Filed under: Blog | Tags: interning, Men's basketball coverage, networking sites, on-air sports talent
Alexis Hosier
I am about to graduate in three weeks from college with a degree in Sport Communication-Broadcast and a minor in Telecommunications. I could not be happier with the career path that I have chosen because I love what I do. However, finding a job hasn’t been as happy as my college experience. I am currently applying to TV stations around the country trying to find a Sports Reporter/Anchor/Producer position.
I have sent out resume DVD’s quite a few places, but have heard nothing back so far.
Let me give you a brief rundown of my resume. Having worked at three different media outlets since starting college I feel I am very well qualified for starter position as an on-air sports talent.
My whole life I have grown up around sports and I am very knowledgeable about a lot of sports. I am not your typical girl who sits on the sidelines and doesn’t know what is going on.
I work for Indiana University Student Television where I report, anchor, write for the script, edit and shoot. Along with that I work for Palestra.net, The College Network where I have covered many sporting events such as the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament, Big Ten Men’s Basketball tournament and the Kelvin Sampson scandal at IU.
I also worked for WISH-TV in Indianapolis for the Sports Department for a year. At WISH I learned to use Avid editing suite, become a better interviewer and write for the script. WISH-TV gave me the opportunity to cover high school football and basketball state finals. I also got to interview racecar drivers at the Indianapolis 500 and Brickyard 400.
Along with all of those I had the opportunity – thanks to Palestra.net – to cover a high-profile federal trial in Indianapolis for the New York Post. I have also appeared as a guest on a sports talk show at the student radio station on campus.
With that said, I feel as if I am well qualified to enter the workforce. I have put in my time as a volunteer, intern and balanced it all while being a student that is consistently on the Dean’s List. The frustrating part is that finding a job has been extremely difficult so far.
My career adviser at IU has turned me to a couple great networking sites including linkedin.com andcareerscribe.com. These sites allow you to make connection with future employers or people you have made connections with in the past.
The question is, what more do we have to do to get our foot in the door? I will wrap it up for now, but to anyone reading this: Don’t get frustrated. My Dad always tells me that an “opportunity” will come along. Until then, keep looking and working as hard as you can.
Filed under: Blog | Tags: cover letter, journalism, newspaper cutbacks, resume
Amanda Hoffstrom
As a journalism major, I did not expect the job search to be seamless, but it has been more challenging than I originally expected. Someone once told me that looking for a job is a full-time job in itself, and they were right. It is especially difficult with full-time school, a part-time job and all the activities that come with the final months of college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to send out perfect resumes and cover letters.
The economic downturn certainly hasn’t helped either. I have been discouraged by newspapers filing for bankruptcy or cutting staff positions, as well as magazines ceasing publication. I am mainly looking for a job at a newspaper, magazine or online publication as a writer, reporter or assistant editor. However, I am open for any position that encourages creativity, analytical thinking and strong communication skills.
The good news (if there can be good news in a bad economy) is that there are companies out there hiring new grads. I have seen openings online in both journalism and public relations on job boards and company Web sites. I have applied to positions at newspapers, magazines, news blogs, Web sites, public relations firms and book publishing houses. I have also widened my search to include three- to six-month internships because I still see myself as a student of the profession. I have used LinkedIn and other outlets to seek job prospects through neighbors, previous employers and professors as well.
Though my job search has not solicited the results I want yet, I am not giving up. I am sending out work samples as often as I can in the hopes that my experience will match what a hiring manager is looking for. As my dad says, it only takes one company to say yes.
