Q: A quick query about prior experience: A number of major media companies say in their internship materials that you must have had at least one prior internship at a daily paper, or fulltime experience. How hard is that requirement followed, and how could I convince them to bend it?

A: Companies that explicitly say they require prior internship experience usually hold pretty hard to that. Some will consider work at a very good collegiate daily newspaper as a qualifier, but not a weekly publication. However, there can be exceptions, depending on your prior career, and a very strong package of writing samples that you’ve had published during your time at Columbia J School, or perhaps an outstanding master’s project. If you feel you’re close to meeting the requirement, go ahead and apply anyway and let your work speak for you. But if you have no clips at all, don’t bother applying to these internships.  

Q: I’ve come to the Journalism School from (a profession completely unrelated to journalism) and I had NO CLIPS at all before RW1. The deadlines for the internships at the best places like the NY Times and Wall Street Journal are coming up, and I’m just wondering if I should bother to apply to these places or if I’d just be wasting my time.

A: Here’s the reality: you will be competing against candidates who in some cases have worked in as many as three or more internships, maybe extensive freelancing (including with these papers themselves), or maybe worked as fulltime reporters for a short time before enrolling in journalism school. They are the people most likely to get jobs at the place like those you mentioned. Without any writing samples, you should expect that you won’t have much chance. Of course, you can always apply and make your best case for why you should be considered. But remember that there are alternatives to these major media internships, and while smaller media companies, like a cable system or a small newspaper might not be your first choice, they might in fact be the ones that give you your first job.

Q: A student asks how to handle a gap of almost two years that has been left on the resume. The student’s explanation is simple: due to an accident that caused an injury, the student could not work nor attend school, so that period is left unaccounted for on the resume. Does this job seeker need to explain that on the resume or in a cover letter or even in an interview? How bad does this look and will that be counted against the applicant?

A: The crew in Career Services agrees that the student is fine leaving that gap on the resume, without explanation, and that for now, there should be no explanation in a cover letter. Any employer looking over the resume would surely spot the gap, but we believe the time to make an explanation is when asked about it, and we also agree that almost every editor would ask. If asked, the student would need only say that due to illness, he/she could not work nor attend school, and would really have no reason nor any obligation to provide additional details. We don’t think the student would be penalized, and if the employer liked everything else on the resume plus the clips and cover letter, the gap shouldn’t pose any problem. Learn more about tuning your resume with the Career Services Online Resume Guide.

In case anyone hasn’t told you, an idea can be worth a thousand words — in this case 1,382 of them — or even better than that, a JOB!

Among the most important ways to prepare for a job interview is to study the company, the people you’d work for and develop a few solid ideas for stories that you can share with the employer once you’re in the interview. And if you don’t believe us, get a load of what happened to Seth Colter Walls, an MA student in the politics/government concentration who recently interviewed for an internship with Newsweek’s international desk.

Seth had an 11 a.m. appointment, and as planned, he was interviewed by several of the magazine’s top editors. He had submitted a tuned up resume, cover letter and his writing portfolio, and wisely, studied the magazine with a eye toward proposing story ideas. One piece he suggested was an analysis piece on the difficulties Lebanon faced in trying to break a long stalement and finally elect its next president amid continuing violence, factional stuggles and other political skirmishes.

Bingo!

Almost at the same time he was interviewing in Midtown, a bomb blast in east Beirut would be killing Antoine Ghanem, a Christian Maronite lawmaker and member of the anti-Syria Parliament majority, along with several other people, further complicating Lebanon’s delicate political balance.  Then, says Seth: "The afternoon after I interviewed, an editor suggested via email that I should try to develop this piece. The timing of the latest assassination was fortuitous for me, as I’d just been in their offices talking up the Lebanon story a mere hour before it happened."

The result? Read his story,  "When Stalemate is Not an Option," posted Monday Sept. 24 at Newsweek.com.

And, oh, by the way, he got the internship.

 

Some thoughts on job interviewing techniques, shared earlier this year with our students by Kevin Bishop, New York Bureau Chief for the BBC during a "Meet the Media" visit at the  Journalism School. Read more tips at Career Services’ "Interview Prep."

Students, these are my views on interview technique which I think are shared by most of my colleagues - but I may be wrong!

First and foremost - you’ve got to make us think you want THIS job, not just A job. We see a lot of candidates, so if you make it look like you see a lot of interviewers and are bored by the process we’re going to turn off. But on the other hand, we’re not that impressed by exuberant over-enthusiasm. Please avoid the words awesome and excited. (Career Services Deputy Director Julie Hartenstein adds another viewpoint: I would only take issue with one point: That is the use of the words awesome and excited. Perhaps it sounds too juvenile, naive or overly exuberant but I think it is maybe a bit of the age group and our culture, just a sincere American expression of enthusiasm. Bishop: You’re right, I think my awesome comment might be a Brit thing - I just find people who, when asked "why do you want to come to the BBC", answer "I’m so excited, it’s awesome," could maybe think up a few more specific reasons….but I am a pedant at times. Haratenstein: Absolutely, if awesome if the answer to a question, that is totally lame. If used as an adjective once in the interview to convey enthusiasm; I think it is genuine, although I hear the BBC stylebook wisely advises against colloquialisms.)

Find out about the job before the interview. Call the person on the interview panel and ask if you can chat over what is expected. Find out as much as you can about us before the interview. It’s worth asking if you can come and spend a few hours in the bureau or office - you may be refused but if you can it’s a great opportunity to talk to people.

Research the company. Know the output - who we broadcast to, what type of outlets we serve- and try to watch or listen beforehand. Have an opinion about something you’ve heard, seen or read on our output – even if it’s negative, it shows you’re interested. There are a host of BBC

News websites with our history, set-up, programming etc. All of our radio output is streamed and kept for 7 days. I’m more impressed by someone who has listened to that morning’s Today Programme on Radio 4 than someone who knows BBC is on PBS.

Know the subject area. If it’s a job at the UN - go there! Go on a tour of the building - it’ll inspire you to think of stories or questions. Look at upcoming diaries for story areas and know what the agenda is going to be in the coming months. For example, none of you mentioned that this year’s UNGA will devote a whole day to climate change.

 If you want to bring notes to the interview it’s fine by me. Ask each time, but most BBC people don’t see the interview as a knowledge test, so a few crib notes are fine.

Story ideas - it’s the holy grail of BBC interviews. Have a good half dozen specific story ideas with picture and sound illustrations. And talk about them whenever you can - it’s always possible to turn an awkward question into one you can answer by having a good story idea to offer. The ideal answer to the UNGA preview question involves you saying: "I’d open with a shot of x, followed by an interview with y, then a stand-up which I’d shoot in z…"

Eye contact is important. Look at the interviewers, not at your shoes.

Don’t be too verbose. Remember you’re probably one of many people saying similar things to us and we’ve kind of heard it all before. Make your point but don’t over elaborate. Keep an eye on the clock - you’ve got an allotted time and the interviewers don’t want to overrun. Read body language signs that it’s time to wrap up.

I hope this is of use to you. Good luck with your job hunt. / Best wishes, Kevin Bishop

Q: I was recently hired for a freelance project but after four months the editor has failed to pay me. It’s kind of shocking, and I’m not sure what to do. My series of e-mails from California and calls to him (in NY) have been ignored. He finally wrote back after a call three weeks ago, said the check was in the mail…and it never came, of course. Any ideas for recourse?

A: First, of course, you could threaten legal action which might not get you paid, since he’ll know that such action likely would cost 20 times the fee you are owed. But then again, it just might be enough to get him off center just to get rid of a potentially bigger problem. Jsut the idea of entanglement with small claims court can raise potential for enough trouble to make them simply cough up the bucks. If you do this, be sure you know the law, but better yet, get a lawyer familiar with this type of process to send the letter, if you can get one very cheap or for free even. (See note below.)

Next, if your prior letters have been polite, it’s time to let him know in no uncertain terms that you are tired of his empty promises and that you are now demanding that you be paid. There’s no need to be cordial, because you won’t be working with this deadbeat again, anyway.

You can also let him know that as a freelance journalist you intend to let your hundreds and even thousands of classmates know through listserves and alumni networks that he and his company are deadbeats who are to be avoided because he does not pay freelancers. You can also let him know that you have flagged the Career Services office so we can refuse to post any other listings in the future.

Very important: keep copies of your communications, including emails and letters, freelance contracts, etc., that spelled out what you would be paid for your work and when, what conditions have been agreed upon (kill fees, payment only after publication, etc.).

 Post script: The writer asked her sister, who is a lawyer, to draft a letter demanding payment, and in fact, the editor of the publication quickly sent the payment.

Q: I’m wondering whether I could use as a reference someone who has edited only two freelance stories. Also, would be better to use the professor who advised me on my master’s project, which went on to be published as a cover piece in a local newspaper, or the editor of the publication who edited the story?

A: It’s fine to use that editor provided there was real interaction between thte two of you: him or her discussing the story idea with you, guiding you during reporting, doing actual hands-on editing of the story versus just taking the story already pre-written, etc. Otherwise, all that editor can really do is say he or she took your story and published it, and that doesn’t provide any more insight than the clip does just by itself.

As for professor vs. editor: The professor who advised you over several months on your master’s project is likely to know lots more about you than someone who took that project and over a much shorter time and had far less interaction with you in publising the piece. Hopefully your adviser should have gotten to know your reporting and writing strengths well, how you progressed over time, your weaknesses.

 

 

 

Q: During a job interview, is it appropriate to ask the employer to provide the salary? 

A: It can be a sticky question to ask, and it’s better left to the second interview, most recruiters and editors have said. In some cases, an employer won’t have a salary set until they have interviewed you, and better assessed your skill level, and what you will actually bring to the table and how big a play they are willing to make to get you aboard. Sometimes the pay will be pre-determined regardless of the candidates, either by a union contract or by a strict budget constraint.

Either way, you will want to show that your strongest interest is not just in the job’s salary, but in the duties you’ll perform, the working conditions, and other questions regarding your role in the newsroom. 

Grads from the Class of 2006 were asked to offer any tips about a job search after J-School, and below is a sample. They offer optimism, but make clear it’s also a lot of work.  Read all the comments from Class of 2006 and also view more from Class of 2005.

The traditional newspaper industry is in a massive state of upheaval and it is not pleasant. Layoffs, consolidation and cutbacks are the norm, and this is a tough market to find a job in. Think outside the box of a traditional newspaper job and get yourself new media and other skills that will make you more marketable in the Internet sphere.

 Defend your decision to go to J-school strongly. You will always meet people who don’t think highly of J-schools so you should let them know about the skills you got at Columbia.

 Be realistic about the salary. It’s always below your expectation. Choose the job at give your a lot of freedom to report.

 Explore every single lead and contact and be patient. Practice freelancing as well; don’t just sit around waiting for someone to call — go out and report and pitch. Never be afraid to pitch.

 I’d say that, for radio students, if you don’t have any radio experience, your masters and/or workshop pieces are your calling cards.  My master’s doc was invaluable in helping me land a job and has since been licensed twice on PRX.  So pay attention to those and keep good copies of clips, intros, scripts, etc.  Also, don’t underestimate the value of alumni and those connections.  And finally, don’t be afraid of life outside of New York City!  Wyoming, where I am, may seem far and foreign, but there are great stories everywhere, and we’re now fully staffed in the newsroom with 3 JSchool grads, from ‘05, ‘06, and this month ‘07. 

 Take the "new media" workshop because those skills will pay off. Both my internships that sustained me before my book sold were in the online departments of newspapers, the Courier-Journal in Louisville and the NY Times.

 Have an open mind. I was sure I wanted to be in magazines, but after an internship at a great magazine and a job at an online media outfit, I now now that I’m much happier with the pace of online journalism.

 There is more to this world than New York City and The New York Times.

 After J-school, take time off if you can. Forget about work. Ride a bicycle. Then dig in hard and put all your job-hunting energy into finding the exact kind of job you want. Work it from all angles. Write cover letters proposing a beat. Design freelance plans. Send editors lists of story ideas. Apply to open positions and tell them what you REALLY want to do. Eventually, something will give and you’ll be doing what you want.

 Open yourself up to the possibilities and, if possible, be willing to move. If a job doesn’t work out, you can always come back to where you came from. And it really is possible to do almost anything for a year.

 Hang in there.

Try as hard as possible to line up a paying journalism job before graduation—it really helps keep you connected so you can get that next job.

If you want to work in a newsroom -particularly as a reporter - be willing to leave NYC for at least a year to do so.

 Freelance. Craigslist has plenty of people looking for writers. Submit pieces there. I didn’t know where to look for freelancing, and ended up having to start from scratch when I graduated. CraigsList is a great source of finding jobs and freelance opportunities for writing.

Don’t freak out, despite all the doom and gloom you hear about the industry. There’s still news, and lots of it. But hedge your bets by learning as much about online news presentation and multimedia as possible.

 Don’t give up!

 Keep an open mind. I was dead set on a magazine job, and I quickly realized that online was much better for me.

Good things don’t come to those who only stand and wait for employers beg for their services. Good things happen if you target a select few resumes to a select few outlets rather than blanket the globe with generic cover letters extolling your virtues.

 Know the paper or magazine’s audience, learn about their coverage and be persistent.

Q:  So many internships want people who already have clips, but there’s not really a way to get them during the school year it seems. It’s disappointing that a master’s degree here gives me the opportunity to be eligible to apply for these internships, but does not generate a portfolio that really makes a competitive candidate. How are other people handling this? 

A: In fact, there are PLENTY of ways to get clips while in the MS program. True, many intern programs, like the Chicago Tribune, will either require that you have had a previous internship, while others want freelancing or a lot of work at a campus newspaper. Others won’t actually have the requirement but you’ll be at a disadvantage without having held one, like at The Boston Globe. So consider smaller media companies that will be more willing to consider someone with less experience. View our Internships list for more.

Clips may not come in time for you to use in applications with early deadlines, but remember that there still are opportunities for jobs going in the summer months, and occasionally papers will reopen internship slots or hold a few open into the spring.

Classes will be generated in courses like Columbia News Service, Deadline in Depth, The Bronx Beat, the new media NYC24.org project, Covering The Youth Beat, Covering Religion, Covering Education, and a few other seminars/workshops in which you write stories that can pitched to publications as freelance pieces. While it’s difficult to carve out time to freelance, it is part of the routine that is necessary for building a portfolio, so you need to work toward doing that. And most of all, be prepared to find homes for some of your RW1 stories at local publications, which have been scooping up students’ stories. This will take not much more work on your part, but will pay off big-time by the year’s end. It’s a good idea to see some guidance from your profs about which stories you’ve done would be good candidates, and get suggestions from them on where to pitch the stories. Believe us — this plan works!

See our Freelancing Guide’s  Turning Classwork into Clips piece for more on Turning Classwork into Clips.