Two weeks ago I had to attended my Aunt and Uncle's 50th Anniversary party, where by chance, a friend they know that works for the Daily News, happened to be there. Of course, my family introduced m e knowinng the difficulties I have been having trying to find a reporting job. The guy ( I don't want to mention names) was really nice and gave me some good advice, words that I haven't heard since I was in school.
He told me that unfortunately the newspaper industry was slowly on the decline and that trying to find a job would be difficult. That I had to be pursuant and constantly plague the people who work there. Don't take no for an answer and personally hand them a resume and cover letter. Could that really be what has been holding me back? Now that I look back on it, I realized that I could have been more motivated and pushy. I should start with my internship. Why wouldn't they hire me? According to my evaluation where I got mostly fives, I had improved a lot in my writing. Perhaps, instead of just accepting the fact that they might not have gotten my emails or that they just didn't want to hire me, I should have went there and talked to the editor. If he didn't want to see me then demand a interview or something.
There is also the local, non-profit newspaper that writes for each town. I always go on the website but never see any "hiring" posts and had just accepted that. I am thinking of taking a drive and doing as that guy said. Hand them a resume and cover letter personally. What is the worst that can happen? I have been told no many times. What is one more?
Another thing that guy had mentioned was that I should consider going into broadcast. He said that I had the face for it. I had never thought about, always assuming that I didn't have what it took. However, I did enjoy broadcasting class back in school and had considered it then. But I wanted to write and so put it on the back burner. So why not now? Obviously the newspaper thing hasn't been working, so why not persue broadcasting and open a door that could lead to many paths.
While thinking about all this, I had to do some reflecting. The main question was Did I really want to write still? Did I really want to persue this path still? The answer was yes! Even though there were days when thinking about writing left me feeling exhausted and that I didn't want to do it, I found myself still going online and searching for those jobs? Was it just out of extinct? I don't think so. Every time there was a post that had some potential my heart would start to beat and I would get excited. If I didn't want to do it I don't think that I would feel this way.
The other question that I asked myself was "What was I going to do about the writing gap on my resume." It has been two years since I graduated and haven't done any professional writing, which is what what hurt me the latest interview that I went on. The guy kept bringing it up and I knew that was one of their concerns. I have been trying to get into the freelance stuff but with no luck and as you can probably see from the space in these post, blogging hasn't been a natural forte. However, I think that is going to change.
My friend Travis, with whom I work with, is currently in a band. They are just newly formed and have just won the competition to go to warp tour. Yet, yesterday when I went to their show at the local fire hall, I watched as they struggled to sell the last of their tickets so that they can play (they had to sell at least 25 to save their spot in the show). Most of their audience of 25 was close personal friends, but what about fans? Then it hit me, I should start blogging about them. For some time, we have been discussing me interviewing them but I didn't know what to do with it. But as I watched them. the ideas starting to pour in. It would be a win-win situation. He would get the promotion his band needed to get out there and be heard and my writing would be read. I have not made any definite decisions yet but I am leaning more into doing it.After all, the only one stopping me is me.
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