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Journalism is a highly competitive industry and landing your dream job requires a persuasive resume. Learn what it takes to write an effective journalism resume.
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From reporting on current events and breaking news to writing news stories, journalism is a busy and important industry in the modern world. To get a good position in this competitive field, you need the right resume. Whether you are just out of high school, a recent graduate from college, or a seasoned professional, the right journalist resume will ensure that recruiters at least read your application. Here’s how to write it.
Journalism is an umbrella term that covers a range of job titles in traditional and modern environments. These are some of the jobs that a journalism resume will be useful for:
One of the key points to remember when writing your journalism resume is the importance of great communication skills. Your job as a journalist of any kind will be to communicate effectively in written or verbal form. If your resume is poorly written, full of typos, or muddled, hiring managers will simply discard your application. Here are the other components you need to consider:
Directly underneath the resume header, there should be a summary or objective statement. If you have a lot of experience, go for a resume summary, which lists of the top achievements and skills that make you suitable for the role. An objective statement, in contrast, is a statement of your career goals, along with your best qualifications. This is the right choice if you lack experience or are applying for skill-intensive positions.
If you have a lot of experience you should place this section above your skills section. Limit yourself to the last 10 years of work experience and present your job titles in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job title. Be specific about your achievements in each role. If you have undertaken journalism internships you can also include these on your resume, but it may be best to put them in a separate section.
Writing a robust skills section will have a big impact on your job search, especially if you have the certifications to back it up and not much work experience. Here are some of the skills most commonly listed on a journalism resume:
Your education section will be less important as you gain work experience, but that doesn’t mean you should discount it when resume writing. If you have a Bachelor of Arts in a relevant subject or you have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, you should definitely list this in your professional resume.
This short section should include the details of your most notable achievements as well as any relevant awards that you have received in the field of journalism. These should also be listed in reverse chronological order.
If you have taken the time to gain relevant professional certifications, for example a Photoshop certification or a Microsoft certification of competency, you should list them on your resume. Likewise, if you are a member of a professional guild, association, or group you should list this. For example, you might list that you are an active member of the Society of Professional Journalists in your journalist resume.
If you have had work published in journals, newspapers, or other professional outlets you can cite them in your resume, Including a short bibliography of your most notable works can distinguish you from other applicants.
When you start editing your resume for a job application, there are some simple things you can do to really take it to the next level. First, make sure you have the right resume format (which determines how your resume is organized). Most job seekers who are just starting out in the field will use a functional format, while more experienced writers use a chronological or combination format. After you’ve settled a format, use these simple writing tips to make the difference:
Each job description has important information about critical skills and qualifications for the role (e.g., “Experience fact checking, copy editing, and restructuring stories”). These are considered keywords that you should address in your resume. Keywords ill help your resume rank higher in applicant tracking systems (ATS) which employers often use to screen resumes, and ensure that your resume is actually seen by a recruiter.
Once your resume is in front of a hiring manager they will be trying to gauge your personality as well as your skills. Show that you take ownership of your work and success by using active language like “Developed”, “Created”, “Chose” rather than “Was tasked with.”
If you have a LinkedIn profile you should include it in your resume header along with your phone number and other contact information. This can allow hiring managers a peek at your work, especially if you have shared your articles on your profile. If you have a professional website or webpage that contains more information about your work, you should also include it in your header.
Have questions? We’re here to help.
It is important that you always include a well-written cover letter to match your resume in each job application. A great cover letter will increase the chance of a hiring manager actually reading your resume. You can make use of the ResumeHelp free cover letter builder to make this easier.
It is highly unlikely that you will find a full-time job, even an entry-level one, in journalism with no experience. The good news is that non-professional experience counts on your journalism resume. So, if you worked on your high school newspaper or at your college radio station covering news, include it in your work experience. As always, however, professional experience should be given priority in your resume.
Yes, tailoring your journalism resume based on the keywords you find in each job description will make your resume far more friendly to ATS software and increase your chances of success.
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