Job Hunting in Digital Journalism

Finding a job in digital journalism

Steve ButtryNorthern Kentucky University

March 30, 2012#nkujourn

Read more• @stevebuttry • stevebuttry.wordpress.com (“career

advice” category)• Check links in today’s blog post• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• stephenbuttry@gmail.com

Your job search is a story• Research online. Thoroughly• Work your connections• Nail the face-to-face interview• Be resourceful• Try multiple approaches• Never say no for someone else

Build your digital profile• Google yourself. What do you find?• Google+ profile• LinkedIn profile• Twitter, Facebook Timeline (movie)• About.me, Intersect• Blog (when did you last post?)• Personal site (“about me” or portfolio)

Build your experience• Student publications• Internships• Blog• Social media• Freelancing (stringer or one-shot)• Part-time jobs• Professional convention coverage

Network• Connect digitally w/ people you admire• Especially on Twitter• #wjchat, #spjchat, #dfmchat, etc.• Follow up (Twitter, email, handwritten)• Comment on blogs• IRL

Show, don’t tell• Hyperlink résumé (but make sure it reads

well w/o links)• Don’t send hard copy by U.S. mail unless

asked• Video as part of résumé (you,

Xtranormal, Search Stories, FB Timeline)• Pitch through social media• Use new tools (Storify, Pinterest,

Intersect, Dipity)

Do your reporting• What does the job require?• Who does similar work? What are their

strengths? What are yours?• What strengths should you highlight?• What are you doing to address

weaknesses?• Research people you interview with

Little things are big things• Customize your résumé• Spell the prospective boss’s name right • Take initiative (can you schedule your

own interview?)• Include Twitter username on résumé

Interviews count, too• Prepare thoroughly• Listen effectively• Answer honestly• Ask tough questions• Don’t fake: “I don’t know” beats BS• Follow up

Follow up• Thank interviewer(s): email, card, tweet• Elaborate on answers (send link to story

you mentioned, etc.)• Send link(s) to notable new work• Send links (not just yours) they might like• Persistence is a job skill• Don’t overdo it

Read more• @stevebuttry• #nkujourn • stevebuttry.wordpress.com (“career

advice” category)• Check links in today’s blog post• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• stephenbuttry@gmail.com

In job-hunting …

Don’t let obstacles become excuses