Writing Samples?

When you guys include writing samples along with a resume, how does everyone do it? A link to the stories on the internet? Word documents? PDFs?

More importantly, those of you who do the hiring, what do you prefer?

 

This is a great topic and question, thanks to anyone who gives some feedback in this thread!

 

I'm currently looking to fill a sports reporter position. There are a couple of things I've come across that were a bit bothersome. I've had a couple of instances where I've clicked to links that had stories, but I couldn't tell if they had been published. Linking a Web site is not a problem. It saves everyone time, but I want to be able to see that the stories were published. Not related, but in another instance, a candidate emailed his interest in the job. The problem was he had copied and pasted a previous email he had sent out. It included the email address of the editor he had sent it to. I felt bad for the guy, but he was immediately dropped from consideration. The best advice I can give is to carefully go over your material before you send it on its way. Good luck.

 

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/28205/
http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/37470/
http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/58987/
http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/57366/

 

I use pdf copies of the pages...in large part so employers can not only see my work as a writer, but also my photography and page design. Regardless, I find it to be the most universal way to get clips across, even if it's only story clips.

 

I use PDFs because you'd be surprised how many journalists are too dumb to make one -- in this job climate, no less. It's cleaner, shows a grasp on technology, and is easier, in general.

One thing I like to do is find out as much as I can about the editor who will review my work. I go old school if the editor is a seasoned veteran. That means big ol' envelope, cover letter, and physical copies of clips. It's worked once, but I've heard back every time.

 

I was actually having a conversation with a friend about this topic recently.

Are you trying to hire the best journalist or the person who can put together the best application?

Should accidentally including the other editor's e-mail address really be a disqualifying offense? Sure, it's a negative indicator. But is it really that terrible you wouldn't consider the applicant and make an overall evaluation (with that mistake playing a factor)?

If that applicant had a mistake in one of his clips, would you stop considering him, or just consider it a negative? Isn't a mistake in an article more relevant?

 

It's a tough call, but I think a mistake like that speaks to a certain carelessness, or inattention to detail that we wouldn't want to see in a story. Of course, nowadays many of us are taking a shotgun approach to job searches, so I can see where such a mistake might occur. But still...

 

I'd fire you if your sports section has any errors in it.

 

I guess I'm old school. Still do the clip and copy thing. (That's why they're called clips, right?). Some websites only keep stories up for a certain amount of times. I have sent blogs, but I would always print them out and send on real paper.

I try to send a variety: game stories, features, profiles, columns, blogs, analysis.

 

Dan, I think you make a good point. We received a large number of applications for this opening. Far more than in the past. Additionally, the talent level of the applicants is superior. To me it was a sloppy mistake that could have easily been avoided with a little attention to detail. As for Stitch's remark, I've made plenty of mistakes in my time.

 

PDFs. PDFs always PDFs. Everything I send is a PDF.