A few months ago, I would have called what I’m about to do a useless gesture.
I’ve been applying for jobs for several months without success, and it was beginning to grate on me. While I have comparatively little experience as a writer time-wise, it’s obvious to those who know me that I have plenty of experience when it comes to volume. It’s not at all rare for me to write two or three feature length stories a month for my day job at a trade magazine company. These pieces range from anywhere between 1,000 and 3,000 words, depending on the publication, subject, and so on. Couple this with my freelance work - small articles (300 words on average) that still have to convey a lot of information - and I’ve done quite a bit. Or at least I like to think so.
However, this doesn’t seem to be the assessment of any prospective employers. I’m still not quite sure what they’re looking for, but lots of articles alone evidently isn’t it. I’d been obsessing about all of this for a while, getting disheartened, and generally just being a real pain to deal with. I live in a deadline-oriented world, and I set timetables for success. When things don’t come to fruition right away, it makes me wonder what I did to fall short. The self-doubt eats at you after a while, which no doubt affects your job performance and application processes. It’s a cycle that’s taken longer than it should have to break.
Fortunately, I feel that I’m finally starting to get back on track. I’ve been branching out, applying for jobs that are a little different and outside my normal scope. Marketing, advertising, PR, television…all of them have piqued my interest. I’m not limiting myself anymore, which has, in turn, has helped me sell myself better in both my resume and my cover letters. “Duties” on the resume became “Accomplishments,” and cover letters that once detailed strictly my tasks as a writer have been replaced with cover letters highlighting my dedication, desire to learn and my philosophy about what journalism should - and could - be. I don’t know if it will work any better in my favor, but for now I don’t want to worry about it. For the first time in a long time, I’m enjoying the job application process, and I want to keep it that way.
In that same vein, I’ve decided that in addition to applying for job postings, I’ll also be sending out resumes, cover letters and writing samples to a number of “dream jobs.” Many of these companies may not be hiring, but right now, that’s not the point. Rather, the point is to get my name out there and let them know where they can find me. The wider the net, the bigger the potential catch. It certainly can’t hurt.
It’s something I never would have considered before. I’ve had it drilled into my head that employers look for experience before looking for initiative, drive, creativity, or other positive traits. Perhaps that was true in the past, but I have a hunch that the times are a’changing. Perhaps what would have been laughable even 10 years ago will be seen as a desirable asset today. It’s what I’m banking on.
The New York Times Editorial Board can expect my portfolio in the next couple of weeks.
