November 17 Recap: Jay Eubank, Career Services

Jay Eubank- Career Services Director for the Journalism School

Office in the advising offices in Carroll

“At the end of the day, it’s about the experience you have and how you can show an employer via that experience that you can do that job.”

· If you’re looking for experience, get started on campus (for news and features: Blue & White, DTH) then branch out.

· Experience= more portfolio material, more professional experience, more things to talk about during interviews

· Can get academic credit through the j-school up to three times

· Can take the class as a continuing education credit (if already graduated)

· Check Ed2010, Media Bistro, Romenesko’s Media News

· For New York bound-read Gawker

Networking:

· Network within CAFME and with other students

· Connect with alumni: J-link in the journalism school (need to be a journalism school student to log in)

o Can search by state, city, etc

o Google and check to make sure names/companies/positions are up to date

· Network: Reach out to people in a conversational way for advice, look over resume, talk about experience, etc.

Social Media:

· Come up with a portfolio site for yourself

· Be aware of how dominant social media is

· LinkedIn:

o Allows for you to search for people

o The more people you’re connected with, the more you can tap into their connections

o Send a message “I saw that you’re connected to so and so…”

Resume Advice:

· Don’t be hesitant to use the lingo/terminology that’s relevant to your field when talking about experiences

· One page, no high school information past sophomore year

· Sell your journalism experience!

· Other work experience is great, too, but leave the bullet points off

· Play around with the design (keep it clean and easy to read)

· If you don’t have a lot of experience, include relevant classes and explain why they’re relevant

· Be straightforward and precise in bullet points with good details

· Study abroad: under education section

· Smallest font size: not below 10pt

· Transfer students: include your former school under education, don’t discount your experiences there

· Can include another section: Other Work Experience, but don’t detail it as much as your journalism experience

Cover letters:

· Do NOT use templates/guides

· Editors use cover letters to tell what kind of writer you are

· Write it like you’re writing a feature story about yourself

· Cover letter is not a broad summation, it is a description of your BEST experiences

· Be direct and straight forward in a feature-y way

· Full page

· Find a specific person to address it to (be careful about getting names/titles right!)

· Use Ms. and Mr.

· Cover letters are a part of your portfolio

· Always tailor your cover letter to the publication