How do you find your first job? Where do you look? What are the major media sites for posting jobs? How about for entry level, as opposed to mid-level jobs? The suggestion has been made by Megan that we spend a class in our news lab looking at different job posting sites to see what they have to offer and evaluate how useful they are for new (or soon to be) graduates. What process are you currently using to search for a job after graduation? No doubt it involves visiting certain websites. What are they? Why do you think they're helpful (or not)? As part of your post, be sure to include the URL of your favorite sites. If you don't have any favorite sites, use this as an opportunity to explore what's out there and include your findings in the post.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Job Search: Where Do You Begin?
How do you find your first job? Where do you look? What are the major media sites for posting jobs? How about for entry level, as opposed to mid-level jobs? The suggestion has been made by Megan that we spend a class in our news lab looking at different job posting sites to see what they have to offer and evaluate how useful they are for new (or soon to be) graduates. What process are you currently using to search for a job after graduation? No doubt it involves visiting certain websites. What are they? Why do you think they're helpful (or not)? As part of your post, be sure to include the URL of your favorite sites. If you don't have any favorite sites, use this as an opportunity to explore what's out there and include your findings in the post.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
As of right now I have a job so I have not actively been looking, but when I have searched for jobs in the past, I normally use Craigslist (probably not the most reliable site since some postings are spam) and Monster.com. If I have an idea of what companies I want to look at, I will normally go directly to their website and search any listings they may have.
ReplyDeleteWhile these websites are good, I think finding a job is a lot more about who you know than what you know. I have been lucky enough thus far to find most of my jobs through word of mouth. With the economy the way it is right now, I think it is really good to know someone at a company in order to get your foot in the door. Although there may be people more qualified for a certain positions, a lot of employers are much more willing to hire someone who has a personal reference at the company.
I'm with Melissa on Craigslist and monster.... craigslist lately has been horribly unreliable for jobs as of late, but successful for house hunting! I'm leery of any job search site that wants you to post your resume though. How do we know there isn't some psycho out there checking our info? Identity theft is an issue!
ReplyDeleteI've also had the luxury of walking-in some place for a job and word of mouth.
Typically, if I'm looking for a job with a particular company I'll go to their website directly. The jobs seem to be more specific, and you can check out what the business is all about. The St. Pete Times employment page is great and very specific.
Recently I listed my resume on a catering job search site, all the hits I've gotten haven't been directed to what I'm looking for, or I'm under qualified for the jobs. So I guess you can say that I'm a little jaded about searching for jobs online.
First off, I want to begin by saying I really don't appreciate this blog. Not because of its content but because every time I write a novel of good comments, it kindly deletes them for me. With that said, I agree with Melissa. It is all about who you know. But if I had to pick I would say Monster. Careerbuilder.com is also good but they have more higher level positions. But back to who you know, my philosophy is to build relationships and talk to everyone! You never know when someone might be a good contact or know someone who is! One day at Ferg's I had the pleasure of helping out a guy who couldn't get service because we were so busy. I stopped what i was doing and helped him out. We got to talking and I told him about college and work and what not. At the end of the conversation he formally introduced himself. Little did I know, he was Bill Schneider, Vice President and General Manager of channel 13. He gave me his card and told me to call if there was ever anything I needed or anything he could do for me. Short story long, I already have a job lined up for after graduation but you better believe if I didn't, I would be taking Mr. Schneider up on his offer for help finding one! Keep talking everybody!!
ReplyDeleteGood for you Michealina - I completely agree!! Talk to everyone and be friendly because you never know who is watching or listening.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, I am not looking for another job but I do check out Craigslist to see what opportunities are out there. Of course Craigslist isn't the most reliable website however it is easy to navigate. Unlike other job sites that require you to create an account or provide an email address before they allow you to view job listings, Craigslist does not require an email address, resume or membership. So needless to say, convenience will be an important factor when I consider searching for a job via the internet..
Lately, I've been searching for jobs on craigslist, just to get an idea of what's out there. But I have to admit, I haven't actively been searching for a job like I know I should. I think I'm in that comfort level at my current job. I know what I'm doing. It's familiar to me, so I'm hesitant to leave it.
ReplyDeleteSorry... getting a little off topic. As far as job Web sites go, when I went to SPC, they had a job database, where you could search for work, much like monster.com or craigslist. Not sure if USF has that, but I think it was helpful because it weeded suspicious postings or spam.
Also, I'm old fashioned and still look at the classified section in the Times.
I'm going to echo most of the posts here. I troll Craigslist probably more often than I should, but there are many opportunities for little gigs if you're willing to do them. Then again, I search for more than just journalism related, as I like to branch into photography. If I get curious, I venture out to Monster, Career Builder, and sometimes I even revert back to Internships.com (I got a lifetime membership for participating in a workshop a couple years back).
ReplyDeleteAs most other on here as well, the best and my most favorite gigs I've gotten have been through word of mouth. I talked to one person about an event I was going to, that person knew another person needing help and gave me their information, then I got another little gig. Same with photography. My friends jumped on an opportunity that already seemed set in stone. They negotiated for me, and then presented me with the offer to help me build my portfolio.
Since I will be pursuing my Master’s degree, I am not seeking employment until at least the end of the year. Nevertheless, the job sites I visit depend upon which part of the country I am. For nationwide searches I gather information on available jobs from http://www.monster.com/ and http://www.careerbuilder.com . If I am desperate I will open up my resume on these sites. If the job outlook looks good, I will defer to the specific companies I want to work for and apply through their Web sites. For example, I was looking for part time work at educational institutions in the area so I used the Web sites for USF and SPC employment. Besides institutions, I also tend to gravitate towards jobs with local, state and national governments (AS THEY USUALLY HAVE BETTER BENEFITS!!!) For national contract work with the government, I highly recommend http://www.usajobs.gov/ (AND for those of you that don’t know, the government hires all degree areas, so check it out!) For local government jobs, for example I would go to the city/county pages such as http://www.stpete.org/jobs/index.asp
ReplyDeleteHappy Hunting Everyone!
JournalismJobs.com is a site with hundreds of legit and recent job postings all over the country. The listings are searchable by industry, position and location. It is the best I've seen to date and is updated on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of looking for a media-related position, I'm targeting specific companies (i.e. ESPN, CBSsports, FOXsports, Yahoo!Sports) and hoping to impress with my resume/portfolio/degree
Even if there are no official job openings at a media outlet or newspaper, I still want to get my name and info out there. All you need is one person to like what they see in your portfolio, and that could be your big break.
I haven't put too much stock into mass generalized job searches like monster and career builder bc it seems as if they only scratch the surface to what is really out there unless your looking for a run-of-the-mill 9-5 job
massmediajobs.com and journalismjobs.net also have some good content as well. CumulusJobs.com is a good search engine for jobs in specific regions, too.
Although I am very much so looking forward to graduating, I am nervous about finding my first job. I know that I am marketable and have substantial journalism skills, yet the constant pressure of the "real world" is something that I have not yet defined myself in. I want to get my hands dirty and I confidant, but I know that I still have a great deal of work to do.
ReplyDeleteI have looked into a few job search websites, but I have yet to pinpoint anything appealing. Instead, I have actually been logging directly onto websites that I have interest in working for one day. Although there are a vast number of outreach ministries around the country and the world, I have found myself researching on a smaller scale. Websites such as http://www.gccc.net/ministries/support.html and http://www.bloodwatermission.com/contact-us.php are two examples of places that I will me applying to when I graduate.
If I can familiarize myself more so with job search/placement websites or get a better grasp on what to look for when searching for my first job, I would eagerly respond to the opportunity.
I haven’t even started looking for a job in the field I want to go into because I’m going to do an internship before/after graduation. My hopes are that this will turn into a full-time job that I actually enjoy! I will keep my part-time job while doing my internship. I also believe that getting your first job has to do with who you know. Like Mauriah said, you never know who you’ll meet so be prepared to do some networking. Simple conversation can lead to great opportunities!
ReplyDeleteGood (legit) sites for job hunting:
www.careerbuilder.com
http://www.journalismjobs.com
http://careers.poynter.org/search.cfm
http://jobs.tampabay.com
Also look at specific company websites for information on available positions.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAfter years of school and endless hours of homework, I think finding a job is going to be the hardest assignment yet.
ReplyDeleteI plan on exhausting every resource I can find. My greatest asset is that I can move anywhere. In no way, shape or form am I tied down to one location.
I’ve started looking in Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco and Portland. So, maybe I favor the West Coast =) But I’m willing to go anywhere.
Michealina made a good point about talking to people. You never know who you’re going to meet. Most of the jobs I’ve had came from knowing someone who worked there. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door.
Searching online I’ve found a few good sights:
http://www.mediabistro.com
http://www.sunoasis.com/jobpostings.html
http://www.writejobs.com/jobs
http://www.jobopenings.net/jobs.php?industry=media
http://www.journaliststoolbox.org/archive/journalism-job-links
Although I have not begun searching for a job, I believe that I will begin my search on Craigslist and Monster. While some postings on these sites are unreliable, I feel that there are many that are legitimate. Currently, I have been searching for internships on sites such as Fox 13, Bay News 9 and ABC Action News. I am interested in broadcast journalism and would like to complete 1-2 internships before I submit my resume to a possible long time job prospect. I am a strong believer in networking and feel that finding a job is much easier when you know someone with connections. It is my goal to complete an internship at a news station and network with my colleagues. I feel that networking will help me find a better job than craigslist or monster would.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.baynews9.com/Home.html
http://tampa.craigslist.org/
http://www.monster.com/
http://www.clearchannel.com/
I agree with Faye finding job is definitely going to be the hardest thing, but it hasn't been on my mind lately because I am totally confused as to what I want the next step to be in my life. I don't think I am ready to grow up, so I have been putting of job hunting. I have no idea what I really want to do forever so the thought of a career scares me. It seems so permanent. Either way I am an advocate of networking and just putting yourself out there. You never know who you may meet on a daily basis or what they could offer you, so be your own walking resume.
ReplyDelete:)
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/LIVING/12/10/job.seeker/art.resume.shirt.cnn.jpg
It seems that most people are saying the same things: Monster.com, craigslist.com, etc. One of my options is to go overseas to work. So I have been spending some time scanning foreign web sites searching for jobs for English speakers. I usually just google "jobs for English speakers in (specific country)." One thing that is important when searching for a job in another country is to make sure that the website can assist non-residents. I have mainly pondered jobs in Israel where I have dual-citizenship, but in the process have come across sites that can only assist you if you are a citizen. Anyways, I'm not sure if I want to go overseas but I'm not tied down so it is always an option!
ReplyDeleteLuckily I have a job so I am not looking but I have to agree with most of the posts and say Monster.com or Career builder.com. I am interested in a certain company I will go to their website or contact them to find out what is available. I have not tried Craigslist but guess I would check that out too.
ReplyDeleteI did something that may be very foreign to most Journalilism majors, I looked through the St. Petersburg Times to see what was available. What I found was not good. There were no jobs pertaining to any field that I am interested it. Also, the lack of jobs available was pretty scary too. Only two pages total! As for looking on line, some good websites were given. I hope to do an intern before I start looking for a job as I won't graduate until this Summer.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a process and I do not know what I'll be doing. I have a plan, but I'm not sure if it's what I want to do. I am not sharing my sites with other people because it's the site that has the most jobs I want, and I don't want to share. Love you guys!
ReplyDelete