Here are five career tips from this week’s readings that resonate with me.
People want to read about people.
I have been told this over and over again. No matter what the topic is, if the reader can learn about it through the lens of a specific person, it will be much more effective and interesting. People are interested in the human experience, not just the facts.
Learn how to read.
The only way to become a good writer is to be a good reader. Reading anything and everything that you can with the endless material that is available to us allows you to learn and absorb different techniques and information. Blogs, journals, news articles, novels; it all helps. Reading is a crucial step in developing great writing skills.
Fail forward.
Everybody fails! Majority of the risks that are taken don’t work out, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Through these trials, get paid and lean all that you can so you’re headed in the right direction.
Combine skills.
All of the little things that make you who you are can help in your career. Any experiences you have, even if they aren’t exactly journalistic, can, when combined with other skills, help you create something amazing. It is easy to apply skills you have accumulated in the past to current career opportunities, setting you apart from other applicants.
Learn how to be entrepreneurial.
In the changing times of journalism, we need to sell ourselves. We need to think of ourselves as a brand and be aware of our strengths and weaknesses. Knowing when to say “no” and knowing what our time is worth and what we want to spend it on is key. You need to know the competition and the job market, your own skills and a network of people you can keep in touch with. Yes, your personal and business lives will mesh, but you are the business.
Taylor Gilmore 