First-Timer

Hello, folks! Seems like an eternity since I've been on this forum. Having graduated from college this past Saturday with a degree in English, I'm looking to break into the business, however, I'm having some trouble doing so. None of the local papers nearby offer freelance positions and any of the positions on journalismjobs.com offer positions within my location radius. What did you all do to get out there and get your job? Thanks!

-Kevin

 

You might have to move, Kevin.

 

There is no might. And if you don't have published clips outside of your college paper, start looking on state newspaper association Web sites. You might want to take a look at the Mt. Vernon opening.

Be willing to make a move to news. I see a lot of news openings lately. You'll be covering school board or city council meetings, but you'll also have some range.

Learn how to shoot and edit video, capture audio, put together Soundslides, learn layout, and generally try do as much as possible so you won't have to stay at the low rung on the ladder for long.

 

Congratulations and best of luck.

Use "last Saturday" instead of "this past."

Move. Look elsewhere for a job. Get out of your comfort zone. Explore. Take a chance. Live on Ramen and Diet Rite for a while. Go forth.

 

What everyone else said. Move. It's unrealistic to expect to land a job in one specific area in this biz, especially right out of college. You might be able to move back into an area that you really like later on, but right now, take what you can get or you'll be spending the next year doing odd jobs to pay bills instead of getting experience, and you'll likely be in the same position a year later.

 

Yeah, you're gonna want to expand that "radius" a bit.

 

First time? Congratulations! Bet it felt good.

 

This is the truth, Kevin.

It will be scary, but keep in mind that moving around will help you advance and move up the ladder much faster than staying in one place.

 

For at least one of the people involved ...

 

Awesome! Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Still looking around, sending out emails and crossing my fingers hoping for the best. Another question for those reading this post and having already positioned themselves in the "real world." Having graduated last Saturday, I still need to take two summer classes and will receive my physical degree in August. Will employers still hire on those conditions or will most turn you away and ask you to finish those two classes and try again at a later date?

 

You would have been in a really good position to try to get a summer internship and then latch on to the paper.

Have you had an internship at a paper? If not, why not?

 

It wasn't a problem for me.