Here are a few things to do if you want to avoid getting moved from the “maybe” list to the “no” list too soon.

1. Proofread your cover letter and your resume to ensure they are free of all spelling and grammatical errors.

Don’t trust yourself to do this. Once you have worked on something for a long time, your eyes will only see what they expect to see. They won’t notice there’s a letter or apostrophe missing. When you are completely finished, ask someone with a sharp eye to review it. Even small typos send the wrong signal to any editor.

2. Research the job and make sure your letter outlines what you would bring to that job.

You may have a resume you send to every job for which you apply, but be sure the cover letter you send with it is not just a generic cover letter. Show that you understand the nature of the job for which you are applying, and provide some evidence of your qualifications for that specific job. The skills required for a job copy editing at a newspaper are quite different than those required as an associate producer for a radio morning show. In this job market, especially, it is less important for you to explain why you want the job, than it is for you to explain why they should want you for that job.

3. Study the product – the newspaper, magazine, radio or television newscast where you want to work.

The internet makes it so easy to review past issues of any newspaper, watch most TV newscasts, or listen to podcasts of old radio shows or items. There is simply no excuse for failing to do it. If you are applying for a broadcast job or internship in Saskatoon, for example, it is not enough to research issues in Saskatoon. It is essential for you to watch or listen to the broadcasts from that station. Study them, so you can discuss the product and even provide some constructive criticism or analysis, if asked. Do it, too, so if and when you are asked in a job interview, you won’t be embarrassed and humiliated by having to admit you didn’t read, watch or listen. That will throw you for the rest of the interview.

4. Be a consumer of news.

It’s not enough to read the newspaper the morning of your job interview, or watch the newscast the night before. If you want to work in a newsroom, news should be a part of your life every day. Employers these days are fond of asking questions to test whether you know what’s in the news — not just this week — but last year and even what’s coming up next month.

5. Be prepared to show you are a self-starter.

When employers consider j-school grads, they know the applicants have some basic writing, editing, online and broadcast production skills. What they want to know beyond that is whether the candidate is a self starter. The question we are asked most often when we are asked for references is whether the candidate can work without a lot of direction, anticipate demands, jump in and do what needs to be done, or whether they need and expect a lot of guidance. Competent employees are easy to find, especially in a tight job market. Outstanding employees are those that show a lot of initiative, who find ways to contribute and be productive without being asked. In workplaces where there are too few employees, that’s never been more true.

This list is just a starting point. Feel free to add your suggestions to the list.

But this year it’s all happening against the backdrop of announced layoffs, hiring freezes, suspenions of internship programs  and warnings that things will only get worse in newsrooms across the country.  In Canada, first it was the news that Canwest would eliminate 560 jobs across the country. Then it was CTV’s turn. So far the CBC has announced there will be no layoffs — at least for now.

We read and hear a lot about the impact of these cuts on today’s journalists and newsrooms.  We don’t hear much about the impact it’s having on students — the students who competed hard to get into popular journalism programs, then worked hard for years to meet the requirements and are now about to head into what is the worst job market in years.

To the surprise of many, especially journalists, it has always been true that some students take journalism degrees even though they don’t want to be journalists. Maybe they once did, but changed their minds along the way and decided to complete the program anyway. Maybe they never really did. Still, they saw some value in learning writing, communication and critical thinking skills, as well as learning to meet tight deadlines. They put those skills to good use in any number of places from grad school, to law school, to jobs in government and the private sector. 

Clearly, though, others are here because their dream is to be a journalist. They remain enthusiastic about the idea of getting paid to find and tell stories. They are able to work in any medium, willing to work in more than one medium at a time. They are web savvy.  They are flexible. They do not resist change. In other words, they have what the news media needs to renew itself.

There are those who argue that this is actually an exciting time for journalism because it will have to reinvent itself to survive.  Pat Thornton, at the Journalism Iconoclast makes that point in this post.

“Journalism is at the beginning of a tectonic shift and massive upheaval, and yet, I consider this to be an incredibly exciting time to be in journalism.

We stand on the doorstep of history. We’re watching the reinvention of a critical industry. This is not an evolution — we are a part of a revolution.

And that’s why I’m afraid. I know that journalism will be stronger than ever in 20 years, but what will tomorrow hold? The journey through revolution will claim many careers.”

I hope a few summer jobs for a few journalism graduates this year will keep them inspired and connected enough to this business to be part of the renewal.