Getting Started |
Some of you arrive on campus just a few months out of college. Some of you have two or three years of journalism experience. Some of you were teachers and lawyers before coming to Columbia. And some of you left good jobs in journalism – but have returned to school to focus on a particular subject area. How you fashion your job search will depend on many factors – your experience level, your geographic limitations (if any), your skills and your interests. But some of the steps you’ll take to get a job are common to everybody: Sitting down with one of us in Career Services for a consultation, figuring out where you want to apply, writing good resumes and cover letters, and nailing the interview. Some steps are less obvious but nonetheless important: Lining up references who will rave about you, letting your professors and friends in the business know you’re looking, and continuing to build up your clip file. The more open-minded you are about your job search, the better luck you’ll have. For an idea of the breadth of writing jobs and mediums you might want to start thinking about, familiarize yourself with our section on Breaking into Journalism, which we put together to help you get published during your year at Columbia. Here are some links to help you get started. |
Cover LettersWriting letters that grab an editor’s attentionLearn more » |
ResumesTelling your story in the best possible way ---- all on one pageLearn more » |
ReferencesAsk people who know your work bestLearn more » |
Interview Prep“Where do you see yourself in five years?” and other stumpersLearn more » |
How much do I need to make?A table to estimate your expensesLearn more » |
How To Negotiate a SalaryWhen to bring up vacation, money, and benefitsLearn more » |
Thank-You NotesElectronic, typed or handwritten, the thank you note is mandatoryLearn more » |
Turning Classwork Into ClipsHow and where to get published while you're in schoolLearn more » |
Clips, Tapes, Online ResumesA how-to guide for studentsLearn more » |
Job Hunt PrepNow that your resume, cover letters and references are in order, what's next?Learn more » |
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