Anyone looking for a newspaper internship should know that having a portfolio is an essential part of the application process.
Some items that should be contained in a portfolio include clips for writers or a CD, DVD or Web site for photographers, designers and artists.
According to an article by Joe Grimm of the Detroit Free Press, the nature and size of a portfolio can vary greatly depending on the application requirements and type of job, but there are some characteristics that all good portfolios should have.
First, it's important to meet application requirements, including sending the right amount of information, clips and examples the newspaper wants.
"If the newspaper doesn't say, reporters and writers should be safe with six to 10 clips," the article notes. "Artists and designers should go with about a dozen samples and photographers should go with about 20. Edit your package down to requirements, but don't go under. Limit material with shared bylines."
It also is important to make sure the portfolio looks neat, meaning it includes clear and dated photocopies, well exposed photos and pages that are nice to look at and easy to handle.
"Don't shrink type, chop off the edges of your stories, submit grayed-out copies or poorly exposed images," the article states. "Sloppy packages that take a second to make aren't going to get a second look."
It is suggested writing clips be photocopied onto 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper on one side only. The clips may have to be cut and pasted, but the effort will make it easier for others to read your work, copy it for others or file it. Web printouts also are acceptable.
One of the most important tips is to show variety in your work. Writers should chose a few breaking news stories, a feature, a profile, an enterprise story and a personal essay. Photographers should include news, sports and feature images. Designers should include feature pages and news pages.
Writers should choose stories that have great leads, as strong stories with lame leads may not get read. For photographers, strong word pictures that pop will pull the eye into some of your subtler work, but a collection of subtle images might not get noticed.
"If you got the photo of the firefighter rescuing the baby while everyone else was at the other end of the building, include a note that explains how you came to be in the right place at the right time," the article adds. "If the remarkable thing about that story is that you turned it around in three hours, attach a neat note explaining the conditions under which you worked."
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Atlanta Youth Participate in Summer Internships
Many youths recently had the chance to participate in summer internships and prepare for a real job in Atlanta.
More than 700 high school and returning college students from Atlanta Public Schools completed internships in July at top companies and organizations for the third year in a row, according to an article from the City of Atlanta.
With Atlanta adding many jobs in recent years, many students wanted to get in on the action. In 2007, more than 1,000 students completed internships with more than 200 organizations in the public and private sector. The internship program is a joint effort between Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and is supported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ajcjobs and other organizations.
“The Mayors Youth Summer Employment and Training Program is made possible by our corporate partners who contribute so generously to Atlanta's youth by offering summer internships that provide them with an opportunity to grow and gain experience in an array of industries,” Franklin said in the article. “As a result, students are better prepared for the real world, and the next phases of their lives.”
The program worked to recruit companies, non-profit organizations and city agencies to provide the summer internships, which took place from June 2 to July 25. Each organization was asked to provide 35 to 40 hours of work per week and pay $8 to $12 per hour.
“The internships offered students real-world experiences that will help them compete in the world today,” Tom Hough, vice chairman, southeast area managing partner for Ernst & Young LLP and chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s Atlanta Public Schools Education Committee said in the article. “Education is the key to success, and in order to help our youth be successful in life, we must continue to encourage them to receive an education.”
The internship initiative is part of the Mayor's Youth Program, which helps Atlanta Public Schools’ graduating seniors map out a plan for success after high school. The program is administered out of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, which assists students with unmet needs that may hinder their entrance to the training or institution of their choice.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber has been involved with public schools for decades through the Atlanta Partners for Education, a joint venture of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Atlanta Public Schools.
More than 700 high school and returning college students from Atlanta Public Schools completed internships in July at top companies and organizations for the third year in a row, according to an article from the City of Atlanta.
With Atlanta adding many jobs in recent years, many students wanted to get in on the action. In 2007, more than 1,000 students completed internships with more than 200 organizations in the public and private sector. The internship program is a joint effort between Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and is supported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ajcjobs and other organizations.
“The Mayors Youth Summer Employment and Training Program is made possible by our corporate partners who contribute so generously to Atlanta's youth by offering summer internships that provide them with an opportunity to grow and gain experience in an array of industries,” Franklin said in the article. “As a result, students are better prepared for the real world, and the next phases of their lives.”
The program worked to recruit companies, non-profit organizations and city agencies to provide the summer internships, which took place from June 2 to July 25. Each organization was asked to provide 35 to 40 hours of work per week and pay $8 to $12 per hour.
“The internships offered students real-world experiences that will help them compete in the world today,” Tom Hough, vice chairman, southeast area managing partner for Ernst & Young LLP and chair of the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s Atlanta Public Schools Education Committee said in the article. “Education is the key to success, and in order to help our youth be successful in life, we must continue to encourage them to receive an education.”
The internship initiative is part of the Mayor's Youth Program, which helps Atlanta Public Schools’ graduating seniors map out a plan for success after high school. The program is administered out of the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency, which assists students with unmet needs that may hinder their entrance to the training or institution of their choice.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber has been involved with public schools for decades through the Atlanta Partners for Education, a joint venture of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Atlanta Public Schools.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Entry Level Jobs Paying Higher Starting Salaries
Recent college graduates can look forward to higher starting salaries when seeking out their first entry level job.
A study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers revealed today's average starting salary is 4 percent higher than last year's, according to an article on CNN.
"Employers are showing interest in graduates from all sectors," Nathan Lippe, senior career adviser for CBcampus.com said in the article. "But, they're also seeing extra competition in certain fields. As a new graduate, your best bet is to research your industry and know what you're worth to get the most out of new job and salary prospects."
Engineering services and accounting firms are the most interested in recent graduates, according to the study. Engineering graduates collectively will see a 5.7 percent starting salary increase to $56,336.
Among the engineering industry, chemical engineering majors will see a starting salary increase of 6.2 percent to $63,749, civil engineering graduates will see 4.8 percent increase to $49,427, electrical engineering majors will see a 3.5 percent increase to $56,512 and mechanical engineering graduates will see a 3.4 percent increase to $56,429.
Consulting, financial services, retail and petroleum companies also are looking for new hires, and as a result, many of these industries are offering higher starting salaries. Finance and accounting graduates will see a 1.9 percent starting salary increase to $48,795 and $47,413, respectively. Business administration and management graduates will see an increase of less than 1 percent to $43,823.
Those who will see the highest salary increases include those with liberal arts degrees, with an average salary offer increased to $33,258. Graduates with technical degrees will see 7.9 percent higher salaries at $56,921 and marketing graduates will see a 5.2 percent salary increase to $43,459.
Graduates applying for entry level jobs also can expect higher starting salaries in the following areas:
A study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers revealed today's average starting salary is 4 percent higher than last year's, according to an article on CNN.
"Employers are showing interest in graduates from all sectors," Nathan Lippe, senior career adviser for CBcampus.com said in the article. "But, they're also seeing extra competition in certain fields. As a new graduate, your best bet is to research your industry and know what you're worth to get the most out of new job and salary prospects."
Engineering services and accounting firms are the most interested in recent graduates, according to the study. Engineering graduates collectively will see a 5.7 percent starting salary increase to $56,336.
Among the engineering industry, chemical engineering majors will see a starting salary increase of 6.2 percent to $63,749, civil engineering graduates will see 4.8 percent increase to $49,427, electrical engineering majors will see a 3.5 percent increase to $56,512 and mechanical engineering graduates will see a 3.4 percent increase to $56,429.
Consulting, financial services, retail and petroleum companies also are looking for new hires, and as a result, many of these industries are offering higher starting salaries. Finance and accounting graduates will see a 1.9 percent starting salary increase to $48,795 and $47,413, respectively. Business administration and management graduates will see an increase of less than 1 percent to $43,823.
Those who will see the highest salary increases include those with liberal arts degrees, with an average salary offer increased to $33,258. Graduates with technical degrees will see 7.9 percent higher salaries at $56,921 and marketing graduates will see a 5.2 percent salary increase to $43,459.
Graduates applying for entry level jobs also can expect higher starting salaries in the following areas:
- economics at $52,926
- nursing at $52,129
- chemistry at $52,125
- political science and government at $43,594
- human resources at $40,250
- history at $35,956
- communications at $35,196
- English language and literature at $34,757
- journalism at $32,250
- psychology at $30,877
- public relations and organizational communications at $30,667
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The Entry Level Jobs You Don't Want
Most college graduates are looking for that groundbreaking entry level job that will open the door to future career possibilities or provide a lifelong opportunity.
A job at a large, successful company might provide this for some people, and usually looks good on a resume, but that's not always the case. Some graduates and new employees are finding the jobs they thought would be the opportunity of a lifetime are quite the opposite.
Valleywag recently rated the 10 worst entry level technology jobs, most of which are with well-known larger companies.
The jobs include:
Most of these positions were targeted as being bad entry level jobs for having a poor job description, small or depressing work space or requiring meaningless and tedious work. Also, most employees in these positions had high grade point averages, had studied abroad and accomplished various other tasks.
"To paraphrase Dan Lyons, there's something distinctly evil about the way Google and the other companies listed below hoard the world's best and brightest and put them to work on creating more efficient text ads or, worse, tasking them with taking phone calls from angry customers," the article adds.
A job at a large, successful company might provide this for some people, and usually looks good on a resume, but that's not always the case. Some graduates and new employees are finding the jobs they thought would be the opportunity of a lifetime are quite the opposite.
Valleywag recently rated the 10 worst entry level technology jobs, most of which are with well-known larger companies.
The jobs include:
- online sales and operations account manager for Google with a salary of $45,000 to $60,000
- support engineer for Amazon with a salary of $80,000
- content acquisition intern for IODA with no pay
- customer support specialist for Fox Interactive's MySpace Division with a salary of $33,000
- temporary database administrator for Google with a salary of $70,000
- support professional for Windows and Microsoft products with a salary of $40,000
- executive administrator to Mashable CEO Pete Cashmore with a salary of $55,000
- analyst of user operations for Facebook with a salary of $45,000
- operations finance analyst intern for Yahoo with a salary of $12 per hour
- part-time guide for Mahalo with a salary of $30,000 to $35,000
Most of these positions were targeted as being bad entry level jobs for having a poor job description, small or depressing work space or requiring meaningless and tedious work. Also, most employees in these positions had high grade point averages, had studied abroad and accomplished various other tasks.
"To paraphrase Dan Lyons, there's something distinctly evil about the way Google and the other companies listed below hoard the world's best and brightest and put them to work on creating more efficient text ads or, worse, tasking them with taking phone calls from angry customers," the article adds.
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