Hope you're all thirsty...

[ZombieNation]

I've been visiting the forum since January, but didn't want to join the conversation until I landed a gig of my own. Well, after graduating in May and spending a few months doing the whole search and destroy interview thing, I've finally landed that elusive first preps job, at a 200k (approx.) daily no less. So I figured my first act as a newbie would be to buy you all a virtual round at the SportsJournalists.com pub.

I also have a question, however. I had mediocre (at best) success following the internet advertisement route throughout my job search, and ended up scoring this job through a combination of contacts and proving myself in some freelance work. So, for my future knowledge and to quench my curiosity... what kind of luck have others on the board had with journalismjobs.com and other posted advertisements? Have they been the lead that got you the job? Or have contacts, being in the right place at the right time, and/or a bit of luck been the key ingredients?

 

[joe]

From JJobs.com I got three in-person interviews and three job offers. I took the one in SoCal.

 

[imjustagirl2]

A.) Congratulations.

B.) Yuengling, please.

C.) I think it's a mix of all of that. Knowing people got my name on the list of people they were looking at for my current job, but it also takes some timing, and some luck. That being said, I've also been offered jobs I found in classified ads or on jjobs.com. So just go for anything you might be interested in, AND network.

 

[Tom Petty]

congrats dog.

i've landed most of my jobs through networking, but i've also scored one using apse and my current gig i found straight off the SportsJournalists.com. job board.

 

[pallister]

Knowing people who will put in a good word is probably the most helpful, but I've also found jobs by being a stringer who was in the right place at the right time, searching online job boards and even after finding a place on the map that looked like it would be cool to live and cold-calling. That eventually led to an interview and an offer a few days later.

 

[805atHeart]

First of all, congrats and good luck. If I wasn't a newbie, I'd put in a request for a newcastle or a blue moon.

My situation was the same as Joe's, applied for a handful of jjobs postings in spare time since graduating in late june and had three offers. Replace Joe's "so" with "nor" and we're identical.

Getting there, though, included a some good references and networking through alums and such.

 

[pallister]

Miller Lite in a can. Or Old Style.

 

[Football_Bat]

I got an AP interview via jj.com. Didn't make the final cut, but I got there.

Oh, and Sam Adams Cherry Wheat for me.

 

[Tom Petty]

oh, i forgot.

a pyramid apricot ale will do for me.

 

[Ace]

oh, i forgot.

a pyramid apricot ale will do for me.

Sorry, Tom. All this time I assumed you were a guy.

Congrats, Zombie. Starting out at a 200k paper isn't easy.

Good luck.

My jobs all came through knowing folks. None was even posted, as far as I know.

 

[Tom Petty]

oh, i forgot.

a pyramid apricot ale will do for me.

Sorry, Tom. All this time I assumed you were a guy.

Congrats, Zombie. Starting out at a 200k paper isn't easy.

Good luck.

My jobs all came through knowing folks. None was even posted, as far as I know.

<still laughing> **** ace. you are right. but if i would have had access to that stuff in high school and college, you would call me mr. petty in respect.

yes, it's a chick's beer, but it's so, so nectar of the godish.

note: the real pyramid apricot ale only was served from it's old "brew port" in kalama, wash. after it moved to headquarters in seattle and later bought by coors, not so good. in the good old days in kalama, buy two cases and get a free pyramid pint glass ... petty's shelves are still stocked with "man" glasses if that saves any face.

 

[Cosmo]

Miller High Life Light, please ...

Anyway, first job out of school was via a blind resume send.

The next job was posted on APSE and JJobs, but there's no question having some quality contacts/references in the area who could speak well for me played a huge role in me landing the gig. You definitely need someone to help you stand out of the 120-resume crowd, ya know.

 

[cougargirl]

Congratulations, Z-Nation. Good luck at the 200k!

My first job out of school came after I applied to just about every opening I saw during the spring of my senior year. The second newspaper I worked at, I applied through the APSE jobs board, and helped me earn the job at the current paper.

I'll take an Odell 90 Shilling, btw.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Nice work, ZN.
Talk to everyone. Walk up to people in the press box whose stuff you like and talk to them. LISTEN to them, too. Pitch yourself for 3d sidebar duty on the bigger stages if you can. Talk and listen some more. Within a couple of years, you'll be amazed how many contacts you have.
Damn, I'm parched.
Leinie's Original, please.

 

[User 1019]

Zombie,

Congrats on the new gig, man.

I have no advice for you.

But I'll take a Guiness.

 

[MileHigh]

Congratulations.
My last two jobs have come through contacts and luck. One I got on the East Coast after my resume was passed on for another job I applied for within the same company at a West Coast paper and I, too, lived on the West Coast. It was never advertised and I never would have thought to have applied had it been, but I got a call out of the blue one day from the sports editor of the major metro (I was at an 80K paper at the time). My current job was never advertised and that was an inside contact helping drop my name/get my foot in the door.

Oh, and Fat Tire here.

 

[Angola!]

oh, i forgot.

a pyramid apricot ale will do for me.

Sorry, Tom. All this time I assumed you were a guy.

Congrats, Zombie. Starting out at a 200k paper isn't easy.

Good luck.

My jobs all came through knowing folks. None was even posted, as far as I know.

<still laughing> **** ace. you are right. but if i would have had access to that stuff in high school and college, you would call me mr. petty in respect.

yes, it's a chick's beer, but it's so, so nectar of the godish.

note: the real pyramid apricot ale only was served from it's old "brew port" in kalama, wash. after it moved to headquarters in seattle and later bought by coors, not so good. in the good old days in kalama, buy two cases and get a free pyramid pint glass ... petty's shelves are still stocked with "man" glasses if that saves any face.

Also, it is one of the few Pyramid beers you can get in the lonely state of Texas.

 

[Idaho]

Diet Coke with Lime.

and welcome to the brother(sister)hood.

 

[wickedwritah]

Congrats, buddy. I'm sure listening to that song 10 times per football game prepped you well. I'll join IJAG in requesting a Yuengling.

 

[zeke12]

Congratulations.

Grain Belt Premium, keep 'em coming.