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 Building a Portfolio, which we put together to help you establish yourself and get published during your time at Columbia.

Also, be sure to check out some fantastic resources from Columbia's Center for Career Education, the career center for the university at large.

Here are some links to help you get started.

Cover Letters

Writing letters that grab an editor’s attention
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Resumes

Telling your story in the best possible way ---- all on one page
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References

Ask people who know your work best
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Interview Prep

“Where do you see yourself in five years?” and other stumpers
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Turning Classwork Into Clips

How and where to get published while you're in school
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Clips, Tapes, Online Portfolios

A how-to guide for students
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Breaking into Broadcast

Tips and market info for television and radio, advice from recent grads and news directors, and more
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How much do I need to make?

A table to estimate your expenses
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How to Negotiate a Salary

When to bring up vacation, money, and benefits
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Thank-You Notes

Electronic, typed or handwritten, the thank you note is mandatory
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Job Hunt Prep

Now that your resume, cover letters and references are in order, what's next?
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