By Kristin Granero
What’s it take to launch, and then grow, a successful career in journalism? Last week, Joanna Saltz, Site Director at Delish.com, and Neha Gandhi, Vice President of Editorial Strategy at Refinery29.com greeted a room full of eager whippersnappers to finally get to the bottom of what it takes to work your way in and up. Read on for some of their (formerly) best-kept secrets.
- Practice “Value” Networking
Saltz and Gandhi agree that attending networking events and keeping in touch with internship contacts is a great way to stay in the loop and find out about staff openings. That said, they caution against just reaching out to editors when inquiring about a job in favor of maintaining something more real. “Ask yourself ‘What am I offering that makes people stay in contact with me?’,” says Gandhi, who suggests deepening outreach by referencing a great articles former editors may have written or emailing them something relevant to your relationship or their niche.
- Market Yourself
Sure. Having stellar and relevant experience goes a long way (as Saltz points out, experience is a good indicator that you’ll be able to handle certain tasks) but just as important, if not more, is your representation. “It all comes down to personal marketing. How do you sell yourself in a way that’s authentic and real?,” says Saltz.
Once you’re ready to apply to a position (if not sooner), make sure that everything from your digital and social profiles to your outfit and interview demeanor are sending the right message. If the job is the right fit, you shouldn’t have to oversell yourself. “The only jobs you should be going for are the ones you’re authentically interested in and passionate about,” Saltz adds.
- Take a Chance
And if you have a change of heart before or even mid-career? Some patience and perseverance go a long way. “I started writing for the school paper, and all I wanted to do was just that,” says Saltz, who made the brave decision to switch from a Music to English major after nearly completing all of her college credits. “I wrote a long, personal email to the editor in chief and attached my resume. I got the job, even though I was probably less qualified than a lot of others who applied,” adds Gandhi on going for her first job at Refinery29.com.
- Establish a Mentor
Remember—getting the gig is just the beginning. Once you’re through the door, you should surrounding yourself with people who will foster your growth. “Identify the person giving you feedback and whether you want to manage up or use them as a mentor,” says Gandhi. “If you find yourself in a position where you don’t have a great editor, and you want to be a great writer, you should try to find another mentor or a new job,” adds Saltz.
- Know Your Worth
Who’s counting? You should be. While being a team player often includes taking on an odd task or two (and not making a big fuss of it when doing so), you should be prepared to quantify your contributions.
When interviewing, that means speaking to past achievements (maybe you grew traffic at your last company by 50%). “Always negotiate when you take the job. The amount people are offered doesn’t necessarily correlate with their worth. It’s 100% correlated with what they ask for when they walk in the door,” says Gandhi.
If you’ve been at the company for a while, that means speaking to additional responsibilities you’ve taken on or other ways in which you’ve gone above and beyond. “When you walk in an office for a promotion, make sure you have a clear list of the ways in which you’ve added value,” says Gandhi, who also stresses the importance of knowing, and speaking to, the company’s main goals overall.
- Know the Reader
Something else you should be speaking to? Your audience. “If you’re constantly chasing the approval of the person above you, you’re never going to get it. All we [editors] ask [of our assistants] is that you invest in the reader like we invest in the reader,” says Saltz.
This can also give you a leg up when freelancing. “Think about what’s happening in the ether and their newsletter, and consider what will perform well for the publication,” says Gandhi, who stresses the importance of being concise and having a strong point of view when pitching.
- Be Thankful
While there’s a good chance you will have to make some sacrifices and detours, Saltz and Gandhi agree that you should try to make the most of every position, because you’ll likely look back and see how they’ve prepared you for your dream job. “That’s all you should have in life—something you’re excited to do every day,” says Saltz.
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