The Job Hunt
For seniors and graduate students in Newhouse, the job hunt process will come without warning. You are so focused on completing course work and trying to take advantage of other on-campus opportunities and the next thing you know–it’s January.
I would recommend that students begin searching for jobs and/or applying for internships over winter break. This gives you an opportunity to see what jobs might be available around your expected graduation date.
If you don’t start your job search, by then it is okay. Many communications jobs are looking for students who are two-to-three weeks away from graduating.
One thing all Newhouse students should utilize is the Career Development Center (CDC). The CDC has a number of Resume and Cover Letter workshops throughout each semester. It also has three Job Hunt Sessions, and they help students come up with elevator pitches that help students focus on their strengths and what each student could bring to a potential employer. If you attend the first two Job Hunt Sessions you get access to the Newhouse Alumni Network.
A number of Newhouse graduates go on to be very successful in journalism and communications industry. Many of them are more than happy to help fellow Newhouse students–they were once in our shoes and there’s a great chance they have been or are currently where we want to be career wise.
Members of the Alumni Network are more than happy to give advice to current students and help them navigate career options or just share their own personal experience.
Unless you have a set destination or a narrow list of potential places of employment, I would suggest applying for as many jobs and internships as you can. This allows you to get in the habit of filling out applications, updating your resume, creating cover letters, reaching out to employers, etc.
Reaching out to the hiring manger or whoever is over the department you are applying for is another thing students should get in the habit of. Following up to check the status of your application, thanking them for reviewing your application and considering you for the position is something that the CDC preaches to students.
If you can figure out the person the cover letter, resume, or application is going to they will see that you did additional research and will recognize the extra effort. This gives you an opportunity to possibly build relationship with employers as well. Even if it is just reaching out for advice or asking them to review your work.
If you can successfully build a relationship with someone, when they have a job opening, they are more likely to reach out to you about that position. “Hey we have a position that will be open in a few weeks and you would be the perfect person to fill the position.” They could also recommend you to someone else they know in the industry. It would all be a result of you reaching out to follow up on your application and building that relationship.
I got that advice from the Director of the Office of Professional Career Development (OPCD), Doctor Daniel Olson-Bang.
It’s not always what you know, but who you know.
This is something I have heard time and time again and it seems to resonate more and more each time.
My advice to incoming students for the job hunt process is to start as soon you can and don’t limit yourself. Apply to as many jobs and internships as you can and most importantly begin forging relationships and keep in touch with those people even after you accept that first job.
