What to Show off in Your Journalism Resume
By Sayaka Seino
While the market for journalism positions provides a lot of success for women, most graduates are finding jobs fairly quickly. Your resume is your most important tool for getting your foot in the door. Some tips on writing include: Journalism organizations expect to see relevant intern experience. This experience may include a sampling of your work, such as clips. Without them your chances of being called for an interview are slim. Highlight special experiences you have had, such as if you traveled to other countries to write or language skills you have. Bring attention to your skills through out your resume and let a prospective employer know you are qualified for the job. Your education may be the best qualification you have, even if it is not relevant to journalism. Take the time to research companies you have an interest in to learn as much as possible. If you are applying for a job in broadcast journalism, you will be required to send in a resume reel. Make sure the best material is at the beginning. Just as you took care in checking your broadcast media, you need to double check your resume to ensure it is error free.

If you're interested in getting a journalism position, you'll find that there are many of them out there today, with most graduates finding jobs fairly quickly. While it is a market that definitely provides a lot of success for women, it's very possible for men to find success as well. When you apply for a journalism position, you'll find that your resume is one of your most important tools, since it will probably be what gets your foot in the door. With many applicants to compete with, you must have a resume that is meant to impress or you may never get the interview you desire. Here are some tips to get you started:

List Internships
When you are writing a resume for a journalism position, one thing you are going to want to include are any internships you've had. Internships provide a lot of relevant experience and many companies hiring people for journalism positions like to see that on your resume.

Include Clips
It's also important to include clips with your resume. After all, this is a journalism position, and not only are your credentials going to be important, prospective employers are also going to want to see how you write. Without any clips, your chances of being called in to have an interview are going to be pretty slim.

Highlight Special Experiences
It is important to highlight any special experiences you've had. If you have traveled to other countries to write, then mention it. If you happen to know a certain language, then make sure it is listed on your resume. Any special experiences that you have had that has made you a better writer and makes your resume really stand out among the rest should definitely be included on your resume.

Show Off Your Skills
You'll also want to make sure that you show off your skills throughout your resume. This doesn't just include your skills as a writer, but any skills you think may help you stand out. There are going to be many other great resumes submitted, so you need to show off your skills and let them know who you really are and how qualified you are for the job at hand.

Education is Important
It is important to show your education on your resume for a journalism position. Even if you underwent education that isn't really relevant to journalism, you should go ahead and include it on your resume. Those who are hiring journalists are often looking for people with a journalism degree, but often they accept other studies, like history, anthropology, etc.

Research the Company
Before you apply and send your resume in to a particular company, you will want to take time to research the company. You will want to learn as much as possible about the company and know what kind of writing the company is looking for. If you don't do your research, you may end up writing a resume that is targeted in the wrong direction. Researching will help you to write a targeted resume that will catch the attention of the company that you want to work for.

Use a Resume Reel When Appropriate
In some cases, if you happen to be applying for a job in broadcast journalism, you will be required to send in a resume reel. This is a different type of resume that will include material from your career in this line of work. If you have to send in a resume reel, Make sure that the best material you have is in the beginning of the reel. Most of the time news directors are only going to watch your reel for a few seconds before moving on. If you can't grab their attention and convince them that you are the right person for the job in the first few seconds, then you probably won't get the interview you are striving for.

Double Check
Just like with any other resume, it is very important to take the time to double check the resume. You'll want to get rid of any grammatical errors or spelling errors that could ruin your chances at the job. After all, you're a journalist, so you're expected to be able to write well. Read over the entire thing, then have someone else take a look at it as well. You want to make sure everything is perfect before you turn in the resume for the journalism job of your dreams.