Preparing for successin your job hunt

Steve ButtryLSU SPJ

October 14, 2014#lsuspj

Read more• stevebuttry.wordpress.com (“career

advice” category)• Check links in today’s blog post• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• @stevebuttry • stephenbuttry@gmail.com or stevebuttry

@lsu.edu

Your job search is a story• Research online. Thoroughly• Work your connections• Nail the face-to-face interview• Be resourceful• Try multiple approaches• Never say no for someone else

Build your digital profile• Google yourself. What do you find?• Twitter, Facebook • LinkedIn profile• Google+ profile• About.me• Blog (when did you last post?)• Personal site (“about me” or portfolio)

Build your experience• Student media• Internships• Blog• Social media• Social Media News Challenge• Freelancing (stringer or one-shot)• Part-time jobs

Network• Connect digitally w/ people you admire• Especially on Twitter• #wjchat, #dfmchat, #muckedup etc.• Follow up (Twitter, email, handwritten)• Comment on blogs• IRL

Show, don’t tell• Hyperlink resumé (but make sure it reads

well w/o links)• Don’t send hard copy by snail mail unless

asked• Video as part of résumé• Pitch through social media• Use digital tools (Storify, Pinterest,

timeline, map)

Do your reporting• What does the job require?• Who does similar work? What are their

strengths? What are yours?• What strengths should you highlight?• What are you doing to address

weaknesses?• Research people you interview with

Little things are big things• Customize your resumé• Spell the prospective boss’s name right • Take initiative (can you schedule your

own interview?)• Include Twitter username on resumé

Interviews count, too• Prepare thoroughly• Listen effectively• Answer honestly• Ask tough questions• Don’t fake: “I don’t know” > BS• Follow up

Follow up• Thank interviewer(s): email, card, tweet• Elaborate on answers (send link to story

you mentioned, etc.)• Send link(s) to notable new work• Handwritten note• Persistence is a job skill• Don’t overdo it