I graduated from j-school 2.5 years ago. While in school, I wrote on a freelance basis for a variety of newspapers and magazines. Since I graduated, however, I began working in corporate marketing/communications. I have held positions in two different companies.
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I am interested in obtaining some freelance work for a local newspaper and am in the middle of preparing my resume. Is it more appropriate to list my experience in chronological order or begin with journalism experience, which, in my case, is a bit dated? My most current clip is more than two years old.
Sincerely,
David
Structure your resume in reverse chronological order. That is, with the most recent experience at the top. Don't omit jobs, as this will create a void. Most employers can imagine far worse ways to fill those gaps than whatever you were actually doing.
In this case, making a move back to journalism, an objective line could help prospective employers examine your experience from the frame of mind you want them in. Then accentuate the journalistic experiences and minimize the parts that don't add to the picture you're trying to paint.
Coming Monday: He would like to leave his newspaper job in the United States to live in Europe for a while and wonders whether it might be difficult to return to journalism afterward.
