Today was the day I attempted to narrow down my dreams for the future.
Today was the day I had my first appointment with the Careers service at University.
Today was the day I had my first appointment with the Careers service at University.
Filled with anticipation and excitement, eagerly clutching various job descriptions, I walked into the Careers office with high hopes that they would clear the confusion that was currently occupying my head
15 minutes later, I walked out of the Careers office... feeling slightly bemused. I felt like I had made a bit of progress, but I don't know how. Let me explain:
I told the nice career lady in the leopard print shirt that I had a rough idea of the paths I wanted to follow: journalism, editing and programme researching for broadcasting. She proceeded to discuss journalism, said I really needed to investigate work experience or shadowing.
I already knew this, I just haven’t done anything.
She then suggested I have a look at the website Prospects.
I already knew this, I just haven’t done anything.
She then suggested I have a look at the website Prospects.
I already have.
Everything she then said was pretty much read off this website. Now, unless I’m very much mistaken, I probably could have done this back in my room…
Anyway, after a few minutes she told me about another girl who wanted to be a journalist and had applied for an 18 month short course for after her degree; the application process is made up of multiple stages, one of which sounded particularly intense. Basically an ‘observation stage’, the tutors tell the applicants that a major news story has broken and ask ‘what do you do?’ They then proceed to watch them, finding out what contacts they use, what they do and what they write. They form a judgement on this, throwing random questions at applicants during the process. Now, I don’t know about you but this sounds slightly scary.
No.1: I am a 20 year old student; what sort of contacts should I have already?
No.2: I have never, NEVER dealt with a major news story and attempted to gain more info. About it in my life.
No.3: I think I work well under pressure, but I started to imagine the tutors as one of those horrible fitness trainers shouting in the ear of some crying, obese person as they exerted all the energy they had on a treadmill. That would be me except without the obesity, and swopping the treadmill for a keyboard.
I think this nice lady in the leopard print shirt noticed my slightly daunted expression. She reiterated to me that all jobs are competitive but to succeed in the ones I’d mentioned I’d have to show I really wanted it, show dedication and persistence. The word pushy sprang to mind.
Everything she then said was pretty much read off this website. Now, unless I’m very much mistaken, I probably could have done this back in my room…
Anyway, after a few minutes she told me about another girl who wanted to be a journalist and had applied for an 18 month short course for after her degree; the application process is made up of multiple stages, one of which sounded particularly intense. Basically an ‘observation stage’, the tutors tell the applicants that a major news story has broken and ask ‘what do you do?’ They then proceed to watch them, finding out what contacts they use, what they do and what they write. They form a judgement on this, throwing random questions at applicants during the process. Now, I don’t know about you but this sounds slightly scary.
No.1: I am a 20 year old student; what sort of contacts should I have already?
No.2: I have never, NEVER dealt with a major news story and attempted to gain more info. About it in my life.
No.3: I think I work well under pressure, but I started to imagine the tutors as one of those horrible fitness trainers shouting in the ear of some crying, obese person as they exerted all the energy they had on a treadmill. That would be me except without the obesity, and swopping the treadmill for a keyboard.
I think this nice lady in the leopard print shirt noticed my slightly daunted expression. She reiterated to me that all jobs are competitive but to succeed in the ones I’d mentioned I’d have to show I really wanted it, show dedication and persistence. The word pushy sprang to mind.
Me? Pushy? SERIOUSLY??
The nice lady in the leopard print shirt finally suggested I come back tomorrow for a second careers talk; one that pursued each of my jobs in slightly more depth and might help me narrow things down a bit.
So to sum things up; I now know for sure that I want to work in the ‘Publishing and Journalism’ sector, but I still can’t narrow it down….is this really progress?
So to sum things up; I now know for sure that I want to work in the ‘Publishing and Journalism’ sector, but I still can’t narrow it down….is this really progress?
After this, I proceeded to make a visit to town with a housemate and SPLURGE.
Why is it that when you have vouchers for a clothes shop you only find clothes you like in other shops? Typical.
To conclude my day:
The good news? I am well and truly a size 8 and I have made an 'investment' in buying that Zara blazer ... I now also know that I want to go into the publicity or journalism sector but I also highly doubt whether I have the right attributes to be a major player in the dog-eat-dog journo world…
The bad news? I now feel incredibly guilty that I have spent a fair amount of money on clothes. Despite the fact they are all gorgeous. And I love them.
Being a student is SO.HARD.
As a recent J-school grad I will give you a few words of advice.
ReplyDeleteOne, do lots of internships, not just one, think three to five.
Two, don't have kids, get married, or want to stay in the same spot. You can have kids and get married, just wait until you have the job you really want. I was married and had a kid before I started J-school. That meant that I was at the mercy of my military husband's job, and I couldn't take time off to intern because of the kid.
Three, if you aren't interested in following the breaking leads then make sure your profile is filled with feature stories and general news coverage.
Four, consider taking extra editorial classes, publishing classes, and even technical writing classes. If you want to write but can't find a news job you can still make money in a career that uses your talents, but make sure you have the work done before you graduate.
Five, master indesign and framemaker. Adobe gives student discounts that are huge, take advantage of it.
I think you may find that after you have a few internships under your belt that the journalism world won't be so scary. Everybody thinks, why would they want to talk to me. The truth is that people love to talk, and if you aren't afraid to go up to someone and strike up a conversation, then you will do just fine. I literally pushed a J-school colleague into a group of people after a pep talk. She did great interviews, she just needed some prodding. Find a cameraman/woman to be your cattle prod. Hope this helps. Remember people want to talk about themselves, you just have to be a good listener and note taker. Also consider investing in a livescribe/echo pen. I love mine. It's great for other classes as well.
Also great looking clothes are an investment in your professional future, and may help you land an amazing internship/job.
Thank you so much for all these tips! It's great to read and so encouraging. As my more recent entry states I've made a bit of progress and have just received a shorthand course book to teach myself - hopefully I'll get to where I want to be!
DeleteI had a similar experience at my Careers Service when I first went Steph. Keep pestering them! I kept pestering and they finally told me about this scheme you could apply for at Pearson Education to get some work experience (they are a publication company). They seem to be most of the times more like a psychologist than a Careers help program. If you catch them on a good day they can be really helpful and push you in the right direction. Have you considered maybe writing into Guardian Careers or BBC careers? I know BBC sometimes have like training days
ReplyDeletehaha i'm sure the first time you go is a waste of time! I went back (which I haven't written about) but the next lady was a great help, gave me a contact who works at uni and used to be a local journalist who I met up with - she gave me some useful tips, and I've applied for experience at the BBC (we have a big station in Nottingham so I'm hoping to get that in the summer!) Otherwise I will to write to the Guardian and maybe the Independent too? I've found loads of grad.schemes, it's just a matter of getting my portfolio impressive enough for them to notice! Hope your career progress is going well?
ReplyDelete