Q: I'm deep in the job-hunt and have been an active reader of your jobs page. But! I want your advice to see if I'm doing something wrong.

My qualifications:

I just finished grad school at Medill, won an SPJ award along the way, broke two national news stories while in school and co-started a successful editing company before heading to j-school. I speak two languages fluently and two brokenly. I've written feature, hard news and a column. Story ideas have not been a problem as I'm now a full-time freelancer and rely heavily on ideas that pay. And I'm willing to relocate as long as it's for a daily newspaper.

But I don't have "at least two years at a daily."

I'm having a hard time getting employers to even read my resume and clips, and equal difficulty getting face-time with those that do. How can I improve my materials or strategy? Is there a qualification I should avoid focusing on?

I've attached my résumé and cover letter to see if the trouble lies there (please don't publish those on the page).

Sincerely,

Juana B. Writer

A: Your résumé and cover letter look good to me.

And, it's true, despite your impressive start, you do not yet have two years of experience. Have you been applying to places that ask for that and find you are not getting a response? Perhaps they are serious about that requirement and you should aim at places that do not use that as a qualifier.

Yet, I would still try them. I often see newspapers (even this one) hire people who do not meet their stated wishes because other candidates appear to be better, or because they don't get applicants who meet all the desired qualifications.

You have done some good work and have a lot going for you. Keep trying and don't settle too much -- even in this tough economy.