METHODOLOGY AND DETAILS ARE KEY
by Contributor
(Feb. 12, 2020) — Being a journalist is not an easy job and becoming one is also getting harder by the day.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the overall employment of reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts will decline by 10% from 2018 to 2028. Further, the projections estimate that the employment of reporters and correspondents will decline by 12%.
These trends show us that the competition to become a journalist is going to be astronomical and one will need all the help they can get to fulfill their passion for being a journalist.
Let’s start by perfecting the most basic thing you will require when you venture out into your job search, your resume.
Read these 5 resume tips that will help you frame a gobsmacking Journalist Resume:
1. Gather all your information in a source file
Being a journalist, you will understand the importance of having all the pieces of information laid out methodically for the story to make sense. Likewise, for your resume to come out perfectly, the first step you need to take is to gather all your professional information in one place.
This source file of all your information will be called a master resume.
Here, list all the details of your work experience, educational qualification, certifications, awards & recognition, contact details, etc.
The best part about creating a master resume is that not only does it come in extremely handy while drafting your current resume, but it also helps with future updates.
This will also save you time because every time you need some information to update your resume, there won’t be a need to gather scattered pieces of information as you will find all that you need in your master folder.
2. Choose the most suitable resume format
You need to use the resume format most suitable to you for writing your Journalist Resume.
Pick from the resume formats given below according to your professional needs:
- Reverse Chronological Resume Format: Use this common format if you have extensive years of professional experience with no career gaps. List your most recent job profile followed by past jobs and educational details or internships based on the dates. This format highlights your most relevant professional experience or education and is the most preferred resume format.
- Functional Resume Format: Use this format if you are an entry-level applicant or have less work experience. This format is also suitable for those trying to cover up career gaps as it focuses on your skills rather than the professional experience. Include your contributions across all profile titles and list them under similar functions.
- Combination Resume Format: Use this format if you want to deviate from using the reverse chronological resume format. This is a combination of both functional and reverse chronological resume format wherein you can combine your best work experience and skills.
3. Label your resume with a Header & mention an honest Profile Title
Give your resume a unique identity by writing your name as the header instead of writing ‘Resume’ or ‘CV’.
It will also make it easier for the recruiters to keep track of your Journalist Resume in a sea of other resumes applying for the same job profile.
Further, provide an accurate and honest profile title in your resume to let the recruiters decide upon your candidacy.
Do not lie about your profile because doing so will pass as deliberately cheating the recruiters and may even jeopardize your job application.
4. Frame your Professional Experience effectively
You need to communicate the details of your professional experience to the recruiters for them to recognize you as a suitable applicant for the targeted job profile.
Make sure that you communicate your potential to the recruiters through your professional experience section.
Forget about writing paragraphs and stick to framing one-liners to make your statements clear and easy to read.
List all the similar points under relevant buckets by creating unique headings to make it easier for you to organize your one-liners. Doing so will also make it easier for the recruiters to read and comprehend your points.
Provide achievement figures to specify the extent of your achievements and contribution to an organization while creating cause-effect relations in your points.
Example:
Legal & Ethical Management
- Acquired legal permission before recording interviews to avoid defamation lawsuits
- Conducted extensive research to present 100% accurate and well-balanced explanation of stories
5. Provide your Credentials and Personal Information
While applying for a journalist job profile you need to verify yourself as an eligible candidate by justifying your skills on resume by providing details of your credentials.
Provide the details of your educational qualification, certifications, internships, awards or recognition, etc. to make the recruiters recognize you as a suitable candidate.
Give the name of the school, university, or institution, etc. from which you graduated or got certified. Also, mention the course you pursued or completed along with the dates of enrollment and graduation or completion.
It will be a bonus if you have been recognized for some relevant work or projects to boost your professional experience. Simply mention the details in your resume.
Conclusion
The 5 resume tips for a journalist listed in this article can help you land your dream job if implemented religiously:
- Create a master folder to gather your information.
- Choose the resume format that best suits your requirements.
- Highlight your resume header and profile title.
- Frame an effective professional experience section.
- Give the details of your credentials.