20 Things To Know

1. 20 Things To Know aka The Secrets to Life

2. 20. Take Classes that will HELP you! • Tailor your electives! • Use Pick-a-Prof (now MyEdu) • Talk to older students! • Don’t slack off, electives can kill your GPA!

3. 19. Get to Know Professors/Classmates! • Introduce yourself on first class day! • Go to office hours! • Sit next to new people each day! • Add them on Facebook to see their jobs! • Keep in touch!

4. 18. Collect Business Cards! • Ask everyone you meet! • Put card info online immediately! • Keep a “professional” email contacts list! • Print contact cards of your own! • Name, major, graduation date, contact info • Include headshot and website

5. 17. Join LinkedIn! • Fully develop your profile! • Add everyone you know! • Email trick for adding • Use personalized “add” messages! • Ask for recommendations!

6. 16. Give your Resume a Makeover! • Think of it as a collection! • Always tailor for each application/job! • Emphasize relevant skills, etc • Use a local address when applying for jobs • “Tips for Not Sucking”

7. 15. Be Smart about Social Media! • Professionalize your Facebook & Twitter! • Pictures, politics, harsh words/views, etc. • Don’t be this person! • Familiarize yourself with Digg, Delicious, Klout, etc. • Set up a Google alert for your name!

8. 14. Look Professional! • Dress for the job you want, not the job you have! Easier for employers to “see” you! Yes! No! (On so many Levels) Vs.

9. 13. Visit the Places you Want to Live! • Research everything about the area! • Cost of living, crime, neighborhoods, etc. • Talk to people who live/work there • Visit! • It may not be great • Couch surf!

10. 12. Read the Publications in your Niche! • Understand the style you plan to write! • Understand the reasons why you like certain publications, writers, subjects, etc. • Have clips to reflect your interests!

11. 11. Write, Write, Write! • For campus media! • For internships! • For class! • Shop your stories to every outlet! • Craigslist writing gigs and jobs!

12. 10. Edit your Stuff! • Chicken shit vs. Chicken salad! • Take a day off before editing! • Read it out loud! • Utilize the writing center! • Send it to someone else to read!

13. 9. Create Clips Book as you go! • Always bring book to interviews! • Always have PDFs made! • And downloadable on your website! • Make a clips website! • An old one of mine • Another one

14. 8. Internships, Internships! • Campus media counts! • Apply early! • Always use cover letters! • Go above and beyond! • Find out what you don’t want as well! • Understand other areas (edit, design, etc.)

15. 7. Take Time to De-stress! • Make one “no work” day per week! • Easy for writers to get caught up in the stress of deadlines, etc. • Enjoy the little things!

16. 6. Contact your Dream Jobs! • Send them a cover letter and resume! • Call them up and schedule an interview! • Ask what they look for and how you can improve! • LinkedIn immediately & keep in touch!

17. 5. Write Thank You Notes! • Write them by hand! • They will get you everywhere! • Find home address on tax records!

18. 4. Be Persistent! • Be polite, but don’t take no for an answer! • Get published! • Keep at it!

19. 3. Surf Job Websites! • Become familiar with openings, ideal candidate qualities, qualifications, etc! • Journalismjobs.com • Indeed.com • Mediabistro.com • 4entertainmentjobs.com • LinkedIn jobs, Craigslist, Monster, Yahoo!

20. 2. Tell Yourself Yes! • You CAN interview that person! • You CAN get that job! • Be open-minded! • “Change is inevitable, Growth is optional.” • -Will Muschamp

21. 1. Do What you Love!