A presentation delivered to journalism students at Leeds Met University and at Southampton Solent University in January 2013

1. Employability masterclass
Leeds Metropolitan University
23 January 2013
9 January 2013 The New York Times newsroom in 1942
By Marjory Collins [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

2. Journalism.co.uk @journalismnews
Sarah Marshall, technology editor, @SarahMarshall3

3. The competition
✤ Kentish Gazette
✤ Journalism.co.uk
✤ Money Marketing §
✤ Telegraph
✤ Guardian
40
82
20-100
BBC - entry level ‘Several Hundred’
75-100
✤
‘Several100-120
Thousand’
✤ BBC - trainee scheme

4. “Your job is to
make yourself
stand out.
“You'll do this through demonstrating your
competencies, skills, experience, creativity,
awareness of deadlines and understanding of
news.”
Daniell Morrisey, talent executive, BBC

5. Example
The competition?
✤ 82 applications
2
✤ 5 sent a CV with no covering letter
✤ 11 people didn't send a CV
✤ 6 had spelling errors
✤ 1 mistake in name
✤ 6 applicants not in UK
✤ 48 applicants did not specify skills asked for in job description
✤ 79 made no reference to key point in job description

6. Covering letter email
Covering letter
“It is vital that people think about whether or not they
have the right experience for the job that's being
“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person
advertised.
specification and really tailor the covering letter.
“Applicants need to look more carefully at the
“It is vital that people think about whether or not they
person specification
have the right experience for the job and really tailor the
that's being
covering letter.”
advertised.”
Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing
Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

7. Covering letter
Covering letter
“Applicants we liked had taken time to look at the
newspaper and have a view on it.
“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person
specification and really tailor the covering letter.
“People that story ideas
“It is vitalwith people think about whether orwho they
, not seemed
have theaboutexperience for the job that's being
to know right our campaigns and what we've been
advertised.”
doing as a newspaper.”
Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing
Leo Whitlock, editor, Kentish Gazette

8. Covering letter
Covering letter
“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person
“Include links to your work.”
specification and really tailor the covering letter.
Phil Hammond, head of recruitment, the Telegraph
“It is vital that people think about whether or not they
have the right experience for the job that's being
advertised.”
Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

9. Covering letter
Covering letter
“Some got my name wrong, spelt the name of the paper
“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person
or towns incorrectly.
specification and really tailor the covering letter.
“Some were very obvious spelling mistakes, others
because they people think about whether or not they
“It is vital that fell foul/fowl of spell checks/cheques.
have the right experience for the job that's being
“It puts you off the candidate from the very beginning.”
advertised.”
Leo Whitlock, editor, Kentish Gazette
Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

10. Covering letter
BBC application
“Applicants need to look more carefully at the person
“Always go back to the job description as your base.
specification and really tailor the covering letter.
“Think of the core competencies as headers – and
“It is vital that people think about whether or not they
consider leaving them as headers.”
have the right experience for the job that's being
advertised.” executive, BBC
Daniell Morrisey, talent
Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing

11. Covering letter
Covering letter
Metro / your title of choice
You’ll have:
“Applicantsequivalentto journalism / photojournalism at the person
•A degree or need in look more carefully
specification and really tailor the covering letter.
•Reporting experience
“It•Legal knowledge people think about whether or not they
is vital that
have the right experience for the job that's being
•A clear passion
advertised.” for fashion / sport / politics / technology
•Lots of ideas
Gillian Pears, senior HR manager, Future Publishing
•An understanding of social media

13. CVs
“Don't just give the titles and dates, give examples of stories
you have worked on.”
Paul McMillan, editor, Money Marketing

14. Got an interview?
Expect to be
Googled and
followed

15. Interviews
“Do you research .
“It sounds really obvious but it's the number one mistake
in nine out of 10 interviews.”
Daniell Morrisey, talent executive, BBC

16. Interviewing recent graduates
“You get a sense of the hunger or eagerness to learn when
interviewing those people fresh out of university."
Paul McMillan, editor, Money Marketing

17. Interviews
“We like to see and enthusiasm and
passion for people wanting to come and work for us.”
Phil Hammond, head of recruitment, the Telegraph

18. Interviews
“Give examples such as ‘if I were working for this site,
these are the things you haven’t covered from this angle
and I could do it’.
That’s the Holy Grail if you can say ‘this is
what’s missing and this is how I can fill that gap’.”
Anne Eden-Russell, recruitment manager, the Guardian

19. Job interview questions
✤ What did you do to prepare for this interview?
✤ Tell me about your best work.
✤ What's the biggest story in xxxx at the moment?
✤ What do you read and like?
✤ Where do you want to be in 5 years?
✤ When have you had to perform under pressure?
Your turn
✤ Ideas
✤ Deadlines
✤ Working as part of a team
✤ Working on your own
✤ Ask questions

20. Job interview questions
http://storify.com/journalismnews/memorable-and-amusing-journalism-job-
interview-que

21. Key skillsAccording to editor of the BBC News
website
✤ Traditional skills - curiosity, resourcefulness, legal, (shorthand?)
✤ Speed and accuracy
✤ Visual storytelling
✤ Social media - research and pushing out
✤ Data

22. Thank you
Sarah Marshall
@SarahMarshall3 @journalismnews
23 January 2013
9 January 2013 The New York Times newsroom in 1942
By Marjory Collins [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons