For media students just two months shy of their diplomas, the future holds a vibrant, yet often bewildering, media marketplace. While compelling narratives or shaping public discourse is exciting, navigating the ever-evolving media landscape and landing the right job can feel like deciphering a code.
It is crucial to explore various niches within the industry to identify areas that align with your interests and skills. Company websites, job listing sites and professional associations can offer information to help better understand specific job titles, required skill sets and average salaries. This knowledge allows you to tailor your resume and portfolio to target specific opportunities.
Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Career Development at USC Annenberg Suzanne Alcantara says it’s normal for students to feel stressed in a process that can feel new and in turn, overwhelming.
With perseverance and a strategy, the process of finding a job becomes easier. The first step in hunting for a job is understanding the diverse terrain. Alcantara emphasized setting short-term goals.
“It’s really important to take an assessment of the skills and interests you have in the present moment and set some goals for six months to a year [from now],” Alcantara said.
The media industry encompasses a vast array of specialties, from a fast-paced role like social media management to more in-depth, analysis-heavy roles like data journalism. Platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Google offer free courses to help hone your expertise.
Resumes and cover letters are the elementary aspects to master as a part of the job hunt. Error-free resumes and cover letters that explain how the job specifically interests you and matches your unique skill set always stand out in the hiring process. USC Career Services offer support to students through advising, resume reviews and mock interview practice.
Creating a niche
It can be difficult to figure out which skills are marketable, but identifying a niche is a good first step to streamline the job hunting process. Alcantara stressed the importance of researching which abilities are increasing in relevance as the media landscape evolves, align with one’s interests and can help make a stronger case for employment.
The niche for international students could be their native language and the cultural fluency that a company needs to bridge diversity within both their business and outside expanding markets.
Networking
The media world thrives on networking. According to Alcantara, networking is crucial in a very competitive media landscape.
“I don’t want students to stress themselves out but it really comes down to relationships and visibility,” she said.
Engage in professional discussions online and offline to demonstrate your knowledge and passion. Attend industry events – like conferences, workshops, lectures – to connect with professionals and learn about potential job openings.
Job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn are also good starting points. Explore the career sections of media companies you’d love to work for and network with alumni from your journalism or communications program.
Mapping your path to a “dream job”
One piece of advice Alcantara often gives students is to ensure they understand the path professionals typically must follow before meeting career goals.
“One of the things that we naturally do is we look at companies of which we are consumers, particularly journalism students [and] media students,” she said.
When looking to land one’s “dream job,” which can often be at a reputed media conglomerate, it is important to map the trajectory of others who have pursued it — the skillsets, certificates and previous experience. Freshly entering the job market, this map not only helps one understand the areas to improve in but also the jobs needed that give a headstart to enter a larger, more reputable company. This process also helps uncover smaller organizations where new employees can grow their skill set and begin to climb the corporate ladder.
The media landscape is constantly evolving. Freelance opportunities and part-time roles act as a great alternative if the traditional route seems daunting. Pitching story ideas to publications or offering social media expertise to local businesses could be the first step in exploring alternative options. Freelancing also allows one to build a portfolio while gaining valuable experience and establishing connections.
Benefits and negotiations
In some states like California and New York, salary transparency helps answer monetary concerns of job seekers. However, Alcantara mentioned that as an entry level employee, there isn’t much leverage to negotiate the actual salary and benefits, reiterating the need for “a certain level of experience to really be in a place to have a meaningful salary negotiation.”
While benefits like insurance, retirement and time off are good to be aware of, Alcantara highlighted the importance of researching future colleagues, from supervisors to peers. Researching the role you would fill, a supervisor you would answer to and the orbit of people you will work with provides a better insight into the work culture.
Understanding your potential workplace increases the chances of finding a mentor, whether formal or informal. Alcantara explained mentors in career paths provide an environment for growth by supporting professional development, opening doors and offering feedback. A good mentor in a career path can help you move up the ladder effectively.
The interview
All the preparatory work will likely lead to a crucial part of hiring - the interview. The ‘homework,’ includes researching the media outlet beforehand, understanding their target audience and content style to provide your assessment of what is expected within the role. A better knowledge of their notable work, case studies, board members and sister organizations can elevate your understanding of the workspace. Presentation and articulation goes a long way in interviews.
According to Alcantara, the ideal time to start looking for opportunities is eight to ten weeks before graduation – the time frame job recruiters give themselves to fill a role. For those still waiting to start their job hunt, the right time is now.