Final thoughts

My friend, a long-time Grateful Dead fan, frequently quotes the phrase "What a long, strange trip it's been," the title of the band's 1977 best-of album, when wrapping up something. It seems fitting then, that I invoke it as I write the final post of this blog.

Personally, some of the most difficult challenges of blogging was worrying about inserting too much of myself into the posts. Especially given that the topic was both personal and broad. The tough job market affects not only me, but from the last count of the unemployed, more than 15 million Americans. I wasn't always comfortable griping about my job search when I knew that there were Moms and Dads out there who have been out of work for six months or more and had families to take care of and bills to pay. I preferred linking to articles and then commenting about what was said in them, and I was wary of turning my blog into a Live Journal-esque collection of whining and complaining. In the end, I realized the personal touches are what sets blogs a part from one another. As one of the few people I know without a personal blog of his own, I'm not sure if I'll have the time to keep up with one. I realize that for a blog to be successful, it requires constant updating, at least 5 times per day on the short end. For me to start up a blog again, I want to be sure that I have the time to truly commit to it.

This probably sounds a little strange to admit, but I have not always been a huge fan of blogging, or bloggers in general. I say strange, because as a member of Generation Y, the Internet is supposedly the center of my universe. But unlike most of my peers, I haven't always been the most computer-savvy. I suppose my aversion to blogging was two-fold. Growing up, my computer expertise was limited and my family wasn't, and still isn't the biggest fans of the Internet. And as a budding journalist in school, learning about objectivity, I felt weirdly threatened. I felt that blogs blurred the line between opinion and straight news reporting, and that went against the basic ideals of journalistic integrity. And what about paying for reporting in the first place? In the world of bloggers, anybody can technically call themselves a "journalist." Where would my presumed future profession fit in this changing media landscape?

Now, with blogs like Talking Points Memo, who often conduct original reporting but unabashedly skews to the political left, I see that their place in journalism is more important than ever. While I have a feeling I will always be a loyal follower of mainstream media publications like the New York Times, I frequently check blogs like the Daily Kos, which covers political news out of Washington, to keep myself informed. Citizen reporting and commentary can catch what some of the big guys have missed, and I know that while journalism is going through a difficult transition, I'd like to think that with more and more people opening their eyes and ears to the world around them, the better this world will be. In a strange parallel, news consumption is actually at an all-time high, even as newspaper and magazine circulation is decreasing rapidly.

I'll be graduating in a few short weeks, and I hope to move to New York City in the coming months. I unfortunately don't have a job (yet), but I'm applying every day and keeping my head up. At this point, I full expect to move there solo, so I may be compelled to share how everything is going with family and friends. And, based on my experiences in this class, that could take shape in a new blog.

A bright spot?

You know the economy is doing poorly when a headline that reads "U.S. Economy Lost Only 11,000 Jobs in November" is cause for a slight celebration. According to the New York Times, the unemployment rate dipped to 10 percent in November, down from 10.2 percent a month earlier. While that number is still dismal, the unexpected uptick wasn't economists had been forecasting, who have been arguing that turnaround in the job market was likely until sometime in the spring of next year.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama convened a jobs summit on Capital Hill yesterday, where he met with business leaders, economists, and others to discuss job creation. Obama faces tough critics on both sides of the political aisle as he tries to balance an ambitious domestic agenda with the $1 trillion budget deficit. While he solicited ideas from the people who attended the forum, he made clear that the government's resources are limited.

"I want to be clear: While I believe the government has a critical role in creating the conditions for economic growth, ultimately true economic recovery is only going to come from the private sector,” he said.

Many business leaders have argued that the healthcare legislation and the recent decision to send more than 30,000 troops to Afghanistan has distracted the president from the what some say is the most pressing issue facing the country - the economy. Republicans are blaming Democrats for pushing New Deal-esque legislation at a time when they say the government spending needs to be reigned in. Obama has already called for some small-step job growth proposals, such as "a program of weatherization incentives for homeowners and small businesses modeled on the popular “cash for clunkers” program," according to the article.

David Carr lets some light in

In a thoughtful, poignant Media Equation column, NY Times writer David Carr tackles the media's downward trend. He discusses many topics that have been talked about to death: the decline in print advertising, the migration of readers to the Web, the slashing of staffs across publishing companies - from Conde Nast to the New York Times. Soon-to-be graduates of journalism seem to be the most likely targets of his advice, and while it acknowledges that the field is indeed changing, he still gives someone like me hope:

For every kid that I bump into who is wandering the media industry looking for an entrance that closed some time ago, I come across another who is a bundle of ideas, energy and technological mastery. The next wave is not just knocking on doors, but seeking to knock them down.

So there it is, if someone like David Carr can still see the light at the end of the tunnel, there's no reason why a 20-something college grad can't see it as well.

OK, so I meant to post this when I first read it, but alas, the all I can think about these days is jobs, and the fact that I still don't have one. Anyway, here's another story in the New York Times about how people are dealing with the lousy job market. Apparently, according to the article, people in the older generation that are out of work don't give up as easily as us young folks.

A look at recent employment data indicates that boomers have persevered in these hard times, and are less likely to grow discouraged and quit the job hunt than younger workers are.

This is completely true because, speaking as someone in my early 20s who has been looking for jobs the past two months, I'm pretty close to picturing myself living with my parents for the rest of my life.

However, it's stories like these that remind me how hard the recession has hit other people, and that well, yes the prospect of moving back home to live with my parents terrifies me, a lot more people are experiencing more dire situations. Like this family mentioned in the story, a father laid off after 30 years and now has to support a wife and three children with no health insurance. At least I'm covered until April 30 (I think, anyway), and I have my parents to help me out until I can find something.

Under pressure

I grew up in a blue-collar city in central Connecticut whose biggest claim to fame is "Ted's Steamed Cheeseburgers," a burger joint that was recently featured on "Man vs. Food." From my senior class, I was one of a handful of students who went to college out of state; by sophomore year, most of those said students transferred to a Connecticut state school. The rest of my class that didn't even bother to attend college either got pregnant or got into drugs or in some cases, are currently trying to launch rap careers. The only school-related activity that generated much interest was football; most of the other student sports teams and clubs were met with empty bleachers and low participation. My guidance counselor encouraged me to go to UConn (his alma mater) because it was affordable, with little direction as to what else was available to me. An unusually large majority (I've heard 70 percent) of the teaching staff grew up in Meriden. My favorite teacher, the one who used to always joke about how bad things were, later quit her job and moved to London. A year later, she returned to my high school.

The reason I'm writing this is because I had always prided myself on my ambition. Don't misunderstand me, I know that Meriden, Conn. isn't the ghetto; a lot of other college students had much more difficult experiences growing up. (I couldn't imagine attending a high school that even had metal detectors.) However, it was far from the kind of nurturing environment that pushed you toward anything. Everyone is just so comfortable with the status quo, nothing ever gets accomplished. This was not the type of high school where even the "smart kids" did much. The valedictorian didn't get into the Ivy League; she went to UConn. It's hard coming back during the holidays because you can't really catch up with people who haven't done much growing up. There's nothing to "catch up" about. This is why I love college so much. There are so many people who are DOING something. People who are adding to the conversation. People with ambition. People who want a better life for themselves.

This is something that I grapple with as I try and find a job because my biggest fear is that I will end up just like every one of my former classmates.

I don't want that to happen.

Cover letters

For someone who's always prided myself on humility, penning cover letters can be a very difficult process. I never realized how hard it was to talk about yourself. Some people find that task relatively easy, but I believe that there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. And I've consistently made a point to never cross that threshold.

Obviously, that is not what writing a cover letter is about. A cover letter, from what I gathered, is supposed to highlight your accomplishments throughout college and to provide evidence to a potential employer that you've been using your time wisely. I've been trying to sound enthuastic about my skills without sounding too cheesey, but that's another hard part of the process. Additionally, because I've been applying to a wide range of jobs, from marketing/PR to online editorial positions, each one asks different qualifications, and I've had to write individual letters in order to draw attention to specific skills. (Maybe part of me thought that I could just write one generic letter and send it off by changing the employer's name. Not the case.)

Fortunately I feel like I've finally found my "cover letter voice" and don't have to tweak too much when it covers to writing them.

Inventive business strategy? Or just stupid?

The Week magazine announced they are guaranteeing advertisers that consumers will not only see their ad, but also remember it.

“We were trying to think, what’s the most accountable thing you could do?” said Steven Kotok, president of The Week. “This is a way they can say when they buy The Week, they know it’s money well spent, because we’re guaranteeing it will be among the most effective ads they purchase,” Mr. Kotok said.

In contrast, television companies don't even guarantee advertisers that a viewer will even be in the room when an ad airs, according to the article.

I'm skeptical that such a guarantee will catch on with other media companies, since it's actual logistics still seem unclear.

Applied for Job No. 4

This time as a Publicity Assistant for HBO in New York.

People keep telling me to stop focusing on the city so much. However, doesn't moving to a small town kind of feel like giving up?

Link to my podcast

I recorded an audio podcast discussing my current job search. Listen if you dare.

Fingers crossed!

Dear Jeffrey,

Thank you very much for your application and for your interest in [Company name].

It will take a while for us to evaluate your application. Your patience is greatly appreciated. If we find that your qualifications match our needs we will contact you for an interview.

Thanks again for your interest in employment with [Company name].

Regards,

Human Resources

[Company name]

Applied for Job No. 3

I just sent out my official third job application. Now, on its face, it doesn't sound like a big deal, except for the fact that I actually think I have a shot this time. I wrote the strongest cover I've written so far and since it's explicitly an entry-level position, I am actually qualified! It's for an online marketing position at Random House in New York, which is a field I haven't really considered before, but I'm definitely willing to try and learn. I read the job description and it definitely sounds interesting. The waiting game is probably the hardest part. Hopefully I will hear something within the next few weeks, but in the meantime I will continue looking and hopefully applying to more jobs. Last night, I spotted one as a Publicity Assistant for HBO, which I'm planning on sending out an application for later today.

Confessions of a 20-something Job Seeker

The most frustrating aspect about the job search is not finding anything that's appealing to me. I've been checking the usual suspects (Indeed.com, Monster.com, JournalismJobs.com, Mediabistro.com, etc.) every few days (though I should probably change the frequency to every day), and maybe choose one or two jobs at most that I'm both I'm actually qualified for and that interest me.

Maybe I'm being too picky, which is entirely possible. I've already limited my job search to New York, but it's possible I should be more open minded. In fact I found a job posting just a few minutes ago in Seattle working at the Seattle Weekly as Web Editor. Sounds like I actually be qualified for it too. Could I make it on the West Coast? Who knows. The thing is, I've always seen myself as a New Yorker even though I haven't spent an extended amount of time there. Whenever I visit the city, it's like everything just fits, and as corny as this sounds, the world is alive with possibility. I see a future amid that chaos. MY future.

Sorry for going all LiveJournal just then.

Anyway, what makes it especially difficult is the fact that even though my resume includes two internships at the Boston Globe, along with two and a half years of editing experience on the school newspaper, it still fills like it's not enough. Most of the Web editorial jobs I've found require audio and video editing experience. Most of the writing jobs are for small town papers located in the middle of nowhere. In the suburbs. (*shudder* I get the chills just thinking of living in a city with less than 650,000 people in it.) I'm a city boy.

But there you go. Maybe I'm being small-minded. Maybe I'm not. Though I think it's too early to start giving up on your dreams and just accepting whatever gets thrown your way because it's easy.

So when will the paywall go up?

The New York Times Public Editor Clark Hoyt addressed the recession's impact on the newspaper on Oct. 31, writing about the Times' recent announcement that they will cut 100 jobs from the newsroom. This will reduce the staff size to 1,150, which he noted, still makes The Times the largest newsroom in the nation. However, this announcement comes on the heels of Time Inc.'s announcement on Oct. 30 that it will cut about 540 jobs from its company.

Hoyt recognizes the changing landscape of the media field, and notes that the Times is still dedicated to producing quality journalism. He brings up how Times executives are still mulling over putting content behind a pay wall, a controversial solution that's been toyed around for some time. Hoyt quotes Times Executive Managing Editor Bill Keller as saying, “We’re within weeks of a decision.”

And the fallout...

So two days ago, it was reported that the U.S. economy had lifted itself out of the reccesion. Not so fast. On Oct. 31, leading Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz said the U.S. recession is actually "nowhere near" an end, and the small growth rate that the U.S. saw in the third quarter won't continue into 2010, during a address he gave in Shanghai. He credited most the progress that's been made to the $787 stimulus package that was infused into the economy in February. Additionally, Stiglitz said the U.S. made a huge mistake in not nationalizing the banks in the first place.

We have this very strange situation today in America where we have given banks hundreds of billions of dollars and the president has to beg the banks to lend and they refuse,” Stiglitz said. “What we did was the wrong thing. It has weakened the economy and has increased our deficit, making it more difficult for the future.

President Barack Obama and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke both vehemently opposed the idea back in February.

Here we go again

Well some good and bad news coming out of the U.S. economy today. The New York Times reported that the U.S. economy actually grew for the first time in two years, ending "the longest contraction since World War II." However, analyists say that most of that growth can be attributed to government aide, such as the "cash-for-clunkers" program initiated earlier this summer. Additionally, an increase in jobs will not factor into this equation, at least for the next year.

At some point firms will have to begin to bring some of their workers back, but it may not be anytime soon,” said Joseph Brusuelas, director of MoodysEconomy.com “That means 2010 may be a year of growth in the economy, but it’s likely to be characterized as jobless growth.

So basically, that means that the average job-seeker will probably not feel any effects of positive economic news for awhile. Unfortunately I'm one of those job-seekers.

In other news, the Boston Globe reported that the Massachusetts economy continued to shrink despite the growth of the national economy. In the article, some attribute this to the fact that federal programs only benefit certain types of state economies, and since Massachusetts doesn't have a large auto operation, it didnt benefit as much from "cash for clunkers" as other states, like Michigan.

The apparent strong performance of the national economy may be misleading,'' Goodman said. "While it it's clear that the Massachusetts economy continues to fight its way through this difficult recession, today's [national economic] report reflects, among other things, the impact of one-time programs.

Basically, this is more depressing news coming out of the economy. Blah.

This is my planned silhouette when I get my first job

Credit: Courtesy of trublueboy

Networks too big?

The New York Times posted an interesting op-ed on Oct.17 , written by a Jon Picoult, of a Connecticut consulting firm, who lamented about how employers too often cull through a limited selection of people when looking to fill positions. As it happens, I attended my first official "networking" event last night at Suffolk University, where one nice woman from a local PR company told us that many jobs aren't even posted on websites like Monster.com, and that most times, it's your connections within an industry that will ultimately benefit you. I've heard this song before, and especially in an field like journalism, I find it especially relevant. Most of the people I know that have recently graduated and are now gainfully employed have jobs because of a "friend of a friend" or a "professor who made a call." Picoult points to both the benefits of networking ("What better way to find job candidates than through referrals by a trusted friend, colleague or relative?"), yet there are drawbacks for employers whose personal networks have grown too big:

A common definition for one’s “network” is everybody within three degrees of separation. But consider what three degrees look like in a world of tenuously stretched networks. My friend from college used to work with a woman who met a sales executive at a business conference. Compared with someone outside of my network, is that sales executive really less likely to be a deranged sociopath? Is that sales executive really more likely to be a better candidate for a job? Of course not.

Networking is obviously a great tool for both employers and employees. In a tough job market such as this, we all could use every little bit of help to get ahead. I suppose what always irked me about the process, and as Picoult mentions, is that sometimes, it's not necessarily the most qualified candidates that get the jobs. Capitalism is based on the idea of a meritocracy, where merit and achievement win out, yet many times, it's someone's connections that hold the most weight. Just look at higher education - why do colleges and universities still even look at "legacies" when rendering a decision about admittance. It seems so archaic. Networking isn't that extreme, but it operates under the same umbrella: it's not what you do, it's who you know, that matters.

Not to get too whiney, but this poses a difficult dilemma for someone like me, who has always believed the opposite. I've worked hard throughout high school to get into college, and throughout college, to hopefully land a job after graduation. Yet most people advise me that a solid resume and a well-written cover letter are just part of the process - aren't there any professors with ties to media companies that I can connect with? It feels a little fake to ask someone I barely know to get me a job somewhere. Yet this is just my naviety about how the world works. Nothing like a dose of ice cold realism to wake you up the real world.

Somone hire these twins!

This story was published last Sunday, but I still can’t stop thinking about it. The New York Times wrote about a pair of 24-year-old twins from Ohio who are both recent college graduate with journalism degrees. They both moved to New York to try and start their careers. However after applying to 150 jobs between them without any prospects, one’s turned to bartending and the other has resorted to playing the saxophone in subway stations with a sign that reads, “Don’t Give Money, Give Business Cards.”

Scary. Especially when The Times portrays their feelings so accutely:

Now, jobless, days going by one at a time, Katie found herself saying things like: “It’s driving me bonkers. Like what has my existence come to?” And: “I’m going to stab myself.”

Obviously this hits home to me because I’m a soon-to-be college grad with a journalism degree who wants to move to New York and start my career. Like these young women, I too, have internships under my belt. After reading this story, now I wonder how long it will take before I need to learn how to play a musical instrument.

Hello!

Let’s just get straight to the point: I’m terrified of the future. I’m a 22-year-old journalism major on the verge of graduation and I have no idea of what comes next. For the past four-and-a-half years, my primary identity has been “student.” What does being a “grown-up” feel like?

While I figure out that existential question and hordes of others, I’m starting the job search. Everyone knows that this is quite possibly the worst time for college graduates to enter the work force. Undeterred, I’m going to try anyway. I know that others have turned to graduate school and organizations like Teach For America to avoid the stress of trying to find a job in this enconomy but neither alternative seems very attractive to me.

Call me foolish, or just read this blog, as I document the thrill of finding a job that matches your qualifications and the oppressive agony of never hearing anything from said employer. I’ll talk about cover letters, resumes, and comment on tidbits on the economic downturn, job growth, etc. Hopefully these posts will illuminate the difficult struggles that so many 20-somethings face as they attempt to straddle the world of adulthood and the childhood we leave behind.

Cheers, -Jeff