As someone who is still unsure what career path he would like to choose after school, I was very intrigued by some advice I received from a guest speaker in my digital journalism class the other day. The speaker was Mira Lowe who is a senior features editor for CNN's digital platform. She reiterated a few things about the journalism field that I have heard before, such as the importance of being grammatically correct or making sure information comes from a credible source before publishing it. However, I was more interested in what she had to say about job applications and how to stand out to an employer. This is a skill that is important regardless of which career path is chosen.
I have heard about the importance of professionalism and making a good impression since I was in middle school. Whether it was from my parents and relatives, or my school teachers, the message has been drilled into my head at every opportune moment. However, Lowe's advice caught my attention much more effectively than everyone else. Not only was she very good at wording what she had to say, but I also couldn't help thinking that here is someone who does hire writers all of the time and has experience sorting through mountains of applications.
Lowe said that it is important to tailor an application to the job you are looking to get. While formatting is important, a "one-size-fits-all" application that works for any job opening is more likely to be looked over than an application that focuses on the skill sets needed for that particular line of work. While being responsible, hard-working or friendly are all great qualities to have, it is something that is listed in so many other applicants' descriptions and is also something that is hard to prove on paper. Showing the employer your work rather than telling them about it can be a huge step forward to landing that job.
Mira Lowe did a wonderful job of displaying both her experience in the world of journalism and her passion for reporting. Whether or not I choose to pursue a career in journalism, I gained very valuable advice that I think will help me immensely when applying for jobs.
I have heard about the importance of professionalism and making a good impression since I was in middle school. Whether it was from my parents and relatives, or my school teachers, the message has been drilled into my head at every opportune moment. However, Lowe's advice caught my attention much more effectively than everyone else. Not only was she very good at wording what she had to say, but I also couldn't help thinking that here is someone who does hire writers all of the time and has experience sorting through mountains of applications.
Lowe said that it is important to tailor an application to the job you are looking to get. While formatting is important, a "one-size-fits-all" application that works for any job opening is more likely to be looked over than an application that focuses on the skill sets needed for that particular line of work. While being responsible, hard-working or friendly are all great qualities to have, it is something that is listed in so many other applicants' descriptions and is also something that is hard to prove on paper. Showing the employer your work rather than telling them about it can be a huge step forward to landing that job.
Mira Lowe did a wonderful job of displaying both her experience in the world of journalism and her passion for reporting. Whether or not I choose to pursue a career in journalism, I gained very valuable advice that I think will help me immensely when applying for jobs.