Dear Ed,
I’m graduating in May with a magazine journalism degree, and I want a career in trade magazines. I keep seeing ads online that demand “at least two years’ professional experience.” I have a lot of writing experience at my school: editorial positions with the campus magazine, features reporter for the campus newspaper, and, by graduation, two semesters worth of writing press releases.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t all count as “professional” experience, which I assume is what the hiring editors posting these ads seek.
How can I find an entry-level writing position that doesn’t require two years of post-college experience without having to do “Devil Wears Prada”-type work?
Eric, Muncie, Indiana
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Dear Eric,
Don’t be deterred by posts that ask for two or three years of experience. Apply to those anyway. The worst that will happen is you won’t hear back and you’ll learn that you need to look harder for true entry-level jobs.
It’s great that you’re interested in working for trade magazines. They usually have smaller staffs, so even the entry-level staff members contribute editorially, reducing the odds of coffee-fetching, coat-hanging, and errand-running, although some of each of those may be involved (but if your boss treats you well and respects you, you probably won’t mind doing those things for him or her!).
So looking on Ed2010, mediabistro, journalismjobs, craigslist, hotjobs, and monster for trade and regional magazine editorial assistant positions is the right thing to do!
Love,
Ed
