January 25th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Having graduated just last quarter, how smooth has the transition been from journalism student to full-time, working journalist? Has the transition to seeking employment been a tough undertaking?
When I graduated at the end of November, I was definitely ready for a break. I spent time with family and friends during the holidays, while sending out my resume to newspapers and magazines across Ohio. Although I received many rejection notices, I stayed positive and made the most of my free time by networking and using word-of-mouth to learn about job openings. It was stressful at times, especially because I haven’t started working yet; however, I have been accepted for a six-month fellowship position as a multimedia journalist for The Gleaner, a daily newspaper in Henderson, Ky. I’ll be moving in two weeks and cannot wait to start!
Graduating during a tough economic time creates an increased amount of job competition for recent graduates. How did you handle this competition post-graduation?
One of the first things I did after I graduated was contacted my former employers to seek advice about how to enter the current job market. I received a bunch of different suggestions, such as increasing my Web presence and learning a new technological skill (HTML coding, videography production, etc.). Everyone I spoke with also stressed the importance of relocation, explaining that, although journalism jobs may be few and far between in my hometown, many exist in other places and not to be afraid to extend my search outside Ohio. I was able to use all of the advice to find the fellowship in Henderson.
What career endeavors or additional schooling goals are you preparing yourself for?
I’m confident that I will continue my education at some point but know that I need some real-world experience first. I plan on working for at least two years before considering graduate school – that way I’ll have a better grasp on what field to study. It would also be incredible to receive my PhD someday and be able to teach at the college level, but that’s more of a long-term goal.
What has been a rewarding aspect of being a working journalist as opposed to a student journalist?
Well, ask me that in a few weeks and I’ll give you a better answer! I can say that when everyone returned to Athens for Winter Quarter, I was a bit jealous that I couldn’t be there, too (forgetting about the nasty weather, of course). However, I am looking forward to starting this next adventure with different kinds of challenges in a new environment!
