9 January 201323 January 2013

The New York Times newsroom in 1942By Marjory Collins [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Employability masterclass

Leeds Metropolitan University

Journalism.co.uk @journalismnews

Sarah Marshall, technology editor, @SarahMarshall3

§

✤ Kentish Gazette

✤ Journalism.co.uk

✤ Money Marketing

✤ Telegraph

✤ Guardian

✤ BBC - entry level

✤ BBC - trainee scheme

The competition

408220-10075-100100-120‘Several Hundred’‘Several Thousand’

“Your job is to

make yourself stand out.

“You'll do this through demonstrating your competencies, skills, experience, creativity,

awareness of deadlines and understanding of news.”

Daniell Morrisey, talent executive, BBC

Example

✤ 82 applications

✤ 5 sent a CV with no covering letter

✤ 11 people didn't send a CV

✤ 6 had spelling errors

✤ 1 mistake in name

✤ 6 applicants not in UK

✤ 48 applicants did not specify skills asked for in job description

✤ 79 made no reference to key point in job description

The competition?

2

Covering letter

“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person specification and really tailor the covering letter.

“It is vital that people think about whether or not they have the right experience for the job that's being advertised.”

Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

“It is vital that people think about whether or not they have the right experience for the job that's being advertised.

“Applicants need to look more carefully at the

person specification and really tailor the covering letter.”

Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

Covering letter email

Covering letter

“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person specification and really tailor the covering letter.

“It is vital that people think about whether or not they have the right experience for the job that's being advertised.”

Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

“Applicants we liked had taken time to look at the newspaper and have a view on it.

“People with story ideas, who seemed to know about our campaigns and what we've been doing as a newspaper.”

Leo Whitlock, editor, Kentish Gazette

Covering letter

Covering letter

“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person specification and really tailor the covering letter.

“It is vital that people think about whether or not they have the right experience for the job that's being advertised.”

Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

“Include links to your work.”

Phil Hammond, head of recruitment, the Telegraph

Covering letter

Covering letter

“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person specification and really tailor the covering letter.

“It is vital that people think about whether or not they have the right experience for the job that's being advertised.”

Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

“Some got my name wrong, spelt the name of the paper or towns incorrectly.

“Some were very obvious spelling mistakes, others because they fell foul/fowl of spell checks/cheques.

“It puts you off the candidate from the very beginning.”

Leo Whitlock, editor, Kentish Gazette

Covering letter

Covering letter

“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person specification and really tailor the covering letter.

“It is vital that people think about whether or not they have the right experience for the job that's being advertised.”

Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

“Always go back to the job description as your base.

“Think of the core competencies as headers – and consider leaving them as headers.”Daniell Morrisey, talent executive, BBC

BBC application

Covering letter

“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person specification and really tailor the covering letter.

“It is vital that people think about whether or not they have the right experience for the job that's being advertised.”

Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

Metro / your title of choice

You’ll have:

•A degree or equivalent in journalism / photojournalism

•Reporting experience

•Legal knowledge

•A clear passion for fashion / sport / politics / technology

•Lots of ideas

•An understanding of social media

Covering letter

“Don't just give the titles and dates, give examples of stories you have worked on.”

Paul McMillan, editor, Money Marketing

CVs

Expect to be Googled and followed

Got an interview?

Interviews

“Do you research.

“It sounds really obvious but it's the number one mistake in nine out of 10 interviews.”Daniell Morrisey, talent executive, BBC

“You get a sense of the hunger or eagerness to learn when interviewing those people fresh out of university."Paul McMillan, editor, Money Marketing

Interviewing recent graduates

“We like to see and enthusiasm and passion for people wanting to come and work for us.”Phil Hammond, head of recruitment, the Telegraph

Interviews

“Give examples such as ‘if I were working for this site, these are the things you haven’t covered from this angle and I could do it’.

That’s the Holy Grail if you can say ‘this is what’s missing and this is how I can fill that gap’.”Anne Eden-Russell, recruitment manager, the Guardian

Interviews

✤ What did you do to prepare for this interview?

✤ Tell me about your best work.

✤ What's the biggest story in xxxx at the moment?

✤ What do you read and like?

✤ Where do you want to be in 5 years?

✤ When have you had to perform under pressure?

✤ Ideas✤ Deadlines✤ Working as part of a team✤ Working on your own✤ Ask questions

Job interview questions

Your turn

http://storify.com/journalismnews/memorable-and-amusing-journalism-job-interview-que

Job interview questions

✤ Traditional skills - curiosity, resourcefulness, legal, (shorthand?)

✤ Speed and accuracy

✤ Visual storytelling

✤ Social media - research and pushing out

✤ Data

Key skillsAccording to editor of the BBC News website

9 January 201323 January 2013

The New York Times newsroom in 1942By Marjory Collins [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Thank you

Sarah Marshall @SarahMarshall3 @journalismnews