Give me a job, please: ‘Huzzah, not retail!’
Today we launch our series “Give me a job, please!” with 5 questions and answers with job seeker and WBEZ listener Mary Gustafson. It’s now up to all you readers to volunteer a couple minutes of your time to contribute your job hunting advice/tips/leads for her. (And, if you want to participate yourself, send me an email.)
Looking for work as: a writer/editor/journalist
You sit down in an interview and the boss starts with: “Tell me why you want to work here.” You say:
Hopefully something that belies my desperation and still comes across as sincere. I know I’ve interviewed for jobs that I didn’t really want – reporting on niche industries I have zero interest in. Recruiters can probably sniff that out pretty fast. It’s a hard line to walk though when you really need that job – or any job, really. My poker face needs a lot of work.
Please write a haiku about your dream job.
My boss: Ira Glass
Protected from recession
Huzzah, not retail!
Tell us about a time you were a real “team player”?
I had one job that required me to write 30 to 40 newsbrief abstracts between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. under punishing deadlines. Even on weekends and evenings. The one good thing about it was that about at least 15 other writers and editors were in it with me, and their willingness to pitch in and help me was always gratifying. As was returning the favor.
When you made a bad choice while reading a “Choose Your Own Adventure Book” did you: A) Accept your fate B) Go back to the choice and choose again, pretending you didn’t make the first choice C) Mock the writer for not understanding how the real world works D) Other
I couldn’t be bothered to read a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, as that requires too much effort. I prefer the kind of escapism where you realize you have no control over the outcome and thus have to accept it. I have enough anxiety over the future as it is. That said, B is pretty tempting….no, wait, I mean A! Can I still pick A? See what I mean?
What else should we know about you?
That I prefer a job in publishing but since the job market in that industry is so saturated right now, I’m entertaining a lot of different options. As long as it’s not retail! I’m rapidly approaching age 30, I live in Evanston, and am a semi-regular blogger and freelance writer.
Offer me a job at: mary.gustafson@gmail.com
10
11 2009
blogs.vocalo.org
AWJ-Chicago (which, full disclosure, I’m on the board of)has a great listserv http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AWJ-Chicago/ where people post all sorts of questions and job leads…including this one:
From: Andrew Golis andrew.golis at gmail.com
Date: Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Subject: Wanted: Deputy Editor for Yahoo News Blogging
Looking for someone smarter than me to work with me on my new adventure.
Please pass this one to your friends, other email lists, etc.
I’m looking to fill this job ASAP, so if you’re interested please
don’t hesitate to contact me.
—-
Deputy Editor for Yahoo News Blogs
Looking for an experienced, agile, details-oriented blog editor to
manage a team of professional bloggers. Working with the Editor, this
person will oversee story selection and creation of original reporting
and curation for the largest news audience on the web.
The ideal candidate has extensive online media experience (blog
experience preferred), experience managing reporters and the ability
to create media that appeals to both expert and popular audiences.
This person must have knowledge of and interaction with outside
entities, especially those in the news blogosphere, and comfort
interfacing with other parts of Yahoo’s organization, especially
Yahoo’s homepage.
Responsibilities:
* Providing oversight to ensure that blogs are following style,
meeting standards and serving our audience
* Generating, developing and executing content ideas and strategies
* Monitoring Yahoo! and the Web at-large for story and source material
* Fielding and attracting quality tips and inquiries from editors, PR
types and outside entities
* Providing photo assistance and guidance with regard to gathering,
editing and crediting
* Tracking, analyzing and driving results
Requirements:
* Five-plus years experience in online media, experience in blogging
specifically is a plus
* Exceptional copyediting skills and attention to detail
* Strong grammar and communication skills and command of language
* Familiarity with SEO, RSS, Twitter, Facebook and other social media
* Basic HTML and Photoshop skills, experience with blog publishing and
content management systems
Why is she looking for a job as a journalist? Why not start and blog and show us & the rest of the world what she’s made of. That’s what blogs are for. Those who claim to be “journalists” should have blog of some sort so we can see where those skills lie.
Hi Apres,
Her blog is linked in her profile mydangerousyear.blogspot.com
Nice photos of the kids.
Good luck on finding a job in this market.
Hi Anna,
On Twitter, try following @paidContentJOBS. They update pretty frequently with job openings for writers.