Looking for internships

Hello readers!

This post is about the next step in the process of getting the dream job in journalism. As usual, there are a few steps to take and you'll have to apply to great numbers of possible internship opportunities to get one. Remember not to get disheartened in case there are a few rejections - although in most cases, you won't even get a reply, but just silence. But this post will be all able ensuring to have the best possible changes of getting an internship 

• Getting work experience is known as part of the vicious cycle: you can't get work experience unless you have past work experience, and you can't work experience until you are offered work experience. It's a cruel system and life is mean that way. There isn't a lot you can do other than gaining some writing experience through other means as my previous post suggested 

• Make sure your CV and cover letter are up to scratch and up to date. If you are at university, ensure to get some form of contact with the Careers office about your CV and how it needs to be shaped and written. Additionally, a multitude of websites offer advice on how to improve and how to tailor a CV and cover letter.

• Sometimes, it is helpful along with or on a CV to provide some links to your published works, or compile a portfolio of some of the articles you are most proud of, or that is related to the role that you are applying for. An online presence is very important, so ensure you are signed up to Twitter and Linkd so that you can convey your skills and use the internet as a platform to showcase your works 

• Getting work experience or internships at national newspapers is extremely hard and most of them just aren't interested, however, I would argue that as well as being realistic, don't ever rule it out. National newspapers always have a website with contacts in relation to work experience and it won't do you any harm to email and query about work experience. When the Times were offering internships during the summer, I emailed and got an offer for a week working there. So there is no such thing as no chance gaining experience at bigger news outlets. Of course, also look into local newspapers and smaller news outlets for experience that if you were gain, can lead to further experience.

• I don't like this advice because I don't like nepotism but if you have contacts, use them. Nothing more to be said 

• If you are applying for work experience or an internship at a certain magazine or newspaper, make sure to do some homework on the role and the magazine or newspaper in order to display some interest in your cover letter

•  Lastly, don't give up. Apply to anything and everything relating to journalism. I like to think of gaining work experience as a lottery; the more you apply for, the more likely you are to actually get something. All I can say is it worked for me. 

In my next post, I will be listing all the sites that advertise work experience and internships that once you know, you should applying to and checking for new opportunities pretty much everyday. Sooner or later, you will get something. Its only logical.

Thanks for reading!