1. Getting a Job Be specific when you look Tailor your resume Prepare your portfolio Watch the ads—be opportunistic Be proactive—court potential employers Get your references prepped Be realistic, but shoot high Set aside some cash for proactive travel

2. Be specific Pitch yourself as what you want to be “A job at a newspaper”—bad “A copy-editing job”—good “A general-assignment reporting job”— good If you have a specialty, pitch it, but be ready to back it up

3. Think geography Want to work in NYC? Go there. If Times won’t hire you, maybe Jersey Journal will! If you’re bound geographically, draw a circle on a map. Research all possible pubs in that circle. Geography doesn’t matter to serious climbers—be ready to move.

4. Tailor your resume Put professional experience at the top. Education next. ALWAYS list references, despite what career counselors tell you. References should be combination of professional and academic. List only journalism-related extracurricular activities—activists scare editors!

5. Reporting portfolios Not more than a dozen articles unless requested. A bunch of varied spot stories is always good. At least a couple of enterprise stories that show you can simplify complexity. At least one profile. Short, snappy features are rare, welcome.

6. Reporters II Reproduce your articles with headline and folio line on the page. Use screen shot, raw copy for Web stuff. Notebook-size repros okay. Always include any corrections, or leave that article out. Include art. Keep raw copy in case you’re asked.

7. Editor portfolios Full-size tear sheets are best. Repros with folio line second-best. Screen shots for Web. Save raw copy for comparison. Shoot for a variety of edits, as reporters do. Note which tearsheets are layouts or story edits. Not more than a dozen examples to start.

8. Watch the ads: the big 6 editorandpublisher.com/ journalismjobs.com/ mediabistro.com poynter.org monster.com craigslist.com mediabistro.com/abm/joblistings/

9. Other job sites http://www.magazine.org/ One application for multiple magazines, listings of jobs. http://www.nppa.org/ Career advice, some jobs…

10. Other job sites www.asne.org/ internships, jobs, job fairs www.freep.com/jobspage/ jobs and career-development tools

11. Be proactive Select half a dozen places you’d like to work, and begin hounding them. Follow up resumes and letters with phone calls. Ask for m.e. if unaware of whom to contact. Offer to show up at the office for an interview, test, try-out. Read and know the product before you start stalking.

12. Work your contacts Hiring is not always on merit. If you know someone, use that connection. Use job fairs, professional meetings to develop new contacts. Follow them up relentlessly. Be courteous and persistent—just like a good reporter.

13. Internships For graduates, internships are extended job interviews. Jobs are best, but internships can be good, too. Be the first there, the last to leave. Finish your work, then ask to do what you really want—write that feature after your shift.

14. Interviewing Stress your experience and professionalism. Don’t talk a lot about your life goals—be brief. Stress your willingness to learn and grow. Say, honestly, you’re willing to stay three years. Be careful about taking an editing job when you want to report.