Job interviews
I interviewed six young people today for a career-entry position as a cadet journalist. Experience was irrelevant. The applicants were school leavers, not university graduates.
The required skills were good English, an awareness of current affairs, curiosity and effective communication.
I asked each of them 11 interview questions. They all performed okay during this stage, and it gave me an idea of their personalities.
Then I gave them a spelling test of 20 words and a general knowledge quiz with 20 questions. The results were remarkable.
I won’t divulge more for privacy reasons, but there was a real cross-section of scores and I found it a really effective exercise.
Applicants who present well are not necessarily the ones with the best general knowledge and writing skills.
I’ll let the dust settle and write a more detailed review in the future.
Tags: education, journalism
Hi Michael, I have just completed my final year of journalism at university and am really struggling to find any cadetships anywhere in the country. I have double majored in journalism and international relations and currently work in the industry and am dying to move up in the industry. Any tips on getting a cadetship?
Erin, it’s really tough to break in. That’s the hardest part.
Unfortunately, a lot of people who get the chance only stay 2-3 years and then shift to PR, politics, etc because the money is better (before the downturn at least). They make it harder for others because they lack commitment.
You could try submitting some articles to your local paper. Keep them simple (eg community news/sport) and include photos.
I would probably fail the ‘general knowledge’ section. Miserably.
Erin, did you get my email?
Sue, the questions were specifically Australian in most cases, although I asked who did Barack Obama defeat to become US president? Fewer than half got that one right.
Hi Michael,
I recently moved to Australia from NZ and have been working at a international PR agency for the last 5 weeks. After encountering possibly one of the worst cultures of workplace bullying, I have decided my time is up.
On the bright side this has turned my focus back to my first loves-writing and the media.
I only graduated (with a Communications degree) at the beginning of this year but have been working in some form of PR for the last few years.
My focus now is on getting into Journalism. Given the current economic climate (yes I know it’s a self-perpetuating media driven hysteria)and the reduced employment opportunities, how would you suggest I tackle this. I have sent my CV to a couple of media outlets however I wonder if there is some “insiders” tip to addressing these issues in an Australian environment.
Thanks
Hi Natasha, I can’t speak for metro papers or the bigger regional dailies, but for country papers and possibly suburbans …
It’s really hard for graduates to stand out among the pack.
Submit an article to the local paper and offer it free of charge. Build up a portfolio of published work. Do some unpaid work experience. After a while they might put you on standby as a contractor or casual to do relief work and then you’ve got a foot in the door.
If you can take reasonable photos, do the same with pics.
Sorry about your PR experience. I don’t think I could ever work in an agency environment. Email me if you want to know anything specific.
Best wishes.
Hi Michael,
are there many places that openly offer cadetships on the internet ect… including television and radio broadcasting companies?
is there a particular website for journalism cadetships and job offerings?
thanks
Damien, the mainstream employment websites carry journalism jobs at all levels: Seek, Career One, Fairfax … there aren’t a lot going at the moment though.
Newspapers wanting school leaver cadets are more likely to advertise in their print editions, rather than online, because they’re looking for local kids.
hi michael, ive just graduated from year 12 and i was planning on going to uni to do communcations but i’m not sure if that’s the plan anymore. Is there any possible way i could do a cadetship straight out of high school?
Thanks
Lucy, contact your local papers if you haven’t already and let them know you’re interested. Don’t ring the editor, send in a letter or email and attach your Year 12 results.
Some regional and suburban papers might be more likely to employ school leaver cadets now the economy has turned for the worse.
hi michael,
I was planning on doing a postgraduate degree in journalism after finishing my B. Arts, but have recently found that it is not offered at university.
Would a degree in B. Arts majoring in Politics and Australian Studies be sufficient in order to obtain or even just apply for a cadetship? Or do cadetships only apply for those who have degrees in communications and journalism?
Thanks
Hi Trudy, a full cadetship is for high school leavers.
A graduate cadetship is for degree applicants and a BA is fine. Some media may prefer the degree to have a journalism focus. I employed someone with a commerce degree once because I wanted a business journalist.
There are some postgraduate certificate courses around. USQ offered one online in the past, I think.
Best wishes.
Hi Michael
I have always had an interest in Journalism, although my career has steered me off in tangents and after being made redundant recently from my position, I have re-evulated and want to persue the world of Journalism.
I have noticed that there are cadetships in Journalism, generally geared towards school leavers and graduates, but having none of the above, other then life experience and a passion for writing (non of which I have sought to have published) I wonder if I would be considered for a cadetship.
I am 28 and have particular interest in column, feature articles on health, lifestyle and Travel.
What can be expected from a cadetship and is this a viable way to enter without a degree in Journalism or Communications?
Michelle, I can only speak for myself as an editor, but I would consider someone like you if I was seeking to appoint a graduate cadet.
Life experience can be just as valuable as a degree.
If you’re looking at country or suburban papers it would be handy if you can take photos as well. There’s not much call for columnists or feature writers outside of magazines though.
Hi there,
I am a year 11 student and have just completed a week of work experience at my local paper. I also did this last year.
I have my work published weekly in a youth forum which goes into our local paper. I have great aspirations to become a journalist at a magazine one day, with hopes to one day work my way up to being the editor.
I am confused as to go to university or complete a cadetship. I have asked around to practically everyone I know, I have spoken to those who have done a similar course at university in which I wish to do and they state that they wish they had of done a cadetship, as those who did are much further ahead in the industry then they are. However, a journalist at my local paper told me that a university degree is more respected and cadetships are very hard to come by.
I was just wondering what your personal opinion was.
Thanks,
Darcee
Take a cadetship if you can get one Darcee. University degrees are respected, but you can always study part time externally if you want to. I started a degree and switched to a cadetship when it was offered.
Hi Michael.
Would you have a copy of the interview questions, and general knowledge questions you asked, just for an idea of what to expect.
Thanks, Damien.
Hi Michael,
I am too young for work, currently. However, I was wondering if you would know the youngest possible age to be able to become a journalist/Cadet. I am not a journalist as you can see, but I have chosen this as my future profession. If it is not too much trouble I would also like to be informed of any information I may need to know, to begin this career.
Kindest Regards,
Maddy.
Hi Maddy, you will need to finish Year 12 and get high marks in English.
Hi Michael,
Thank-you for the information. That was very helpful. Luckily, english is my forte so hopefully that won’t be a problem. Thanks again.
Kind regards,
Maddy.
Hi Michael,
I’m a year 11 student and I’ve always had a desire to work in TV journalism.
However, I’ve had some doubts as I know it’s a hard industry to break into, it can be a lot about who you know and the pay isnt that great at the lower positions.
What’s your opinion about TV journalism? and do you think it’s really hard to be successful in this industry?
Thanks, Kayla