I work at a larger midsize paper (about 100,000 daily; 130,000 on Sunday) but hope to work for a metro back in my home state sometime in the future. I have heard the paper I have in mind does most of its hiring through a newsroom recruiter, rather than journalism Web sites.
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So, two questions: What is the best way to get on a recruiter's radar; and, two, if I have less experience than this paper normally requires of its reporters (five years instead of seven), am I better off trying to land on that radar now, or when I'm more likely to be qualified for a job?
Thanks.
Planning
Start trying now.
One duty of a smart recruiter is to identify and groom candidates for the future. Sometimes all that busy department heads can do is just keep up with immediate needs. A recruiter thinks longer term.
Send the recruiter a resume and some clips. Write a cover letter introducing yourself and explaining your long-term objectives. Say that you plan to visit in the future to learn more about the operation. Keep current with what it is publishing.
When you get the chance, visit. Ask for concrete advice about what they are looking for and what skills and habits you need to demonstrate. Meet several other editors in positions to hire. Make them part of your network. You want to have more than one contact in the event that someone leaves a job. Keep the dialogue going.
Coming Monday: This senior shared the byline on his best newspaper story with a buddy who had a minor role, and he now wishes he had kicked his friend's name to the bottom of the article.
