Q: I am 24 years old and have recently chosen to leave the corporation I work for to pursue a masters in journalism. During college I minored in English and majored in accounting for "job security." I realize, some two-and-a-half-odd years later, that my true love is writing and research. I want desperately to soar in the field of journalism, but am unsure as to how to enter the field without getting trampled. As a businesswoman, the competition forced me to be headstrong, however, I knew what to expect. Upon changing over to journalism, I'm not quite sure what to expect.
If at all possible, can you give me some helpful hints on how to enter into the field, what to put on my résumé?
M.H., Chicago
A: Tailor your résumé to draw as many connections as you can from your past jobs to the next one. To do that, go beyond job titles, and get into the specifics of the job. Was writing required? Contact with the public? Analysis of thorny issues? Deadline work? Let prospective employers in the newspaper business know that. Don't simply through away everything you've already learned and done, just because it's not journalism.
The headstrong qualities you describe are exactly the attributes we want in journalists. Bring those out.
Finally, don't overlook the advantage of bringing a different perspective to the newspaper business. While people with backgrounds in science, math, accounting and the like must overcome a lack of journalistic skills, they likely bring something that is missing from the skill set in most newsrooms. In your cover letter, explain how you can do that. You're not just looking for a break; you're offering a unique combination of skills, intelligences and abilities that can serve the newspaper well.
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