ASK JOE A QUESTION

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I'm a recent college graduate about to begin a summer internship at a 200,000-circulation paper. I'm all too aware of how unlikely it is that the internship turns into a job. I've been browsing job postings for a while, but I don't know when to start actually applying for positions. Is it too early to make a move if I'm committed to my internship for the next three months? I don't want to miss out on current opportunities, only to be living on my parents' couch and taking the first job I can get, come fall.

 

Thanks,

Always Planning Ahead

First of all, congratulations on you internship. That sounds great.

Now that you've landed it, impress your editor by being focused and working hard. If they can't hire you, you'll at least want to have them as great references for your job hunt.

Joe Grimm

I wouldn't begin that until you've done all but about a month of your internship.

You owe your newspaper your best effort, and other newspapers won't be anxious to hire you, anyway, if you'll be tied up for more than a month.

So have fun at your internship, work hard and don't start looking until your editors are on board with you and can help in your search.

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Coming Wednesday: He wonders what his former bosses are saying about him and asks whether he should just call up and pose as a prospective employer doing a reference check.

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