Landing a JobLanding a Job(In a chaotic market)(In a chaotic market)

Self inspectionSelf inspection►How badly do you want to work in How badly do you want to work in

media?media? Do you have a passion for news?Do you have a passion for news? Do people & their actions fascinate you?Do people & their actions fascinate you?

►How flexible are you?How flexible are you? Are you content to just get in the door?Are you content to just get in the door? Can you work cross-platform?Can you work cross-platform? Do you Do you truly understand truly understand the Web as a way the Web as a way

to reach people?to reach people?

You have alreadyYou have already►Followed up on your internship Followed up on your internship ►Used the Used the TTU Career Services►Checked out MC Career CenterChecked out MC Career Center►Checked class Web site careers page Checked class Web site careers page ►Checked state press / journalism orgsChecked state press / journalism orgs►Done the networking thingDone the networking thing

Now you get passionately Now you get passionately seriousserious

►Get a map showing your preferred areaGet a map showing your preferred area►Draw a circle of about 150 mile radius or Draw a circle of about 150 mile radius or

soso► ID communities of any size within circleID communities of any size within circle►Use directory to ID properties, playersUse directory to ID properties, players

TV stations (Broadcast & Cable Yearbook)TV stations (Broadcast & Cable Yearbook) Radio stations (Same)Radio stations (Same) Newspapers (Editor & Publisher Yearbook)Newspapers (Editor & Publisher Yearbook) Magazines (Folio Yearbook), Magazines (Folio Yearbook), Writer’s MarketWriter’s Market

Plan a week in your carPlan a week in your car►Plan a trip to visit media sites within circlePlan a trip to visit media sites within circle►Plan no more than 2-4 per day in each Plan no more than 2-4 per day in each

town (or nearby towns)town (or nearby towns)►Pick your days / towns for efficiency: Book Pick your days / towns for efficiency: Book

motels and / or friends / familymotels and / or friends / family►Count up the number you will do in a Count up the number you will do in a

weekweek►Assemble your packetsAssemble your packets

Phase I: Letter / phonePhase I: Letter / phone►Send letter to each person you Send letter to each person you

identified, 3 weeks ahead of your trip; identified, 3 weeks ahead of your trip; sell self and tell person you will be in sell self and tell person you will be in town on Day Xtown on Day X

►Follow-up in 1 week with phone call, Follow-up in 1 week with phone call, asking if they got resume / packageasking if they got resume / package

Phase II: Phone, visitPhase II: Phone, visit►About 1-2 days ahead, call again. About 1-2 days ahead, call again.

Suggest a time if you don’t have time Suggest a time if you don’t have time set alreadyset already

►Show up at the appointed hour – 5 Show up at the appointed hour – 5 minutes early (not 10, and definitely not minutes early (not 10, and definitely not late)late)

►At a minimum, you should get some eye At a minimum, you should get some eye contact, and be able to leave another contact, and be able to leave another packetpacket

Phase III: Thank you letter / Phase III: Thank you letter / callcall

►Write thank you letters to each person Write thank you letters to each person you visited. Again sell yourselfyou visited. Again sell yourself

►Approx. two weeks after the thank you Approx. two weeks after the thank you letter, telephone againletter, telephone again

Follow-upFollow-up►Use judgment regarding follow-up callsUse judgment regarding follow-up calls

Be persistent, not too annoyingBe persistent, not too annoying► If necessary, draw a different circle If necessary, draw a different circle

and start overand start over