Q. There are a couple of metros I'd like to work for back in my home state. Having their pick of the litter, they really don't have to advertise for job openings, so I'm taking your advice from past columns and sending "feeler" e-mails, along with my resumé and clips, with the hope of ending up on the papers' radars.
Can you give a little more detail about what the content and length of that e-mail should be? If I don't hear back from the editors, should I follow up with another e-mail, or should I try someone else at the paper? If I should follow up, how soon? In other words, where is the line between "ambitious young reporter" and "annoying young reporter?"
Thanks for your help -- as always.
Taking Your Advice
A. First of all, let's not do this by e-mail. Call me old-school if you like, but I am afraid that your e-mail, which requires no immediate action or response, could get overlooked. E-mail is great for instant, written communication, but you don't need that immediacy.
Send a one-page letter, resume and clips instead.
My hope is that your package will get opened, noticed, read a little and dropped into applicant files, and that this will start a dialog for you. So, let's view the application in a larger context. It is a key part in a series of conversations that we hope lead to an invitation to interview. Let's script the other parts.
Call or e-mail the editor when you mail the packet, saying it is on the way. Refrain from calling to ask whether it is received. It probably will be. As you are not writing when there is an opening and before you expect to move, it is a bit pointless to hope for a long and meaningful conversation about your work. A good clip critique takes an hour or more, and I bet the editor will not yet be ready to make that investment. Follow up, every four to six months, with a piece of noteworthy work. When the editor sees you are serious, you might start to have a little two-way traffic. Certainly, you will begin to get some name recognition. Try to elevate it to the point where you can get some suggestions or recommendations. Follow up as you achieve them.
When you are in town where the paper is located, ask for a get-acquainted visit. This is not an interview, but a tour. Still, it can improve your standing. Ideally, you will get to the point where you are the one being called for one of these unannounced openings.
Coming Wednesday: A recent graduate, she has gotten a job offer that has a lot of good responsibilities, but the wage looks to be below $10 an hour -- without insurance -- and it has a non-compete clause. Should she take it to get started?
