JRN 440 Adv. Online Journalism Job Talk

1. JRN 440Adv. Online JournalismJob Talk Monday, 4/9/12

2. Class Objectives • Lecture • Job Talk • Exam Review • Homework • Project 3 due by 2:05pm on Wednesday, April 25th

3. How to get a content creation job • Determine what kind of job do you want • Full time • Part time • When do you want to work • Days, nights, weekends, on call • How far will you travel (each day) • 1 mile • Lansing • Can work at a distance

4. Job Locations • Where do you want to live • City versus Country • Apartment versus House (with parents) • What State • What City (NY, Chicago, Lansing) … all have to do with cost and quality of living

5. How to get a graphics-related job • Right now… • You can either get a job that pays well and doesn’t deal with graphics/writing/content • Will bring in money but won’t build your creation experience or portfolio • Or you can get a graphics/writing/content creation job that won’t pay very well • Won’t bring in money but will build your prof. experience and portfolio

6. How to get a graphics-related job • 1st things 1st- ignore most job titles • Person creating title may not know what the title means • No official meaning to titles • Reporter, journalist, digital producer, media designer, marketing communication manager/assistant… • Instead, look at job responsibilities • Even here, the responsibilities may not make sense • Remember that job posting is a “wish list” from employer… • Always apply to jobs in which you are at least 75% qualified • And apply to jobs in which you are over-qualified • You don’t know who you are competing against!

7. Where to find jobs • Generic job sites: monster.com, careerbuilder.com • Postings on other sites: Craig’s List, newspaper sites, journalismjobs.com • School sites • AEJMC site? • Freelance design site: guru.com (have to register, get 10 free bids on a job, however a lot of jobs require you to be a paying member),

8. Where to find jobs • Networking • Face-to-face • Online /Facebook/ build your brand • Employers will look you up • Think about it this way… where would my potential boss/company post a listing? • Do look at every posting b/c some will say “possibility of working remotely”

9. When job hunting… • Check your ego at the door because… • You WILL be criticized for your work… you have the power either to take it constructively or not • How thick is your skin? Can you let things roll off your back? • May determine where you can and cannot work and in what environment you can thrive • You may go through MANY failed job interviews • Can give you experience in what you need to change in your resume (perhaps you need more web design skills or to improve your writing). • You will learn how to answer the questions typically asked at an interview (more in later slides)

10. When job hunting… • If you are introverted, you need to become extroverted • No one will sell you other than yourself • Show your enthusiasm about getting the job • Tell them at the interview that you want the job • Learn about the company and products and talk about that during the interviews • IMHO, it’s better to be overenthusiastic than a dead fish

11. Approach to getting a design job • Be flexible…You won't always get the job you think • Location may be different • Instead of the MI, it may be in the northeast • Instead of at a news agency it may be within a company • Instead of housed within a company they may ask for you to work at home • Do you need to have hardware and software for this?

12. Approach to getting a design job • Be flexible…You won't always get the job you think • Job may be listed as something beyond your grasp • Apply to jobs that you can grow into and out of over time • Job may be listed as one thing and then include something else • Be careful of sales if you are not into it! (sales and marketing departments are often together) • Watch for words like “cold call” or salaries that are incredibly high (can be commission-based)

13. Approach to getting a design job • Be flexible…You won't always get the job you think • Job may change over time (responsibilities may change) • Especially if it is a newly created job • Or you grow/are a fast learner • Or you become a manager • Job may be in an industry or setting that you are not familiar with • Can you overcome this? Learn about it?

14. Approach to getting a design job • Keep your resume updated • Change to fit each job listing • No spelling errors whatsoever • ALWAYS send or e-mail a cover letter • Change to fit each job listing • No spelling errors whatsoever • Is a brief 2-3 strong points of your resume • ALWAYS send or e-mail a thank you letter • To anyone you meet at the interview • Get everyone’s card so that you don’t misspell their names • Give 1 week after interview • Is a re-hash of your cover letter

15. Dealing with technology • Even in this digital age, strive to be more formal than casual (in the beginning) • Address people with Mr. or Ms. • Don’t start an e-mail with “Hey” • Don’t use emoticons or text message spelling in e-mails • Show up to your meeting on time and turn off your cell phone • If you don’t hear back from contact after you have sent an intial e-mail, wait a week and then e-mail again (better yet, call them).

16. Approach to getting a design job • ALWAYS bring a portfolio to the interview • Even if not asked to do so • Strongest first and last • Ask for advice from others on content • It’s also nice to have a digital, leave-behind CD of your portfolio pieces

17. Common questions asked by interviewer • Why do you think we should hire you for this job? • What are your weaknesses? (Make this into a strength) • What are your strengths? • Why did you leave your last job? • What do you know about this industry? Our Company? • Are you willing to relocate? (Does not mean that they will pay for this!) • What do you see yourself doing in 5 - 10 years? • What are your long range career objectives and how do you plan to achieve them? • How do you work under pressure? • What two or three things are most important to you in your job? • What skills do you want to improve?

18. They shouldn’t ask this, but they may • Are not supposed to ask these legally but may • Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner, husband/wife, kids • This is discriminatory • They may say, “Is there any reason that you may return to Mt. Pleasant in your off time?” • How old are you • Can request this on paperwork after you are hired • Where were you born • Can ask if you are a U.S. resident • Any type of religious question • Any type of disabilities

19. Typical Questions You Should Ask the Interviewer • When you get them talking, this is a good thing… you SHOULD ALWAYS ask questions in an interview! • What is the start date? • Where is position going to be located (cubicle, office, home)? • What hardware and software are provided/used? • Who will you be working with? • What might a typical day in this position entail? • What opportunities for advancement are there?

20. In Class Exam, Wed. 4/18 • Worth 100 out of 400 points • Scantron based • T/F (1 point) or Multiple Choice (2 points) • 5 points at end for extra credit fill in the blank • We don’t have a book- so read…. All lectures • Won’t test on “how do you do this in Photoshop, Illustrator, Google sites” • But have to know everything else