People ask me questions about my career all the time. How do you find a job in TV? What inspired you to become a meteorologist? How do you deal with rejection? “It’s pretty complex,” I’d sometimes reply. The truth is my journalism career is like online dating.
I equate filling out an online job application to filling out an online dating profile. For the record, my husband and I became a couple long before the birth of social media and smartphones. Online dating was in its infancy. However, I’ve helped friends create attention grabbing profiles over the years. Success in FuckLocals often depends on a well-crafted profile. So I know a little something about online dating.
It begins with a bio, or in my case a cover letter and resume describing my background and previous work experiences. I’d explain why I’d be the perfect match for the job.
Like any dating profile, a headshot is also very important. As we all know, choosing the perfect photo could be a difficult task. It should authentically represent your physical appearance and personality without any background distractions. Sometimes I resort to asking friends and family members to help narrow down the field of images.
And then there’s a demo reel. Every on-air journalist should have one. A reel further showcases your talents. It shows your overall knowledge and how comfortable you are in front of the camera. It allows a potential employer to see if you’re capable of doing the job based on the clips you provide.
Once you’ve chosen a headshot and you’ve carefully crafted a bio, resume, and demo reel, you are ready to apply for the job. This could be done directly through a station’s website in most cases. After the application process, you wait and wait. You hope and pray for an invitation to interview for the gig.
As with dating, some people don’t want to waste time and energy going on an actual date with someone they don’t have a connection with. So, they’ll start out with a phone call or text messages to get acquainted. The idea isn’t much different from the workforce. Some companies will insist on a phone call or Skype interview to start the employment process before meeting in person.
When it comes to the journalism industry, scoring a face to face interview could mean having to get on a plane and stay at a hotel. The process could take a few days depending on the station and distance.
This next step is even more stressful than choosing a headshot and writing a kickass bio. Wearing the wrong outfit could be the nail in the coffin. Do you choose a dress over a suit? A dress that’s too form fitting could make you look desperate, and you also want to be careful when sporting pants and a blazer. The last thing you’d want to do is walk into an interview with an ill fitting or out of date suit.
The proper clothing only scratches the surface. Meeting a potential employer is like hoping for a love connection.
Let’s say the interview goes well. You follow up with a thank you note, and from that point on it’s a waiting game. You wonder if you should call, but you don’t want to appear overly eager. It’s sort of like waiting for an invitation for second date.
Like online dating, navigating through the field of journalism has its ups and downs. But, I’ve been fortunate enough to the right matches throughout my journalism career.
