Q: I just completed my sophomore year in college where I am pursuing a journalism degree. I have been freelancing for the Daily Herald in metropolitan Chicago since my senior year in high school (paid), and before that I was a high school columnist (unpaid).
When I moved to Milwaukee for college, I joined the campus newspaper as a reporter. My sophomore year I left the campus paper (there was only one at this time) and started another newspaper with some other students. We publish twice monthly and are independent of the university whereas the other paper is twice weekly and is run on university money.
I am editor-in-chief of the new newspaper. I also interned for the local business newspaper (weekly) as a reporter my sophomore year, but this was not the most positive experience. By the end of the semester I was so overworked and left on a bad note because I refused to work extra hours to save my grades in school.
The alternative paper is going well and I am freelancing still for the Daily Herald but I am still only getting event stories, the same as I always have. The alternative paper takes up a lot of time in the school year so I don’t think I could take on an internship at school. I hope to work for a bigger paper like the Chicago Tribune or Sun Times someday.
Am I on track? Am I spending my time right? I have attached my résumé to this e-mail if you’d like to see (I also have a campus job... Gotta pay my own tuition... Doing design work and teaching classes, and work for the local AP but in more an administrative assistant role).
Working
A: You are SO on track.
Let's see:
- Freelancing since high school
- Does news as well as business
- Founded a new paper, which you now edit
- News, business and design
- Paying your way through college
You have a ton going for you. Remember that when you feel overworked. You need to get a good internship -- and have time to do it. Get one next summer or doing a non-summer semester. Line up someone to run the paper for you so you can get away.
Don't stress about having been overworked in the past or by the fact that people are not advancing your assignments to keep up with your growing talent. You'll find the next levels in other places.
Your résumé could more succinctly outline the points I outlined above and, as long as it links to your website -- another nice touch -- update that website!
