In Class: Pre-graduation Jitters
As a second-semester senior at Merrill, I think it’s safe to say the idea of the real world makes me want to purposely flunk my Capstone Colloquium seminar. That way, I can spend another semester in my safe, College Park bubble, with my steady campus job and supportive faculty network.
But I know that can’t happen. The journalism job industry — although scary — does have many different opportunities, it’s all about finding the right match, and taking the right steps towards that job.
Adrianne Flynn, the college’s career and internship supervisor, refuted the idea of a shortage of journalism jobs, and encouraged graduates-to-be to remain optimistic.
“Don’t listen to the doom and gloom,” she said. “Journalism is vibrant, alive, entrepreneurial and full of jobs.”
Good to hear. So how do I get a job, besides replying to the generic posting on JournalismJobs.com? Flynn had lots of advice, specifically for Merrill seniors.
“The biggest advantage for Merrill students is the proximity to one of the biggest journalism job markets in the world,” she said.
And she’s right. If an employer at a Washington, D.C., publication is more likely to pick a candidate that knows their way around and possibly already has sources in the area over someone from New York.
But no matter what geographic location you’re trying to tap into, Flynn said the best thing any senior can be doing right now is tapping into their own network.
“Call the people that you know, call former internship supervisors, call the people that graduated a year ahead of you,” she said. “It’s old fashioned but I would always make myself make three calls a day, but that is every bit as valid today as it was before, because its personal networking.”
And this can be done through organizations like Society or Professional Journalists, through events in D.C. and at Knight Hall, or talking to faculty members and mentors.
David Oliver, a senior journalism major graduating this May, encourages fellow students to talk to as many people as you can whether it’s asking for any job openings or just simple job advice, to help find that right fit for you.
“I will say that take certain advice with a grain of salt, as everyone has different opinions,” he said. “You have to do a combination of what feels right to you and stepping out of your comfort zone.”
And when it comes to the logistics of it, every senior should have already fine-tuned their resume, identified their top five clips, complied and kept their list of references up to date, and maintained a strong social media presence on networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, according to Flynn. But many seniors often forget to generate recent clips.
“Employers care most about what you most recently did,” said Oliver. “That’s the best indication of what your work will be like there.”
Another opportunity Flynn encouraged students to look into are fellowship programs. She described them as a “mid-level” step between school and getting a job.
Oliver has applied to one fellowship, but has been discouraged because of selectivity.
“It’s so competitive that I’m sometimes hesitant [to apply,]” he said. “It can’t hurt to apply.”
Marlena Chertock, who graduated from the college in December, was one of few students selected for the 10-week News21 fellowship in Phoenix, Ariz., beginning this May.
“Fellowship programs are certainly worthwhile to recent grads,” she said. “They help you get your foot in the door at well-respected news organizations and gain important skills, experience and connections.”
Chertock, who currently is a full-time intern at Education Week Teacher until her fellowship in Phoenix, advises students to be persistent, despite rejections and waiting for a long time.
“You can’t expect to get an internship, a fellowship or even a job by sending out one, or even three, applications,” she said. “You have to be willing to put in the time and effort to send out dozens if you expect a response.
