Thursday, March 15, 2007
How to Get Jobs That Aren't Posted?
First off, I'd like to thank you for continuing to update the site, which I've been reading since it was part of the
Detroit Free Press site.
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I'm an aspiring sportswriter who will be graduating in May and interning during the summer. WIth so few sports jobs available, and most of them being filled before they are posted, what's the best way to get my name in front of prospective employers?
Is it a good idea to drop by their office or send them an unannounced e-mail, and what's the best way to tactfully do this?
Thanks,
Michael
You've made a good observation. If jobs are getting filled before they are advertised, it must be because the editor has a pretty good stock of candidates in mind. That's good planning by that editor (though I sometimes post jobs that I have lots of candidates for, just to keep my pool fresh and word out there that we hire).
Do this: Select the places where you want to work short term and long term. Choose a number you can manage. Not a hundred. Learn who the sports editors are. Bookmark their sports sections so you can regularly see what they're doing.
By e-mail or letter, introduce yourself, state your interest in perhaps working there one day, and tell them you would like to drop clips on them occasionally. Drop something every three or four months if you have something that is very good. If you are quite lucky, you might get some feedback.
If you can visit the place, so much the better. Once a year should be plenty. When you do, try to expand you network of contacts at that paper, starting with deputy or assistant sports editors, who ought to know when openings are coming and who might be more inclined to give you a little feedback.
When the editors tell you that you are about ready to be there, tell them you'd really like to hear about upcoming openings, and increase the frequency of your contacts.
Coming Friday: An oppressive workload, a lack of fulfilling stories and an absence of helpful editing make this rookie wonder whether she'll last.
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