Q. I am a non-traditional journalism student. At 38, I have three kids and will be graduating with a double degree (journalism and anthropology with a minor in political science) in August.
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During my time as a student, I had two fantastic internships and wrote for the school paper. Before school, though, I spent 14 years as a stay-at-home-mom, so I have little real-world work experience to claim on a resume.
Most of my classmates are unconcerned about getting that first job; they are content to do a few internships before landing a paying job. Many are already planning to couch-surf with friends or stay with family.
I don't have that option. I have three kids to support and cannot afford to do internships after graduation, plus I have to consider school districts and employment for my husband.
I absolutely need to have a job lined up after graduation. I won't have student loans and grants to pay the bills anymore, and of course I am expected to begin repaying all of those loans. I need to know where I am moving before I graduate. (We live in university housing and will be required to move out within 15 days of graduation.)
What is the best way for me to market myself to get paying work as fast as possible? Am I being unrealistic?
JeanA. This is not impossible, but it IS difficult. There are just so many considerations. I don't even know all of them. But I know enough to believe you'll sleep easier once you figure out what your post-graduation plan is.
Here's the bind, essentially: You have a very small window during which you will graduate, lose your
housing, and need to get the kids enrolled in good schools. Having the timing and location of a job hold all that up creates a lot of stress. While newspapers will offer internships months in advance, they usually don't fill jobs until openings occur and budgets allow them to hire. The timing on this can be unpredictable.
Your one obvious course is to select a few papers that would be suitable and hound them, hoping they get an August opening.
Consider this: Hound your target papers for ANY opening that occurs between now and August and be ready to take it. Then your move window can be many months instead of just one. If you have to accept a sudden offer, see if you can complete your credits online, at another university or at a later date. Anything you can do to open that window earlier will give you more time to land a job that meets all your needs.
Coming Wednesday: He has an interview with a paper that might be up for sale and
wonders how to broach the subject without making it seem as though he has cold feet.
I hope this doens't come off as bragging, but before...
