Last night I attended a panel discussion about social media. (Btw, if you don’t have a job, which is probably the case since you’re reading this post, make sure you attend every networking event possible.) While the guest speakers were talking, my mind started to wander (as it usually does) to a theory of mine. To get a job, you want to think like a journalist.
What? Am I serious? Yes! As a journalism school graduate, I’ve always prided myself on my ability to communicate and build trustworthy relationships with sources. If you really think about it, those are two of the most important things you can do in your job search as well. If you apply the same tactics a journalist uses, then you will most certainly have the right mindset for your career search. And sometimes looking at a challenge from a different point of view is exactly the thing you need to hit “refresh” on your job search and gain some new traction.
Here are five ways to think like a reporter:
1) Do Your Research
The first thing a journalist does when faced with a news lead, blog post or interview is to research 1) the topics they want to find more about; 2) background information on individuals or companies they might need to talk to; and 3) stories by other media outlets on the same topic. This is no different than what your first step should be as a job seeker. You want to do your research before writing every cover letter, attending any interview or even before you actually consider working somewhere. The more you know and the better prepared you arrive, the stronger of an impression you will make.
2) Listen First
One thing many journalists are very good at is listening. Why? They have to. It’s important that a journalist really listens to their sources, since they need to know all sides of a story. And by listening we don’t mean just hearing the words coming out of someone’s mouth. In an interview, observe the non-verbal communication from those interviewing you as well. Pay attention to the details. Are they checking their BlackBerry or iPhone every few minutes, or are they looking you in the eye engaged and interested in what you have to say? Do they have good camaraderie with their colleagues? That’s pretty important. Listen first, talk later.
3) Take Notes
A journalist always carries a notebook and a pen around with them for a reason. They never know when the next big story is going to break, who they will run into or when a lightning bolt of inspiration strikes. It’s a good idea if you use this same approach for your job search. Did you run across a great article online about the company you are applying at? Write down the URL. Did the hiring manager and you share a love of shih-tzus? Include that in your notebook, too. You never know when you might need some nugget of information that you came across previously.
4) Know Your Audience
The most successful editors and writers all have one thing in common. No, it’s not that they write well. It’s that they all know how to effectively tailor a piece of work to their audience. As a creative, you want someone to relate, react and respond to something you are writing. As we said before in the post, “How to Write a Cover Letter That Stands Out from the Clutter,” it’s imperative that you know your audience when writing a cover letter. A letter going to an advertising agency would be much different from one that is going to an accounting firm. Make sure you study the tone of the company by visiting their website, reading their news releases and talking to people you may know who work at the company. A journalist would do all of these things to write the best story possible, and so should you when it comes to drafting your cover letter.
5) Take Care of Your Name
Like any industry, journalism has had its share of scandals. These are usually in the form of someone writing fiction and passing it off as truth. These people now have a tarnished name, and in journalism your name (otherwise known as your byline) is all you have. Reputation is everything. Make sure you take care of your own name. Have you searched yourself on Google lately? If not, make sure you do. And always follow this rule of thumb: If it’s something you wouldn’t say out loud to every friend on Facebook or every follower on Twitter, don’t say it!
