Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Here's my deal: I've worked at a 100,000-circulation daily for nearly seven years. Five of those in features, writing reviews and lifestyle stories. A year ago, I moved to the newsroom as a beat reporter. I'm trying to move to another paper. Bigger would be nice; smaller would be OK if it's a quality paper in a scenic location. I'm applying to both news and features-writing jobs.

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I've sent out 47 resume/cover letters. Nothing, except one e-mail request asking for more clips.

A friend suggested I join the National Association of Black Journalists to network, even though I'm white. I'm not sure that would work. Tonight, a 22-year-old editorial assistant, who just came to work at our paper, told me I needed to contact recruiters.

Here's my question: Am I searching the wrong way, or are there just too many laid-off journalists applying for too few jobs? My boss talks about how it's the toughest job market since 1991. But will it ever get better?

Beth

That lack of response can certainly be disheartening.

All the factors you mention could be at work: searching at places that are not hiring, trying to compete in a flooded market or a lack of contacts.

Joe Grimm

The only variable you can really work on is the networking. I wouldn't join any group where I might not feel as though I really fit, solely for the networking opportunities. Join a group like the Society of Professional Journalists, Investigative Reporters and Editors or the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors. There are many more groups, for education reporting, military reporting, photography, design, editing and more. I have recruited at these groups and more. The Council of National Journalism Organizations has links to more than 60. If you're looking for a group to join, choose one where you share goals, and where you would like to get involved and make a contribution.

If you prefer not to join, you can attend the annual conference and job fair of NABJ or some other organization by registering as a non-member.

You can also meet recruiters and hiring editors at seminars, state-press associations and on the job.

You might even try the kind of online networking that Sree Sreenivasan has written about.

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Coming Wednesday: He knows he needs more experience, but the lack of responses doesn't give him any direction.

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