Enhancing Your Career

Media careers aren't 9-to-5 jobs. Consider the pros and cons of working in TV, radio, print or online media before deciding if you're willing to make the personal sacrifices that are often required to work in this captivating yet demanding industry.

Whether you're searching for your first job in the news business or you're ready to take on bigger challenges as you enhance your career, learn exactly what your future boss wants out of you. Learn how to get a job in news that puts you in the driver's seat of your career.

You've found the job you want to land to take you to that next step in your media career. But are you eliminating yourself from the competition before you even send in your resume and clips?

Go from potential employee to paid employee. Write a media cover letter that separates you from a cluster of other job candidates applying for the same position.

Your media resume should tell editors or news directors everything they need to know about your work background. Write a resume that sells your media experience and pushes you to the top of the job candidate's pile.

You're ready to take your broadcast career to the next level. Instead of mass mailing every potential employer your cover letter, resume and clips, build a broadcast news resume that promotes your experience and makes you stand out among other job candidates.

Grab a news director's attention to get the TV job you want. Avoid the common mistakes your potential boss sees on job candidates' TV resume tapes and DVDs every day.

Your cover letter and resume have won you a media job interview. Know what key questions you'll likely be asked so that you can make a good first impression and get the job.

A media job interview is designed to allow your potential boss to find out more about you, but you need to dig for information as well. By knowing what to ask and how to do it, you'll know whether you should say "yes!" if the position is offered to you.

Media sales careers are often the fastest way to get to the top of the broadcast, print or online industries. Build your media sales career by knowing how to sell advertising to potential clients.

TV news careers are an exciting way to work in media. Build your skills so that you'll rise above the competition on the scene of news stories and hold your value in an ever-changing media industry.

TV contracts can be a simple, one-page agreement or much more complicated. Despite the variables, there are 7 basic parts of a typical TV contract that binds television personnel to their stations. Know what to expect of a contract before you're asked to sign it so that you're not faced with unwelcomed surprises.

Whether your media career has you on the air, working in print or online, it's likely you'll be confronted with a media contract. Before you sign it, know how to negotiate the terms to your advantage. Otherwise, you could find yourself stuck with below-average pay and no way out of the deal.

Key elements of any media contract are the no compete clauses. It is critically important that you understand this language before you sign any deal.

Getting fired happens to most media pros at least once during their career. Recognize the top three reasons for getting fired in media so you don't make common mistakes that could cost you your job.

Media careers come with a risk of being laid off. If you become a victim of media layoffs, use your extra time to get yourself prepared for the job market so you can land a better position somewhere else.

The Internet has changed the way today's media professionals do their jobs. Boost your career now by learning new media skills today that will someday be required for everyone working in the media.

Use a website to promote your experience and reach out to news directors to land your next broadcasting job. Weigh the pros and cons of marketing yourself on the Internet so that you don't hurt your chances of getting hired.

Media jobs are hard to get, especially the first one. Use the advice of media professionals in how to land your first media job.See submissions

Further your media career with resources that will help you land the job you want. From building a resume DVD to a compelling cover letter, these tips will show you how to separate yourself from the pack.