Ed knows landing that first job can be tricky, but there is light at the end of the tunnel—and he’s talked to it personally! Seven editorial assistants gave Ed their take on what they wish they had known when they were job hunting once upon a not-so-long time ago. What did they have to say? Read on to learn about their experiences landing their first gigs and their tips for how you can make it happen, too.
Libby Sile, Editorial Assistant at Esquire
What she wishes she knew: “Something I remember being very frustrated to hear: It can be more about luck and timing than anything else. Had I not been in the seat across from my co-worker and on great terms with him, I never would have gotten my job. There are so many jobs that don’t get advertised or are filled from within, so you either have to be in that place already or know someone at that magazine. And on the topic of knowing people, that is really what it’s all about. Network, network, network.”
“Stay in touch with your colleagues from past internships. Don’t email them every day by any means, but every once in a while, send them a clip you’re proud of that was just published, or congratulate them on a particularly good issue or article in their magazine. In doing this throughout my senior year, I landed two long-term freelance research gigs.”
Malia Griggs, Editorial Assistant at Cosmopolitan
What she wishes she knew: “If you don’t get the job you think you really want, you won’t die. That’s something I had to repeatedly tell myself: ‘If this doesn’t work out, something else will.’ If you go into any interview with a feeling of failure, you won’t be able to really be yourself or think clearly — and that’s just no good for anyone.”
Alyssa Reeder, Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief at Teen Vogue
What she wishes she knew: “You should always send a thank you note after meeting with perspective employers. Even if you don’t end up getting or taking the job, it’s very important to maintain those connections because the industry is actually very small, and you will likely cross paths or work with those people again.”
“Work hard without being competitive. You will work with very strong personalities, so you have to remember that it’s not a race, it’s not Gossip Girl, it’s not a sorority house. People can be harsh and a bit catty sometimes, but you have to take it all in stride and be as graceful and professional as possible.”
Hannah Kay Hunt, Editorial Assistant at Food Network Magazine
What she wishes she knew: “I wish I had been even more intentional about doing informationals anywhere and everywhere while I was [in New York]. Last summer, I confined my meetings to women’s magazines, and then I realized this past school year that my passion was actually for food. I felt like I had to start from square one. Informationals are about learning from and impressing editors all at once, and I wish I had focused a little more on the former.”
“Stay on top of industry news — you’ll figure out who’s hiring and which publications probably aren’t going to have openings anytime soon (if they just hired new entry-level editors). Check job boards every single day — you’d be surprised how many openings are actually listed online, but they come and go fast! And make sure you let the people you worked with through an internship and interviewed with know that you’re looking for a job -— you never know when they may hear of an opening, and you want them to think of you first.”
Kate Johanson, Editorial Assistant at Lucky
What she wishes she knew: “The one thing I wish I had known when I was interviewing was that discerning whether or not I had the ability to adapt to the culture of the magazine was as important to my bosses as my resume. I think it made me realize how crucial it is to be yourself and that an interview shouldn’t be a nerve-wracking experience. It’s an opportunity to discuss the one thing you know better than anyone in the world: yourself!”
Judi Pena, Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief at Every Day with Rachael Ray
What she wishes she knew: “Treat every application and job interview as a chance to get better and even practice. Interviewing isn’t necessarily something you do everyday and being able to sell yourself in the little amount of time you get — both on paper and in person — is something that may require practice.”
“Consider your portfolio part of your resume and make sure everything is edited, clean and easy to ready. Try to show off the different types of work you’ve done. On more than one occasion, I’ve had an interviewer ask to keep my portfolio to read — and potentially show others. You want to make sure that the entire package continues to influence your interviewer and others in a positive way even after you leave.”
Cassie Kreitner, Former Editorial Assistant at Family Circle
What she wishes she knew: “Consider paid post-grad internships. It’s a good way to try a new genre of magazines and gain experience in areas you may be lacking. It can often lead to a job if there are openings, but it’s never guaranteed, and you should never go in expecting it. I started looking for opportunities in late February, so I was able to go on interviews during my spring break. I wanted to have something paid lined up before I graduated and ended up choosing between three opportunities.”
