lead off your application packet with something boring, will they turn the page? Go above and beyond Go past the basics of your job. Can you comprehend computer programs that are widely used? Can you edit in addition to creating content? Are you comfortable with multiple media forms? If you aren’t, get there. Take an extra class in college. Volunteer for more training. Attend an SPJ session! Hang out with producers or editors if you are a reporter. Hang out with reporters if you are a producer or editor. The more skills you have, the more desirable you are. “Sometimes when I go down this road, it apDon’t bite off more pears that some applicants think the ability to than you can chew “Apply for jobs you have a chance of getting,” walk and talk is all they need to be able to do. If Morlan said. “If you are right out of school, chanc- that ever was true, it’s sure not true now,” Mores are you’re going to have to cut your teeth at a ford said. smaller paper before getting hired at a major metBe professional ropolitan newspaper.” “You would be surprised how many people Morford sees similar problems: newer appliuse addresses like cutiepie@gmail.com on their cants who say they want to be anchors, something that’s a long way off. His advice: Stay focused on resumes,” Morlan said. There are too many free the job you’re applying for and explain how your e-mail sites out there for you to fall into this trap. Even if you have to make your own special adskill set matches it. Meyer points out that a beginner’s résumé dress just for job searching, it’s worth looking should not be padded. He’d prefer it lean and to into. And speaking of e-mail … the point. “A clean resume, good examples of work presented nicely, and a polite, stylish cover letter Be discreet Apply for jobs on your own time and with your — all with clean copy: that’s the recipe,” he said. personal contact information. Recruiters can feel uncomfortable calling you at work and turned Don’t annoy the recruiter Every recruiter has a horror story or funny anec- off by your use of office e-mail. If you’ll hunt for other jobs on company time at your current emdote. Do not become one. “I read one letter that started with ‘I’m just a girl ployer, what’s to say you won’t do the same in the who wants to ’ and I can tell you, that was a big position you’re applying for? turn off. I’m not going to recommend that a ‘girl’ gets hired. I’m looking for professional, talented Be respectful Sending a formal thank-you note after an inwomen and men,” Morlan said. Some applicants Meyer has met disappointed terview is always a plus — in some cases, it is exhim with their lack of poise — and men, pay at- pected. “I don’t schedule my time lightly and expect tention here. “I am shocked by the number of people whose body language says ‘low energy,’” he that to be appreciated, especially by a young persaid. “And I will risk the readers’ wrath by saying son,” Meyer said. But hounding the hiring manager generally this is a bigger problem for men than women.” doesn’t go over so well (no matter how much Think of your audience Bob Woodward claims it got him in at The WashMorford, at WCPO, is tired of seeing audition ington Post). tapes that start with weather stories. Be yourself. t DECEMBER 2008 Quill 31
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